Because of my own educational background (and hiatus endured during it), I have a distinct advantage in that I value my existing education very highly.  Since I value my education so highly, I feel I can better instill the value of education to my students.

I believe all students should leave high school feeling a sense of awe and wonder in becoming citizens of the world, be it in higher education or the workforce.  I believe students should feel connected to figures of the past, both real and fictional, and be able to empathize with peoples of all walks of life, whether they agree with their lifestyles and choices or not. 

Because education and technology is ever changing, students will be taught using the latest technologies available (including apps available through smart devices), and will be expected to want to utilize these devices of their own volition.  Implementing different levels of SAMR (depending on the assignment, however shifting towards Redefinition as a main level) I want to be available to students, utilizing my skills in English language and literature, through technology, and through classroom management for any need they have.

Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory will play a major role in my classroom, as I expect many students will have varying needs academically.  I wish for them to be able to recognize what technologies work for them specifically, and what does not, bearing in mind their peers will have the same concerns.  I want for my students to learn as much or more from each other as they can from me as their teacher. Utilizing a student-centered classroom, and instilling a love of literature, I hope that my students will take what they have learned academically and apply it in real life.

In my classroom, I plan to use an interactive whiteboard regularly during instruction and diversify the methods by which I present lessons.  Because students have various differing learning styles, using both an interactive whiteboard and a BYOD model which will allow my students to choose what individual technologies work best for them.