Farmer Fred

Hello, my name is actually Edward and I am hoping to teach secondary Spanish here in MT, ideally here in Missoula. I grew up in Dubuque, Iowa but have lived in Montana for a decade. I do not come from a family of farmers but I do enjoy growing vegetables in the summer, and farming powder turns in the backcountry during the winter! Hence my Ego farmer Fred.

Through my field experiences and volunteer opportunities here in Missoula, I have learned that educational technology if used correctly, can better engage students in the learning process and can help the teacher communicate more effectively with the students. I have learned that many high school classes have a "Google Classroom" where announcements and assignments can be posted, that Smart Boards can help make a lesson more efficient (if used correctly) and that smartphones can be a real hindrance in the learning process.

In this class, I would like to learn about other techniques that utilize technology in the teaching and learning process -ideally some ways to make the smartphones help, not hinder the process. I would like to learn more strategies to hook and engage the students, using technology, so that they remain engaged and interested in my classes. Lastly, I have learned about some AI experiments where robots were utilized in foreign language classes to help students work on their communication skills, this is something that fascinates me!