#2

Hello again, this week we were able to discuss some pretty interesting topics in our Internet for Educators course through a presentation from Kristen Thompson. The biggest concept that we tackled through this discussion was the idea of individuals being replaced with machines in this ever-changing society. I appreciate Kristen and everything she shared with us and it made me ponder many things. Let's dive into it, shall we? 

I really liked that Kristen brought to our attention the word 'niche', and that alone is just a fun thing to say. What she talked about was how teachers all have something that they bring to the education table that can be both interesting and awesome but cannot be replicated through a machine. It made me really think and wonder about what my particular niche may be and how that quality can be a defining factor of what makes someone a great teacher. This niche is something to be proud of but there are also many other aspects that are necessary for education. We discussed how some of these aspects can potentially be replaced with a machine. If we use technology in a way to aid us, but not replace us, then I think that would be a perfect balance in the teacher/technology world. 

This year in particular we have found ourselves using more and more technology within the classroom and this can be both helpful and harmful. When teaching through a virtual classroom I think that our particular 'niche' needs to shine through even more. I know personally from being on the student side of a zoom classroom that it can be all too easy to 'check-out' through lectures. If we teachers do the best we can to create a virtual experience that is comparable to an in-classroom experience then we are doing our students justice. I believe that the many new tools that have surfaced this year will stick around and it will be up to us to decipher through what can be useful in each of our unique classrooms.

I have spent more time than I care to admit scrolling through the multiple social media platforms during the length of this pandemic and what I have come to realize is that teachers are doing an unbelievably incredible job. What is clear, is that covid has been tough on everyone, but teachers are persevering and making student needs a top priority. I love that Kristen shared her social media platforms with us and think that it is a fantastic way to keep in touch with fellow teachers because we truly are all in this together. It is great to be able to use these machines to connect with others and show the world that this pandemic is now stopping us!