When I step in front of a classroom each day, I try to emulate my
favorite teachers who made learning so exciting to me that they convinced
me to become a teacher. I’m trying to emulate those who inspired me.
These epiphanies stand out for me as moments when I discovered different
and fascinating territories of knowledge, and it shocked me into new ways of
thinking. On the first day of class, I try to emulate what exemplary teachers
taught me, what teaching could be: I strive to create opportunities for my
students to stumble into their own epiphanies of learning.
I’m convinced that students have an intense desire for learning. In my
classroom, I have two missions. My first mission is to cultivate a passion in
my students for learning. I try to capture my students’ interest by including
a wide variety of materials and means in which to achieve this. I work hard
to make engaging lessons.
My second mission is student-centered learning. I believe studentcentered
learning is the most valuable style of learning. Students who selfdiscover
or uncover the information have a vested interest in what they learn
and the quality of learning.
Allow students to “stumble” into their own epiphanies of discovery
and learning. Cultivate the learning environment to lead students into self
discovery. To do this I design classes with student goals in mind stressing
collaborative learning, use of technology, and textual background
information. I believe students must be allowed to communicate effectively,
and must have high expectations set upon them to achieve my mission.
Respectfully,
Darren Rodine
A Classroom
A Reflection of Teaching
What makes me a better learner?
Over the last two years I have been on a tremendous journey of learning. As teachers we have been on both sides of the desk. I know I was not a perfect student, but somewhere along the line, I caught the bug, and fell in love with learning.
Learning for me becomes exciting when I’m allowed to ask questions and am allowed to discover the answers for myself. I know I learn more when allowed to ask and discover on my own. When I’m looking for answers to my questions, I’m engaged and am perusing in more depth and detail the knowledge continuum. As I learn more about a subject, more questions arise, and learning simply continues. The Essential Questions have become vital to me, but would be less vital without the technology to pursue and investigate my questions in more detail.
Having been in the program for two years now, it has amazed me how I am literally no longer able to function without my computer and the tools that go along with it on a daily basis to teach and manage the classroom. When learning is fun, you don’t mind spending the time to answer the questions that you have. Technology in the classroom is the tool that can really make learning fun.
What makes me a better teacher?
I don’t believe that you can be a good teacher without a love of learning. If you’re not a learner, how can you show a love of learning to others? The TRC program has given me a love of learning again. I gladly give up my summers to feed my habit of learning again. Watching students ask questions and learn from those questions is exciting and fun to watch. I believe that I have become a more effective teacher by moving from a very structured, in control, type person in the classroom, to one who has become a facilitator. Allowing students the ability to focus on their questions about subject topics has allowed for an increase in their learning because they own the end product whether it is in the form of a report, I-movie, Power point or an Excel poster. Technology is a tool to make me a better teacher.
What makes my students better learners?
I feel as those I am repeating myself saying this, but what makes students better learners is if they have a vested interest and a vested ownership of the material they are expected to learn. Students in technology rich classrooms must have a vested interest in their learning since the teacher is no longer the center of the universe, you guide, suggest, and support. Technology allows students the ability to choose how they will present material that they are required to pursue. The difference is they are allowed the opportunity to choose how they will present their material. Students then have the ability to showcase their learning styles since technology allows students the opportunity to cover all the learning styles and branch out of their comfort zone. Expect the best from your students. If you expect and demand only their best effort, they will rise to the occasion and they will meet your expectations. Making students accountable is easy when they have a vested interest in their learning. Technology is the tool that makes learning fun to students.
How has integrating technology into my classroom enabled both students and myself to become better learners?
Learning outcomes change with the integration of technology into the classroom. The students become more responsible for their own learning. Collaborating with others of different ability levels and backgrounds encourages students to learn at a great depth. It is difficult to change roles to a facilitator, an explorer if you will, and guide students to construct their own opinions about items. I believe that technology has led to improved performance for all students. I see the success of underachieving students as most impressive. Students, with the use of technology have increased confidence and an improved attitude about school. On state reading assessments, our students scored very high in the technical reading areas.
“ Class is no longer boring, and I don’t have to just do my assignments on paper, I get to talk to others around the world, and I can do cool stuff for reports. Videos and sounds help me learn what Mr. Rodine wants us to know.”
favorite teachers who made learning so exciting to me that they convinced
me to become a teacher. I’m trying to emulate those who inspired me.
These epiphanies stand out for me as moments when I discovered different
and fascinating territories of knowledge, and it shocked me into new ways of
thinking. On the first day of class, I try to emulate what exemplary teachers
taught me, what teaching could be: I strive to create opportunities for my
students to stumble into their own epiphanies of learning.
I’m convinced that students have an intense desire for learning. In my
classroom, I have two missions. My first mission is to cultivate a passion in
my students for learning. I try to capture my students’ interest by including
a wide variety of materials and means in which to achieve this. I work hard
to make engaging lessons.
My second mission is student-centered learning. I believe studentcentered
learning is the most valuable style of learning. Students who selfdiscover
or uncover the information have a vested interest in what they learn
and the quality of learning.
Allow students to “stumble” into their own epiphanies of discovery
and learning. Cultivate the learning environment to lead students into self
discovery. To do this I design classes with student goals in mind stressing
collaborative learning, use of technology, and textual background
information. I believe students must be allowed to communicate effectively,
and must have high expectations set upon them to achieve my mission.
Respectfully,
Darren Rodine
A Classroom
A Reflection of Teaching
What makes me a better learner?
Over the last two years I have been on a tremendous journey of learning. As teachers we have been on both sides of the desk. I know I was not a perfect student, but somewhere along the line, I caught the bug, and fell in love with learning.
Learning for me becomes exciting when I’m allowed to ask questions and am allowed to discover the answers for myself. I know I learn more when allowed to ask and discover on my own. When I’m looking for answers to my questions, I’m engaged and am perusing in more depth and detail the knowledge continuum. As I learn more about a subject, more questions arise, and learning simply continues. The Essential Questions have become vital to me, but would be less vital without the technology to pursue and investigate my questions in more detail.
Having been in the program for two years now, it has amazed me how I am literally no longer able to function without my computer and the tools that go along with it on a daily basis to teach and manage the classroom. When learning is fun, you don’t mind spending the time to answer the questions that you have. Technology in the classroom is the tool that can really make learning fun.
What makes me a better teacher?
I don’t believe that you can be a good teacher without a love of learning. If you’re not a learner, how can you show a love of learning to others? The TRC program has given me a love of learning again. I gladly give up my summers to feed my habit of learning again. Watching students ask questions and learn from those questions is exciting and fun to watch. I believe that I have become a more effective teacher by moving from a very structured, in control, type person in the classroom, to one who has become a facilitator. Allowing students the ability to focus on their questions about subject topics has allowed for an increase in their learning because they own the end product whether it is in the form of a report, I-movie, Power point or an Excel poster. Technology is a tool to make me a better teacher.
What makes my students better learners?
I feel as those I am repeating myself saying this, but what makes students better learners is if they have a vested interest and a vested ownership of the material they are expected to learn. Students in technology rich classrooms must have a vested interest in their learning since the teacher is no longer the center of the universe, you guide, suggest, and support. Technology allows students the ability to choose how they will present material that they are required to pursue. The difference is they are allowed the opportunity to choose how they will present their material. Students then have the ability to showcase their learning styles since technology allows students the opportunity to cover all the learning styles and branch out of their comfort zone. Expect the best from your students. If you expect and demand only their best effort, they will rise to the occasion and they will meet your expectations. Making students accountable is easy when they have a vested interest in their learning. Technology is the tool that makes learning fun to students.
How has integrating technology into my classroom enabled both students and myself to become better learners?
Learning outcomes change with the integration of technology into the classroom. The students become more responsible for their own learning. Collaborating with others of different ability levels and backgrounds encourages students to learn at a great depth. It is difficult to change roles to a facilitator, an explorer if you will, and guide students to construct their own opinions about items. I believe that technology has led to improved performance for all students. I see the success of underachieving students as most impressive. Students, with the use of technology have increased confidence and an improved attitude about school. On state reading assessments, our students scored very high in the technical reading areas.
“ Class is no longer boring, and I don’t have to just do my assignments on paper, I get to talk to others around the world, and I can do cool stuff for reports. Videos and sounds help me learn what Mr. Rodine wants us to know.”