Hello from Manchester!

Hello everyone,

I’m an elementary school teacher from Canada currently living in the UK. I have been teaching for 6 years and taught grades 4-6. I’m currently teaching grade 6 at al all girls private school in Manchester, England. I’m currently taking my 5^th and 6^th MET courses. I have really been enjoying engaging with others from around the world and taking elements from each course to implement into my ow teaching practice.

The initial information in module one has already challenged my definitions of text and technology. The image I’ve chosen above has to do with students in my school being so connected to their phones (and it’s not just students, I’ have been guilty of this myself!) that the way they communicate with each other is changing. First of all, in teaching 24 eleven year old girls, I find the pure volume of Whatsapp chat conversations they are having quite shocking! I also find myself dealing with friendship problems that occurred via text message when not at school during school hours. It’s very interesting how this has changed and the teaching and learning that needs to occur in regards to saying things online and how to respond. There is also a Bring Your Own Device scheme the starts in grade 7 at my school and the teachers have found that the students are finding it more difficult to form friendships because they are constantly on their phones during break times, etc. The shift in how we communicate in relation to text and technology  is extremely interesting.

When I’m not teaching I can be found planning my next adventure with my husband or fixing up our own 1930s home!

I’m looking forward to learning with you all!

Kathryn

Soleado, M. (2012). Whatsapp [Photograph]. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/manuelsoleado/8203498831/