What Do You Teach?
I am the Library Media Specialist.
Where Do you Teach?
I manage The Patriot Library at Goose Creek Memorial.
How Long Have You Been Teaching?
I have been teaching for 34 years.
How Does Educational Technology Play a Role in Your Classroom?
Educational technology has significantly enhanced the school library, transforming it from a tradition resource center (with lots of shushing!) to a vibrant hub for learning. Gone are the days of index cards and photocopying pages from books for research. Students and teachers now access digital resources and multimedia tools, and the library has evolved into a flexible space to accommodate the divergent technology needs of our staff and students.
How Do You Find Technology in the Classroom Helpful?
We’d be lost without it! Technology in a school library provides access to ever-increasing types of resources for learning. My job is to be prepared to meet the diverse needs of everyone at GCM! For example, every year I collaborate with our Social Studies department on National History Day projects, introducing students to our online database resources and proper source citation. I recently worked with Technology Student Association students on their projects for state competition, guiding them in determining the most effective way to create and print their final product. Variety and flexibility are key to meeting the technology needs of our campus!
What Is Your Favorite Piece of Classroom Technology? Why?
I’m excited to introduce the Beanstack program to my campus! It promotes engagement through a combination of gamification, social interaction, and personalized experiences. I believe the reading challenges, rewards, and leaderboards will motivate high school students to read. Beanstack allows them to track their progress online and share their reading with peers and teachers, and this closely mirrors how they interact in real life!
What Is On Your Technology Wish List For Your Classroom? Why?
Our biggest issue has been getting quality sound when we create videos (unless the subject is sitting right in front of the iPad). A kit that includes a tripod to hold an iPad and an external mic would help capture video and audio more effectively.
What Do You Love Most About Teaching?
I have worn many hats throughout my career, but, as a Library Media Specialist, I am living my best life! No two days are ever the same. I get to work with all sorts of people, providing a variety of different services to our campus community, and I get the chance to work with lots of different tools. I greet every day with a “Okay, whatcha got? Bring it!”