Internships that Teach all: Teachers, Students and Universities

Do Your Teachers Need a Personal Trainer by Aileen M. Owens

The article I decided to read this week was about how teachers of the past need to be trained on today’s technology. As a result, an internship program was created where students from Duquesne University, who were hoping to attain their teaching credentials, partnered up with teachers from the Mt. Lebanon School District. These students were in a technology education class similar to ours, where they were learning about current technology and how to incorporate these technologies into the classroom. Students who wanted to could intern at a school in the Mt. Lebanon School District and work with current educators while educating the teachers on the current technologies students had been learning in class. Eventually this internship became a part of the technology curriculum at Duquesne University. I feel that this type of program is extremely valuable to the current teachers, their students and even the college students. This internship allows teachers to be educated on current technologies and how to create lesson plans that meet the standards while incorporating technology into the classroom. In addition, the students benefited from this program because they had better informed and well-researched teachers who now posses the knowledge needed to bring technology into the classroom; plus learning had gained a new twist as smart boards and computers were brought into the classrooms. Lastly, the students from the university benefited because “they got experience providing teacher and student training in the classroom, and they created and implemented authentic lessons to include in their portfolios.” I know that a program such as this would be very advantageous to the students here at Cal State as well.

I believe that students who are trying to attain their credential learn the most from their experience in the classroom- which is why this internship was such a great idea. I hope that after I get settled in my classroom, I too can offer the same opportunity to local college students. This would benefit the college students as they train to become teachers and gain real-world experiences and applications. Also, as technologies change, I would be able to learn about the new technology so that I may stay current and continue incorporating these rapidly changing technologies into my classroom. I believe an experience such as this would even be valuable to my students. The children in my class would be able to recognize and understand the benefits of college. Also, as I have college students enter my classroom, the students would be able to interact and ask questions from a true college student. An experience like this would provide my students with a positive role model, which many children do not have. Overall, an experience such as this comes once in a lifetime, and I believe that both students and teachers alike should take advantage of these experiences when they arise.