Staying Current with Educational Trends and Technology

In a world full of continuously changing technology, it can be challenging to stay current, but I find that the best way is to fully immerse myself in it. I recently developed a Twitter account and I am now connected with dozens of educational resources and informative groups such as the U.S. Department of Education. Twitter is a growing community, and by linking myself to it I have gained knowledge of current trends and future technology on the horizon.

Another resource I use is Pinterest which I have been using for several years as a multipurpose tool. With it, I can browse ideas of other teachers and educational sources, and then pin the ones I like the most onto my own boards. The amount of resources on Pinterest are limitless, and I can also pin Internet sources to my boards as well. It is another networking tool of which I think every educator should take advantage. 

Social media has a tendency to be viewed in a negative light, but it is a great way for educators and other members of the school system to connect and share ideas with one another. When used in a professional manner, it can provide thousands of resources at the touch of a button (or a few keys), and, in a technology-driven society, I believe that is exactly what we need. The world is plugged in to technology; therefore, it is time for each of us to join in and stay current.