Where do I go from here? W.I.T.M. #4

Before I can answer where do I go from here, I have to tell you all where here is. Looking at the Welliver's Instructional Transformation Model, I would have to say that I currently fall under model #4, Reorientation. Hitting the half-way point in this class has had me revaluating my teaching and curriculum. Before I had wanted to use some different forms of technology that I have seen or heard about but never followed through with it. I say followed through but I really mean intimidated by the whole process of it all. I was under the impression that it took tons of time and a lot of know how to get things going. This class has shown me that I am more than capable of doing a lot of my ideas and can carry them out. The time it takes to do them is not nearly as long as I thought it would be and the know how is becoming more and more of a reality. School has been out for about 2 weeks for me now and I am already excited about some of the things that I want to try for the next school year. So does that make me a big ol' dork? Oh well!!

I think that one of the things that held me back was the fact I am a physical education teacher. What can I do with technology? Well my friends, I can do a whole heck of a lot!! I have been searching for things that I can do with my older kids to get them more involved in my class. Surprisingly, technology is going to allow me to do that. I know like anything new that I introduce to them will take them time to adapt to and be on board. Considering that most of my students are pretty technology savy, the transition should be pretty smooth. I have my fears and some doubts, but those will only make me stronger as a teacher.

Now the question of the day is, how do I get there? "There" is model #5, Revolution. To get there I will need to start early. I need to introduce my ideas such as doing a blog on sportsmanship. I will tell my students about the blog itself and how it's graded. I will tell them the benefits of it and how the use of technology will be a bigger part in my class. The next big thing that I am going to do is have my students make their own podcast. These are two ideas that I have that I really want to go through with. The more often my students do these activities, the easier it will be to incorporate technology at a higher rate and to reach the Revolution model. Then and only then, I can say, "I'm there"!