Technology Forces Philadelphia Educators To Stay Current
In the world of technology, it is important for all educators to learn the latest software and social media outlets. Educators are up against an ever-changing world of social media, where information is spread at warp speed. This can be both detrimental and positive. It is important for teachers to know what they are up against. Michele Marano from Agnes Irwin School in Bryn Mawr, PA shares with us her thoughts on the classroom environment.
What is the most challenging aspect of teaching in the classroom environment?
"Educators today must contend with the rapidly increasing distractions of social media and the devices that work to feed this frenzy, disengaging youth and making it one of the most challenging times in our history to foster a healthy learning environment in which students flourish. The will to learn is there, of course, but educators are now forced to compete with a new kind of educational landscape by creating curriculums or methods of teaching that adapt to the attention spans of the social media-dependent."
Are continuing education courses beneficial for teachers?
"It is paramount for educators to continuously keep current. Whether they take a course that enables them to re-imagine their curriculum into something less lecture-based and more hands-on, or participate in a local seminar on Google Docs that introduces them to new ways to connect with their students and share information on assignments in real-time, actively continuing your education as a teacher is integral to the operation of a successful school community."
Do you have any advice for people wanting to enter into the teaching profession?
"Teachers are successful when they teach what they know and are passionate about– that passion being key. If you're planning on entering the teaching profession, be prepared to live in a highly scrutinized microcosm with late evenings grading papers, and tears...lots of tears. BUT as many teachers I've interviewed over the years will attest, a majority of those tears follow the immeasurably rewarding feeling of watching students excel."
Christina Thompson is a freelance writer living in Philadelphia. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
