The road to preparing my students... and myself

To be completely honest I do not feel prepared to teach all of the 21st century skills that my students need.  While I do feel more prepared than many of my collegues whom I work with everyday (they look to me for tech advise) when I talk to others I feel so behind on how to use technology and how to get my students involved in using technology.  I feel like it is so difficult to teach 6 and 7 year olds how to create something original I usually resort to typical word documents and curriculum enhancing games and practice.  I feel like I have made some strides with other aspects of 21st century teaching but I feel that technology is a big weak area.  I don't feel like my students get many opportunities to use technology at school.  Part of this is because some of it isn't available and I am not familiar with what else is out there in order to seek grants and information on new things that are available.   I am hoping that this is an area in which I can really improve and become a leader in my school.

In the Beginning...

I am still at the beginning of this trek through my Master of Education degree.  I am also beginning a new school year.  My coursework so far has made me much more aware of what I need to work on to improve my teaching and better prepare my students for the future.  The biggest area I would like to improve is the area of technology so I am glad that my current course is allowing me to become more aware of what is out there and what I can do to improve the use of technology with my students.  Up to this point I felt I was doing an adequate job.  I have utilized Google Earth and online videos, I constantly look for educational games and activities that my students can use for both expanding learning and practicing skills.  I also have spent time teaching my students word processing basics.   I would like to expand on this though.  I need to "fear not" and be more willing to try webquests and powerpoint with my 1st graders.  Although we may not have IPADS, smartboards or laptops available to our 1st grade classrooms I want to encourage and empower my team to work with me to best use what we do have available.