Introduction
rmoran@14.bayonne.net
Wed, 19 Mar 1997 21:33:02 -0500
Hi! My name is Rosalie Moran. I am an elementary school science
teacher. About a year ago, I became involved with the New Jersey
Networking Infrastructure in Education Project through Stevens
Institute of Technology. I was part of the Statewide Systemic
Initiative Cohort 3 in which a team of teachers in different content
areas worked together to develop Internet-based curriculum projects.
The purpose of the unit we developed was to study the effects of the
Gulf Stream on climate, fish, and land using Internet-based
resources, real time data, and email
(http://k12teachers.ati.stevens-tech.edu/~edeutsch) . At the time I
was computer literate but knew very little about the Internet.
In one year I canıt believe the changes I have gone through and how I
am beginning to redefine the role of teacher for myself. I have seen
that professional development is something which must be ongoing.
Initially, I feel it must be intense with a lot of outside support.
As one begins to feel somewhat comfortable with the technology, the
amount of outside support can be decreased, but not totally
eliminated. Training must be offered to teachers as part of their
in-service. All day inservice, before or after school, or training in
the summer is critical. A large amount of time to learn needs to
built into the teacherıs schedule.
Since I began the program, I was transferred to a gifted and talented
program and asked to develop curriculum which integrates technology.
I am fascinated with the endless possibilities the Internet provides
and welcome the opportunity to share information and learn more
because it is so well received by my students.
Currently, I am teaching an inservice class for the teachers and I
have become aware of how intense ³technophobia² is. Teachers first
need to understand technology
and become comfortable with it before they learn to locate, manage,
and use information. As they begin to explore in technology rich
classrooms (this is extremely important), they will begin to become
aware of the endless possibilities in the content area.
Rosalie Moran