TPACK could be used in developing my classroom technology skills by allowing me to work with it like a checklist, ensuring what I’m teaching is using the right Technology, with the appropriate Pedagogy, to convey the selected Content for the lesson. If when I’m going through this checklist, something doesn’t fit or work, that would indicate to me, that I need to find something else for that section, to ensure all three components work together to delivery the best lesson for my students.
At the moment I think I’m sitting within the TCK section of the TPACK diagram, as I feel I’m comfortable with the technology and reasonable confident with the content, but still have to work on developing my pedagogical skills, which I’m hoping will come with my upcoming practical placements and further studies this year.
If I had to mark a spot on the diagram, it would definitely have to be closer to the TK (Technological Knowledge) area as that is where my current job lies, although I do have experience and skills with lots of the content required for my teaching area (TAS, IT).
Lesson planning is still a skill I’m very new at learning and I am slightly worried that I will forget to cover certain syllabus requirements in my lessons, although hopefully my workmates will be available to give me guidance on where I might be going off track, to ensure I give the best possible lessons for my students.
I am also worried about finding appropriate resources for my lessons, and ensuring my classroom is an engaging and fun learning environment for my students. I believe a pleasant, inviting classroom is paramount to the success of any teacher in keeping their students engaged and learning, and hope I’m able to deliver this experience to all my students.
Banning mobile phones and other portable devices in schools has been from my observations in the school I work in, a difficult policy to enforce. In the era of BYO, many students (often with teacher permission and encouragement) are now using their mobile phones/iPods and cameras for video and audio recording, note taking, checking school emails and studying. An outright ban on these devices only encourages students to break the rules and unless every staff member is on-board with the policy, it is doomed to fail.
A better option is to specify what is and isn’t appropriate use of these devices in school, with clear consequences for inappropriate use, eg. using the device for recording video and audio for a class presentation or video task is appropriate, whilst secretly photographing classmates in awkward situations and sharing on social media is inappropriate.
This way, the students are aware of what they can and can’t do, with the responsibility for their actions placed on the student. Sometimes I feel schools have rules in place for the sake of having rules, which doesn’t help the student to think for themselves before doing something. Allowing room for common sense and social norms to take place in a students thought process, helps to create a more independent thinker, who doesn’t just follow the rules because someone says so.