Final Course Reflections
Reflection 1:
- 1.1 In what ways would you revise your original answer?
- Orginially I had said, "I would How will you use technology in your teaching?", will I intend to use technology in almost every aspect of my teaching...... I intend to have numerous types of technology at the finger tips of my students because through using these devices they are able to open their mind to learning and make their knowledge more concrete. Some items would be used in small and large group settings so they would also be able to facilitate other skills such as communication, interactions with their peers, problem solving...." However, I didn't really take into consideration how I would use these materials besides having them available to the students. However, through the course of the semester I have learned and thought critically about the "purpose" of using technology and "how". These devices shouldn't just be placed in classrooms, although I believe students should have access to these as incentives. Instead of just giving them a "free-for-all", technology should challenge students in a way that deepens their thought processes and connects them to issues to the world around them.
- 1.2 What skills, topics, or other aspects of this course did you personally find valuable and useful?
- Overall, this course was extremely helpful because it completely altered my views of technology within the classroom and made me realize I AM capable of using these in my own future classroom. Two assignments I found extremely beneficial were "Pinterest Interest" and the "Management and Support Resources". I really liked "Pinterest Interest" because I was able to explore various ideas of other teachers related to my grade level and see what they had to share with others. Pinterest is a great way to brainstorm future lessons or other ideas for classrooms and I am definitely addicted! I liked the "Management an Support Resources" because I was able to explore various website and create an archive that I am later able to visit. All of these resources will be extremely beneficial for me not only while student teaching but also when I have a classroom of my own!
- 1.3 What skills, knowledge and attitudes did you learn or practice as a result of developing your course website that were beyond the objectives for individual projects?
- This course helped aid in the continual development of certain skills such as; time management and quality workmanship. Since this was an online course it was extremely easy to fall behind and I personally am not the best at keeping up with online courses, which is one of the reasons I prefer in-class lectures instead. There were a few points where I did fall behind, however I was able to get back on track. It was stressful catching up because if I had stayed on top of things I would have reduced my stress by a lot! I'm thankful Dr. Sherman was helpful throughout the semester and continued to remain flexible. This class truly taught me the importance of time management. Another skill I practiced was developing a high quality of work. Since the weebly website we created was a portfolio of our assignments
- 1.4 How have any of the assignments changed the way you think about teaching with technology?
- I personally feel all of the assignments contributed to altering my thoughts about teaching with technology. Prior to this course the only experience "teaching with technology" I had entailed using SmartBoards and tablets, however this course was much more then that. Each of the assignments were designed to challenge the way I thought, as well as, allowed me to create a detailed portfolio of my assignments to reflect upon in the future. This course showed me how easy and accessible technology within the classroom is and that through a little creativity ordinary learning experiences can be transformed to capture the minds of students and deepen their development.
- 1.5 What do you plan to do in the near future to continue learning more about the things in this course that sparked your interest?
- Throughout the semester I was provided an abundance of resources regarding technology and news. In order to continue developing knowledge I will continue to review these resources to stay informed of any new techniques or materials. Following other professional organizations is also a good idea because of they specialize in particular areas and provide a surplus of resources that are free. All in all, I feel the most important thing to do is commit to being a continual learner and staying update with the news because technology is always adapting. Practices that might have been favored a few months ago could have already been replaced by another best practice.
Reflection 2:
- 2.1 How do the skills detailed in the Partnership for 21st Century Skills' (P21.org) framework fit into Manifesto 15?
- I found that both focused on skills that fostered deep cognitive thought processes in students. For example, if one were to compare both skills they would notice trends such as analyzing information and then applying what they learned. Instead of just "cramming" or "memorizing" students are actually thinking deeply about the content and the application process reinforces the material they have learned. In addition to this reinforcement, both sets of skills focus on the importance of technology and use these resources to enhance learning processes and foster relationships those involved in the learning processes.
- I found that both focused on skills that fostered deep cognitive thought processes in students. For example, if one were to compare both skills they would notice trends such as analyzing information and then applying what they learned. Instead of just "cramming" or "memorizing" students are actually thinking deeply about the content and the application process reinforces the material they have learned. In addition to this reinforcement, both sets of skills focus on the importance of technology and use these resources to enhance learning processes and foster relationships those involved in the learning processes.
- 2.2 Why do you think many schools in America are so far removed from realizing the principles detailed in the work of Manifesto 15 and P21.org's framework?
- I feel that schools are so far removed from realizing these principles because of the emphasis placed on NLCB and standardized testing. In the past, this emphasis removed free thought from the classroom because teachers were focused upon teaching to the test. There was little extra time to think about these principals and what else can be done within the classroom to facilitate the development of students. Since Obama's signing of the new document we can all hope to see new changes within the classroom.
- 2.3 Describe specific ways in which you can work within the existing system to help integrate the twelve principles of Manifesto 15 into your practice. Be specific.
- I think it is most important to remember "1.0 schools cannot teach 3.0 students", "kids are people too" and "if technology is the answer, what is the question?". I agree completely with principle #2, our education system is outdated and needs to be redefined to show our true purpose of education. If you examine education systems of other countries one would observe that our country is falling significantly behind despite the influence of our country. In order to maintain this dominant influence it is crucial to create an education system that will allow for advancement and needs to facilitate free thinking to promote these new ideas. I can implement this within my classroom by implementing more creative free writes and problem solving techniques to encourage students to think more abstractly on issues and concepts around them. Secondly, I feel that too often teachers and other staff fail to recognize that students are people too and do not present them with the respect they deserve. If students feel respected and understand the critical role they place in their education they are more likely to be more motivated and develop positive attitudes toward learning. I can implement this respect within classrooms by allowing students to voice their concerns and treating them how I would other adults. Lastly, principle #4 focused on how as a society we are quick to jump to technologies and using them within the classroom before fully understanding how to use them to maximize the full level development within students. Instead of jumping eagerly, I think its important to brainstorm and truly think how to use these materials within the classroom so you can understand how to effectively use them.
Reflection 3:
- 3.1 After reviewing these recommended standards, critique your own abilities in being able to perform the specific skills described in each of the five categories:
- Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity
- Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessment
- Model Digital-Age Work and Learning
- Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility
- Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership
- I feel that I have developed the skills needed to effectively design and develop digital age learning experiences and assessment, specifically components part "A" and "C". All of the assigned projects this semester focused on aspects that would allow teachers to adjust learning experiences to fit the diverse needs of students. Also, all of the learning tools also focused on students creativity because they were out of the ordinary. I can honestly say I did not use any of these resources in the past and if I did have prior experience with the tools it was not for the intended purpose we used them for in this course. I do feel that I could benefit greatly from extra experience, such as enrolling in an additional course to help develop more confidence in this area. Another area I think I grew in would be "professional growth and leadership", which is what I believe this course was developed upon. The last two assignments were specifically centered upon this which I thought was extremely beneficial. As an educator it is important to take advantage of these opportunities because they allow you to grow to the individual you are meant to be.