Workshop 2

·      How well prepared do you feel for 21^st century teaching and learning? 

I am in a fortunate position because I already teach one of the core subjects  (Language Arts) that is highlighted as the base of arch. Therefore, at the core of what I'm teaching, I feel extremely prepared. With the other branches, I think I feel more equipped than most. I understand what it means to develop a critical thinker who collaborates and uses creativity. I have space within my curriculum to incorporate these ideas and feel like I'm able to do so already. Our school has technology at our fingertips and I am currently using this technology to foster creativity. I also feel prepared that, if I wanted to deepen their technology experiences, I would be able to do so. Now, I guess I'm not as prepared to encourage the students directly in their future career skills, but I know that, with the others combined, they are becoming prepare for a future career. 

·      Do your students leave your classroom equipped for success using 21^st century skills?  

For the most part, they do. I understand that education must continue to build on itself in order to be effective and therefore believe that my students are one step closer to being equipped for success when they leave my classroom. They should be much better readers, writers, thinkers and collaborators, and they should have a step more of knowledge about how use technology to learn further and get their ideas to a larger audience. 

·      What are your strengths and challenges in regards to 21^st century teaching and learning? 

Teaching in Loveland is a strength for my teaching of 21st century learning. Our district highly encourages the learning and use of these criteria. I am given freedom to explore the best ways to incorporate these techniques in my classroom and I'm given necessary resources to carry out my plans. I guess then, my challenge is only in my own motivation to truly enhance my curriculum. Inherent in that, is the challenge of "making time." So, it would be a practice of determine what is not as effective, and what can be replaced with a new, more effective idea.