Teaching with Technology Spotlight

In this edition, we focus our spotlight on Victor Rodriquez, an English Language Arts teacher at Lamar Academy.

Victor was born and raised in McAllen, Texas and graduated from St. Edward’s University with a Bachelor’s in English Education. He returned to the Valley and began teaching at Options in Education High School, now known as Lamar Academy. “I have just begun my twelfth year at Lamar Academy and have been involved in my campus by taking on a variety of responsibilities.”

“I recently earned a Master’s degree in Information Technology, because I believe that technology is here to stay. To succeed in today’s world, one must evolve with the advancement and enhancement that technology brings.”

Some of Victor’s hobbies include movies, music, reading, video games, creating music remixes, and traveling to new destinations with his wife.

Victor incorporates technology through various projects, at various skill levels, in order to allow his students to develop confidence and experience through the numerous technological mediums that exist today. “Whether it is something basic (a PowerPoint presentation) or something as complex as a media presentation that compares two historical literary characters, using video, music, etc., students are given the opportunity to explore the world around them.”

“With the Vision 20/20 grant that our campus received, all students and teachers are given a laptop that allows them to work on assignments at home and in class, using a multitude of programs to express their creativity and make their assignments more creative, flashy, and unique. This also gives the students a sense of pride, because they can push themselves to produce higher quality work than they were able to do in the past.”

“Last year, our Criminal Justice teacher and I, created a mock trial based on William Shakespeare’s “The Tragedy of Macbeth.” We utilized digital cameras to reconstruct crime scenes. Riddles and video recordings served as evidence, and comprehensive reports from the students illustrated not only what they learned from the play, but also the legal aspects gained from the Criminal Justice class. The students were very positive about their involvement and many want to do a similar project this year.”

“Technology is at the forefront of our society, and as educators, it is crucial that we embrace it in order to give our students the best opportunities to succeed in the business world. Technology evolves faster than any other type of industry, and we would be doing our students a disservice if we did not incorporate it into our curriculum. With this in mind, every academic unit I teach incorporates technology that is based on the various strengths of my students. Aside from using word processing programs for essays, some of my students will create video projects or commercials that advertise the campus. Others will use it to create presentations dealing with school events, the retelling of a literary work, or as medium of expression that can also be tied to other core subjects.”

Mr. Rodriguez believes that the use of this technology can better prepare his students for post secondary education and success in the workplace. “Colleges and universities are relying more on technology than ever before. Syllabi, assignments, video conferencing, tutorials, etc. are now posted on professors’ websites. This makes students more accountable for their learning and provides necessary resources for student success.”

“Teaching and training students to utilize technology will never be a minus because almost every job that exists relies on some form of technology to operate. Whether it is maintaining vast databases of financial records, keeping accounts of business transactions, webpage advertising, or network security, it is clear that technology is here to stay. Giving students the opportunity to gain experience in technology will definitely prepare them for their future, no matter what career avenue or continued education route they may choose to follow.”

“As far as my teaching philosophy is concerned, one must remember not to pass judgment on students. Let them grow, and help them to become individuals who can succeed, by giving them a chance to show what they know and what they can do. Teachers are meant to inspire after all.”

We thank Mr. Rodriguez for using technology to inspire and prepare his students for a successful future.