My Strengths & Weaknesses

In reviewing all of the different NET Standards and UNI survey I found out a couple of interesting things. For the most part I am a pretty technologically savvy guy. I may not have achieved "expert" in all of the UNI survey categories but I'd give myself a "practitioner" status. But in looking at what it takes to be an expert I think one of the biggest things that I am missing is being able to transfer my knowledge to a classroom setting. For example, I love playing around with Google Earth but I never thought to take that program one step further and use it in the classroom to teach geography or social studies. I think that it is a simple shift of how I view things. Instead of, "Wow, that's cool," it needs to be, "Wow, that's cool! How can I integrate this into a lesson plan?"

I think my biggest strength is the mere fact that I (for the most part) "get" technology. It's been part of my life since an early age and I have always been fascinated on what a person can do with it whether it be as simple as watching a movie on your laptop to something as advanced as MAKING your own movie on a laptop. Luckily I think I am able to share that knowledge with others. Many times when you call tech support you get someone with 0 personal skills and they get annoyed with you when you don't "get it." I've had a technologically challenged mother my whole life so I've had years of practice when it comes to trying to explain things. :) There will be students who need a little extra help in doing technological things and I'm glad I will have the patience and know how to help them.

With the NET standards I think achieving all of the requirements would take time. It's not as though I don't feel competent in each of the categories. I just think that as a first year teacher (or any year teacher trying to meet each requirement) it would take time integrating into your year's plan. I think I would do several things that would hit several points on the NET standards but not in any specific order or plan. There would have to be careful planning that made sure that every requirement was fulfilled and went seamless instead of last minute, "Wait! You kids need to know this!" sort of moments. :) All in all these surveys have made me feel confident in my abilities but even better it has shown me that I need to focus on how to integrate these great resources into the classroom for the benefit of my students.