Teacher spotlight: Changing with the times yields dividends
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Alaska teacher Amy Riddle explores the possibilities of the Internet with her classes
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November 9, 2000
Web posted at: 12:44 PM EST (1744 GMT)
Amy Riddle knew that she wanted to teach business classes while in high school. At that time, the leading technology was an electric typewriter. She headed to college prepared with a typewriter and plenty of Whiteout. She continued to believe throughout her undergraduate coursework that she would be teaching business classes using an electric typewriter.
She soon realized that technology was developing quickly. Riddle knew that she wanted to learn "marketable skills" to teach her students. She continued to educate herself about the many uses of technology and the Internet.
Riddle teaches business/computer applications to sixth- through 12th-graders in Naknek, Alaska. About two years ago, her school district went online. She realized that she did not have all the answers about the Internet. She told her students that she was not an expert in computer technology but that she would share the information she had with classes and would appreciate it if they did the same. Through these exchanges, a wealth of information was discovered.
Riddle then took advantage of creating an online newspaper. She said that the online paper provides an opportunity for students to show their work to the world. One student shared with her how excited he was that his mother was able to view his assignments from another city.
Her excitement about creating online classrooms has spread throughout the building, and several colleagues joined her in using the online classroom to communicate with students and parents. Her favorite features are the "paperless" assignments and the additional opportunities found on the Internet. She said her only regret is that she did not use the online classroom earlier.
RELATED SITE:
HighWired.com: Bristol Bay Borough, Alaska, School District online paper
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