Hello, from the Ed Tech Integration corner of the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education. Let me introduce myself since I’m new to the college and position. My name is Jennifer Williams, a former English/language arts teacher. I have 15-plus years ELA experience working with all levels of students from eighth grade through college. I taught in Bartlesville, Sperry, Piedmont and Oklahoma City before landing at OU. I have always tried to implement technology, to some degree, in my ELA classes. For example, I began using Google Apps for Education (now G Suite) in 2009, after my husband (the district’s IT director at the time) asked me to try it with my pre-AP eighth-grade class. I drank the Kool-Aid and never looked back — but don’t tell him he was right.
Since then, I’ve taught GAFE to teachers and administrators in several Oklahoma school districts. Even though quite a bit of ELA ends up being word processing (or done on paper), I’ve always tried to offer opportunities for students to explore technology. In Piedmont, I did “Genius Hour” with my AP Language and Composition classes to give students time to explore their interests, including technology. Email me if you want to learn more about Genius Hour: jennwillteach@ou.edu.
Now that you know more about me, I can talk about my current position as ed tech integration specialist for the college. I get to work with undergraduate pre-service teachers on how to use tech, apps, websites, etc. in their future classrooms. We work to learn more about the tools at our fingertips. Tech is a tool; it’s not the end goal. When used effectively, tech can help students unlock their potential and find success through multiple mediums — instead of just one opportunity. But tech (like any tool) has to be used effectively. This happens with time to play and build knowledge and experience. This also happens when we share our knowledge collectively. I hope to do this with you through the Bridges magazine.
I began this job thinking I knew a decent amount about technology. I felt pretty confident: I knew I’d have some learning to do, but I honestly didn’t think there would be that much. I was wrong. But delightfully, excitedly wrong.
The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of learning as fast as I can, researching, making mistakes, correcting those mistakes (or making notes to fix them for next semester), trying to get to know students I see once each week, trying to teach the whole student (even though they are adults) and lots of laughter with a few tears.
I’ve done workshops/webinars and classes over Google Suite, podcasts, apps, websites, augmented and virtual reality, robots, coding...and so much more. In the coming months, I plan to share some of my learning with you in the hopes you pick up a few more tools for your teacher toolbox. You’re never too old to learn, and it is important we become critical consumers and producers of technology so we can, in turn, help our students become critical and active consumers and producers. While it may seem a daunting and impossible task, remember we, as educators, as here to support and aid each other. You’re never alone — even when you’ve been teaching “forever” and must still learn new things.