Jeff Erixon

School: Beveridge Magnet School
Subject: Science

This is my 5th year of teaching. I used to be a programmer but wanted a more rewarding career. My Bacholar degree and masters are both from Peru State. I have an ESL endorsement from Concordia University. In March I will begin teaching a methods class for their online ESL endorsement program. In the summer I enjoy tent campng with my family in the many National and state parks in the US.

What are your reflections about using media in education?

Today's students learn differently from the way most adults learned. The explosion of technology in their lifetime has rewried their brains differently than ours. We need to reach them in new innovative ways that they will be able to understand. I surveyed my students the other day on how they learn away from school. Less than 10% actually read something to learn, they all watch or interact to learn and we need ways to allow that to happen in the classroom.

What is one thing about the Omaha Science Media Project that you'd share with other teachers?

Don't let your fears or apprehensions of technology hold you back. let a student figure out how things work and teach you.