My Alternate Path

I have been working towards achieving a certification as a Technology Integration Specialist through an alternative certification process before I was even quite aware of it.  As I increased my technology knowledge and use in my classroom, I have become more and more intrigued with all  that teachers can do to harness technology and use it effectively to engage students, as well as improve their academic and technology embedded skills naturally. I haven't only been learning through graduate courses and workshops, I follow cutting edge blogs and their blog feeds come to me daily. I use technology with struggling learners finding how incredibly powerful many of these tools are to inspire, engage and even scaffold instruction for struggling learners. There are so many great digital tools available that many teachers never use, unfortunately. I am inspired to show them these tools, and inspired to see them use the tools to differentiate and 'upgrade' their instructional model as Common Core has now required. The time is right for many who have never even thought of jumping into the technology pool to do so now. Some will dive right in and embrace all of it. Others will need to ease themselves  in slowly one toe at a time. The technology integrator needs to be mindful of all levels of  digital swimmers and adapt to their confidence levels and skills. The ones who need flotation devices, need to have them before they even see the digital pool. The technology integrator might be seen as the lifeguard who not only sits and watches the pool from above but offers many different lessons beginning, expert, and  advanced. Perhaps they will offer exercise or practice sessions. It's the role of the Tech Integrator to provide the same safe digital zones where both students and teachers feel safe, inspired and engaged in the digital process!

Okay-Everyone...in ......the ......digital......pool....you're...in .......the 21st....century......