The most useful topic for me this semester...

     There are many things that I have learned this semester (and this year) that will be useful to me in my classroom. The one I will blog about is the use of technology. This was the area that I was weakest in when I was hired September 30, 2011. I knew this going in and I discussed it with my Assistant Principal during the interview for the position. He assured me that there would be "some training" and that I would be okay. I can honestly say that he was correct. There was some training, however, it was probably more geared toward prior knowledge of technology and veteran teachers. As a Registered  Nurse for fifteen years my expertise is in the knowlege of keen assessment, care planning, and education of clients and their families regarding their care. This required little or no use of technology most of the time. The equipment ( i.e IV pumps, blood pressure monitors, CT and MRI machines) used in the clinical setting was what I viewed as "use of technology. The only thing we used the computer for was to print out lab results and print out educational instructions for patients when discharged home. Now that I have learned multiple ways to engage students in the classroom, I am adding that knowledge to what I had previously learned from my school system and I am confident that I will be a more effective teacher in the years to come. I am EXTREMELY greatful for all the knowledge I have acquired from NTI, and the use of technology is like the icing on the cake for me!