A Reflection on Changing Times

As a veteran teacher of 20 years, I see educational changes everyday. I realize that not all changes are good, but I know that change is a catalyst to improve. Technology is proving to be a great catalyst. Technology has opened the doors of communication for teachers. Teachers are sharing ideas, methods, lesson plans, tips, techniques, and bits of personal information. Communication among teachers has never existed like it exists today. Collaboration and communication is providing me with a portal into the minds of great teachers, and that gives me the opportunity to become a better teacher.

Long gone are the days of locking up materials and hoping your cohort won't "steal" your bulletin board idea. There are enough great ideas to go around. Who would have imagined it 10 years ago? I pass by classrooms today, and I don't hear teachers' lectures quite so often. I see portfolio evaluations of students on CD-ROMs. I hear sound clips of students' reports being played. I hear students discussing their group's PowerPoint presentations. I see students e-mailing their mentors or parents. I hear my "you have mail" sound and I realize some concerned parent needs me to e-mail them their student's English grade. I see and appreciate progress. I see, am motivated, and have vision for education.

Teacher Testimony from Betsy Norris http://www.4teachers.org/testimony/norris/index.shtml