Microsoft in education help : My journey

A journey from fear to strength

Click here to read my post in hot-topics in PIL-Network

“Strength doesn't come from what you can do. It comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn't.”

The common fear that ICT shall replace a teacher is totally unfounded. Realization now seems to be slowly dawning on the teaching community that ICT is primarily to empower them and not to replace them. ICT is, therefore, not to be feared but to be embraced so as to empower our future generations by providing them high quality ICT- enabled education.

Thanks to Microsoft for giving me an opportunity to participate and represent India in the Microsoft World Wide Innovative Teacher’s conference held in Prague, Czech Republic from 27th November-2nd December 2012. It was a great learning experience as I got an opportunity to meet teachers from different countries and discuss innovative ways of using Technology in Teaching. Participants also got chance to interact with experts and get guidance as to how to use ICT and spread ICT awareness.

My journey

After coming back from Microsoft World Wide Innovative Teacher’s conference, there was no looking back and I am learning something new every day.

I am incorporating all what I have learnt in my teaching. ICT has helped me to develop my skills and knowledge to become more effective in the classroom.

I am using variety of tools such as Flash cards , Picture collages , Presentations ,You tube videos , animations ,online quizzes etc. in my teaching.
Through the careful use of purposefully designed websites, blogs I provide additional practical knowledge to my students any time
By participating in Online forums, I share my best practice and discuss new ideas and developments in teaching

I strongly feel that “Studying alone without friends results in a shallow and narrow mind. “so I wanted to share technology tools explored by me with others.

I have already taken an initiative to put my thinking in to practical. I have made one website to share teaching resources : www.mamtanarula.weebly.com
I am sharing and teaching tech-tools explored by me with my colleagues personally and through my blog http://learntechnologytools.blogspot.in/ I am helping them in making their individual blogs. I am taking initiative so that they do not fear technology rather understand and learn it.
T have made Facebook group "Technology in teaching" for sharing new technologies in teaching.
I am also Sharing Innovative teaching methods with other teachers through PIL Network . I am regularly taking parts in discussions and contributing Learning activities and tutorials

Hurdles

It was really challenging for me to implement the ICT Aided project as I was trying to do something new. The biggest challenge was to get support of authorities and to convince them the benefits of ICT in education. I feel that if the heads of the institutions realise the educational advantage of ICT, then there will be no hindrance to growth of teachers accompanied with growth of students and institution as well.
I also faced initial reluctance from other teachers from my department and school as they were completely new to this but when I shared tech-tools, they showed their interest in learning same.

My suggestion for Teachers

One of the most useful ways you can use technology is to keep yourself up to date on the latest developments in the education field—what are other teachers doing?

Read blogs and websites- http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.in/, http://dailyedventures.com/
Join some Teacher's network- PIL Network , Teacher’s first
Get active on social media- Twitter ,Facebook
Be patient.

My goal

I want to involve myself in Development of ICT Course for teachers in collaboration with other ICT Experts and Educational body .I feel that there is an urgent need to introduce such courses for teachers.
I want other teachers to join me in this journey of overcoming our fears and making it our strengths.

This task is really challenging for me. But beauty of challenges is that: Every time you overcome a challenge, it will lift you up, build you strong and make it easier for you to overcome your next trial.

You tube video of memories of Microsoft World Wide Innovative Teacher’s conference held in Prague, Czech Republic from 27th November-2nd December 2012.