Today we interview Louise Morgan, a passionate teacher from Texas (USA) with a strong involvement in social media and education. She has taken part in all our last activities with their amazing students and we have spent a great time with them. Her answers are really worthy!

Louise Morgan
Twitter: @MrsMorgansClass
Blog: Mrs Morgan’s Superstars

Chromville. When did you realize that you wanted to be a teacher?

Louise Morgan: After being a stay-at-home mom for 10 years and running a home daycare, I realized that I had a passion and gift for teaching. When my children were old enough to go to school, I returned to school and earned my teaching certificate.

Why must education work hand in hand with technology?

We need to teach to the way todays children learn and prepare them for the quickly changing job market that they will be faced with upon graduation. Technology integration is no longer an option. There are many resources and tools available that teach the skills required for todays learners and future workforce.

Do you remember your first modern electronic device?

This will date me, but I was a teenager when the Sony Walkman was first introduced. High quality portable music!!!

What do you like about augmented reality?

I like the interactive aspect and the possibilities for creating amazing AR projects with student-created work.

And about Chromville?

I like that the students are helping create the histories of the characters and villages.

How did you meet us?

Twitter or maybe Two Guys and Some iPads? I can´t remember 😉

What issue does Chromville resolve? 

I can integrate Chromville into language arts, writing, and technology standards.

What innovations would you like that be incorporated into Chromville?

A platform for sharing and communicating across classrooms.

You usually attend lots of events associated with education. Why is this so important?

I attend conferences and workshops to connect with and learn from like-minded educators.

Do schools understand the importance of introducing technology into education? 

I believe they understand the importance of introducing technology, but many are reluctant due to lack of knowledge and confidence. It is important to build a PLN (Personal Learning Network) in order to learn from others.

Do you think that a new educational community is being developed independently of the official educational institutions? Is the first one more updated?

Twitter, edcamps, and conferences are proof that educators are seeking like-minded educators to learn from and collaborate with. There are many factions with many interests. The information gained from these informal interactions are much more up-to-date than what might be provided by official education institutions.

Each year there are new generations that are more used to using technology all the time. Have the digital natives any advantage regarding us?

Absolutely! Every year, I notice how more tech-savvy my 2nd graders are. They have been using their parents phones, tablets, and computers since they were toddlers and are very proficient at using devices. It´s our job as educators to teach them how to use these tools to create, problem solve, communicate, explore, and learn. We can teach that technology can be used for creation and not just consumption.

Which are the three best things about your profession? 

1. Working with children.

2. Education is ever-changing. There is always something new to learn and try in the classroom.

3. Fellow educators rock!

How will education be  in 10 years?

It´s hard to say, but one thing is for certain, the main goal of education should always be doing what is best for children. Preparing them socially, emotionally, and academically should always be the number one goal regardless of the resources we have or do not have.

What person associated with education would you suggest for be interviewed?

Other great librarians to consider: Sherry Gick @libraryfanatic and Shawna Ford @shawnaford1

Describe your job in 140 characters.

I educate, nurture, and prepare my students by offering challenges, differentiating instruction, and modeling good citizenship.

What person associated with education would you suggest for be interviewed?

Robyn Theissen (@RobynThiessen) and Jan Hodge (@janhodgelibrary)