Brant Switzler Readington Middle School Readington, NJ
Brant Switzler holds the title of Enrichment Teacher at Readington Middle School. In this role not only has he had the opportunity to push students to explore new technologies, but also to collaborate with his colleagues to create learning experiences that truly enrich student life at RMS
How long have you been working to infuse technology into your classes?
I have been working to infuse technology into my classroom from the first day I began teaching school, some eleven years ago. I didn't know a whole lot about how to use the technology let alone about how to use it in the classroom, but Mr. Nanney was always willing to take the time to show me the ropes.
Is there any specific area of technology you are presently really excited about? How do you think it will increase and/or benefit student learning?
Video is maybe the area I am most excited about. With the advent of faster, higher capacity computers and with the world becoming more and more visual, it is only natural that video creation will become the next frontier in the area of student presentation. It is exciting for students to see themselves in video productions. The process of creating a video involves all of the organizational, critical thinking, problem solving, and editing skills that are involved in the writing process. The added benefit is that students find the medium fresh so are motivated to excel.
You work as part of a collaborative enrichment team. Can you share how this experience benefits the students in your school?
The tech team ( Mr. Skara, Mr. Hansen, Mr. Nanney, Mrs. Langheinrich, Mrs. Hoesly and I) brings together diverse backgrounds and perspectives that allow us to create rich and connected opportunities for our students. Each project is brainstormed, revised, presented, reviewed, revised, edited and analyzed (not necessarily in that order) to give students the opportunity to be creative, to address pertinent skills, and critical knowledge while using technologies that will be critical to their success in the future.
As an enrichment teacher, you are often partnering with a colleague in a content area. Can you share examples of some of the units on which you have collaborated?
Social Studies - 7th Grade - Daily Life in Pax Romana
Greece and Rome - A Comparative Study
6th Grade - Sub -Saharan Africa
India and China
From your personal experience, why do feel we need to give students the opportunity to collaborate with their peers?
Students feed off of each other. They develop ideas more fully and begin to understand the perspectives others can offer in the solution to a problem. They learn to deal with varying personalities as well as the time constraints that will exist in all jobs of the future.
Is there anything else you would like to share?
What makes the process work for me is the close collaboration with the tech team. Each has particular areas of expertise that when combined allows us to create terrific learning experiences for kids and allows me to get better at unit and project creation for the future.
role not only has he had the opportunity to push students to explore new technologies, but also to collaborate with his colleagues to create learning experiences that truly enrich student life at RMS
Video is maybe the area I am most excited about. With the advent of faster, higher capacity computers and with the world becoming more and more visual, it is only natural that video creation will become the next frontier in the area of student presentation. It is exciting for students to see themselves in video productions. The process of creating a video involves all of the organizational, critical thinking, problem solving, and editing skills that are involved in the writing process. The added benefit is that students find the medium fresh so are motivated to excel.
brings together diverse backgrounds and perspectives that allow us to create rich and connected opportunities for our students. Each project is brainstormed, revised, presented, reviewed, revised, edited and analyzed (not necessarily in that order) to give students the opportunity to be creative, to address pertinent skills, and critical knowledge while using technologies that will be critical to their success in the future.
From your personal experience, why do feel we need to give students the opportunity to collaborate with their peers?
collaboration with the tech team. Each has particular areas of expertise that when combined allows us to create terrific learning experiences for kids and allows me to get better at unit and project creation for the future.