Meet the Teacher: Jennifer Gallatin

Welcome to Meet the Teacher – CodeMonkey’s blog segment where teachers from all over the world share their experiences on what it’s like being an educator. Today’s post features Jennifer Gallatin, a K-6 Computer Applications Teacher at Northside & Southside Elementary Schools in Hartford City, Indiana

“I grew up in a family of teachers so I was very aware of the environment. My favorite subjects were US History & band, and ultimately I ended up as a music major at Ball State. I added computers to my course load after a few years of teaching just music, and 20 years later I have a masters in Curriculum/Ed Tech and teach computers full time now.

I connect through a wide variety of platforms, such as social media, webinars, etc. Being connected offers many opportunities for growth and development, both in education and technology. By using a wide variety of methods to both gain knowledge, interact, and communicate, you have the opportunity to share out your vision and also to take in the vision of others in the field.

Working with children offers a variety of views on many things. Many times we have blinders on as far as being immersed in our own environments, whether they be socio- economically, ethnically, etc. By working with children you suddenly become a part of a much wider picture, and as so you must adapt to meet them on their terms and to offer them the best possible educational outcome.

It’s important to me that my students understand the role technology plays, and should play, in their lives, without overstating its reach or importance. Technology is now vital to us, but it should not be the centerpiece of who we are and what we do.

Don’t be afraid of the technology. Kids are sponges, and most technology is very forgiving. You don’t have to know the ins & outs of everything to use it; you have to manage and guide student behaviors. Teach them how to use things correctly, the consequences of both good & bad choices, and most importantly, that technology is a tool, a means for an outcome, for life, not just education.”