NETS-T5

The indicator I choose is: Teachers participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning.

This indicator fits perfectly with the arts. Two weeks ago (when there was no snow on the ground) we broke off into groups to discuss different ways technology could assist your field of education. This was one of the topics I, personally, would like to improve. I feel that students, today, don't understand other cultures or ideas outside of their own realm of information. When I did an art history project with my high school students during student teaching, I had a really hard time getting them to understand why they were doing this. It was hard to convince them that history and other cultures from around the world effect things (in this case artwork) today. I think that if I had used other tools to express different artists, the outcome would have been different.

I think that the website iEARN (International Education and Resource Network) would be a great tool for the classroom to help students learn about other cultures. This is also a great tool for teachers. Classrooms can do projects together, over the internet, with other classrooms from other countries. There is also a section on their website that is called The Collaboration Center. It goes through different projects that groups have done in the past and projects that will be happening in the near future. I just think this is a great resource! Also, as an educator, they have forums where teachers can join and chat amongst themselves about different topics. This could be very helpful to talk with a teacher from another country. This could help open up your eyes, as an educator, to see what else is out there.