Journal #8

Larson, L, Miller, T, & Ribble, M. (2009). 5 considerations for digital age leaders. (International Society for Technology in Education,

The 8th journal entry is about 5 ways that a teacher could improve their teaching styles.  In the article they brought up that teachers should be able to become visionaries in the classroom, technologically sound, flexible enough to the point on taking the day to day a moment at a time, always have a long term plan and work towards it, and be a great citizen in and outside of the classroom. 

                The article was nice and was to the point when it came to its point.  It is important that a teacher does know how to use technology in today’s classrooms.  Technology is a great way for students to connect to the material that they need to learn, as long as the technology is done correctly.  Furthermore, I agree with the article when it comes to teachers needed to present themselves as role models to the students.  It is important that students do see leaders in the front of the classroom because a teacher has an effect on the students in their classroom.

                However, I do not think that technology is the end all be all of education in the classroom.  It will create too much of anti-social behavior in the students and they will grow up lacking in the social skills that are required to be an adult in today’s society.  In that sense the article got it right by saying that Leadership is the most important thing in the classroom for the teacher. 

Q#1:  What is the most important thing for a teacher to do for the student’s education?

A:  I think it is important that a teacher does give an example of how to act socially as an adult.  Being a Leader in the classroom is an important way to show that a student can become a successful person. Being a leader in the classroom does not mean you are the authoritarian ruler over the entire classroom world.  Yes, that can be effective and you, as a teacher, must show some authority in the classroom but to be a true Leader in the classroom you must also encourage them to learn. 

Q#2:  Are the 5 steps of being a good teacher the only way to become a good teacher?

A:  No I don’t think that the 5 steps are the only way for a teacher to become a good teacher.  I think that it has left out some things that will allow a person to become a good teacher in the classroom.  One of those ways that they forget was that a teacher needs to capture the student’s interest about the subject they are teaching. The 5 steps can be a great part of teaching within the norms of the day to day classroom but it may need to be adjusted because of the different socioeconomical, financial, and other aspects of classroom may have a huge effect on the 5 steps.