Preparing Students With 21st Century Skills

As both an educator and a learner in the world of technology, I am most definitely an "immigrant".  I am still learning the basics of using a computer for something other than a social media.   I am learning something new each and every time I sit down to work on a project.  This can be very frustrating and overwhelming because for the most part I am teaching myself these skills as I go.  I do not feel very well prepared to teach 21st century skills at a very high level.    Because I teach in the primary grades, I feel that it may be somewhat easier for me to learn the skills that are necessary for meet to meet the needs of this developmental age.  I like to think that my students leave my classroom with enough exposure to technology that is appropriate for them and with the curiousity and desire to learn more at the next level.
I face many challenges in regards to 21st Century teaching and learning, however, my biggest strength is that I am getting more confident in trying new things with technology without the fear that I once possessed. I'm hoping that this old dog can still learn some new tricks!

How is technology changing my role as an educator?

As I am working on obtaining my Master's degree in education after stepping away from the profession for nearly 15 years to raise a family, I am quickly seeing how the world of learning has rapidly changed.  Technology has changed the framework of how students learn and how eductors must respond to meet their needs in the 21st Century.   For someone of my generation, this poses a great deal of stress and uncertainty when learning to adapt to all of these changes.   I strive to meet the standards placed on teachers by the NETS to incorporate technology into my daily lessons.  I feel that with the advance of technology I have been able to do a better job of advancing the creativity of students, have created learning activities to better address their diverse abilities, and have been able to better communicate with parents and peers because of digital media. 
With all of the benefits that technology offers, there is still many barriers that prevent it's use within my professional setting.  Without adequate funding there is not enough equipment or training to be consistent within our building.  Many teachers have used their own personal funds to purchase items, while others are not able to do so.  
When thinking about my fear of learning the new techniques necessary to teach in a technological world, I feel that just as with anything new, I can rely on my faith to help get me through the dark unknown areas.  With God, all things are possible, and I will do my best to not let fear stop me from trying something new.  There are bound to be some frustrations, but if I never try, I will never grow. 
My personal goals with technology involve boosting my confidence in using it on a more frequent basis.  I hope to be able to find ways to better communicate with parents that might impact their child's education.  I hope to be able to set up a classroom web page to showcase the work my students are doing.  I also hope to be able to find ways to use technology to help me with the diverse learning styles of my students.