Me and teaching with ICTs (Tight but Loose)

Me and teaching with ICTs (Tight but Loose) 

A Robert Plant Fan Adopts a Led Zeppelin Approach  

I finished the readings on Thursday this time and I related a bit better to the content, without the last minute stress of week one.  I can relate to the idea of a structured but open learning environment where there is a focus, provided by the course design and designer, but a range of options for students to explore.  This seems to provide them with the opportunity for choice within a framework, so they can select from a wide range of materials in order to begin to synthesise a response/opinion.  It also encourages them to remain open to a range of perspectives. 
So, I think I do understand the theory but I need to put it all into practice.  I probably do when I teach, and sometimes achieve this with the use of some technology, but I need to take a few more steps forward.  I am becoming more and more concerned with the age gap between myself and students, and I know that my job is to relate to them and facilitate their learning.  In the past I have worked on this by watching movies they like, for example, so that I could dialogue about relevant texts/characters.  Now I need to become more familiar with the IPad, for example.  I need to take what I know about teaching and incorporate the technology. 
Time away from work when my children were young has left me racing to catch up.  I have run very fast, but there's still more.  I think this will change, too.  It is a bit challenging, and sometimes I don't feel up for it, but then I think about the positives that have come from pushing myself to become more familiar with new ways of teaching.  I don't want to become one of those teacher with the out-dated yellow sheets so this is important.
The education system seems to be a closed system.  It is possible to use a range of materials to teach, but they all have to meet the criteria as appropriate to certain age groups.  Teaching minors can be tricky, in that there are a lot of legalities involved.  The university is less rigid, but I am aware that my communication with students, for example, has to be through Blackboard.  However, last time I taught the Bridging Course there were links embedded in the weekly reading to provide quizzes to be included in tutorials.  One problem with that was an unreliable wireless system in the university which made me nervous about relying on these links as part of lessons, as ways to make teaching/learning grammar a little more dynamic. I probably need to speak to someone at the school about how to create a blended learning environment to make sure I understand the limitations.  I know one teacher who uses a wiki to collect assignments from upper school students. 
The blended approach seems to structure in collaborative and individual learning.  This is a style that appeals to me and fits with my understanding of a teacher as someone who needs to "hold on loosely".

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