Reflection of My Learning

Understanding the Impact of Technology on Education, Work, and Society, has helped me develop 21^st Century technology skills in the areas of blogging, using wikis, creating podcasts and keeping up-to-date with technology issues through the use of RSS feeds. Not only are these tools more interactive and up-to-date, they are also environmentally friendly. In today’s economic times, districts are desperately searching for ways to conserve money. Will all families have Internet access? No, but even if only 50% of families find their information from school electronically, that puts a huge amount of money back into the needs of the students and not spent on paper.

This course has also restored the “fun” that has been missing in teaching lately with the implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act. For several years my teaching has focused on “meeting the standards” and preparing my students for the PSSA, the Pennsylvania System of School Achievement. I have learned through this course that I can still meet the standards set by my state, just in a new, more creative way. Instead of the traditional role of teacher delivering information to students to regurgitate for a test and then forget, I’ve learned that inquiry based learning will have longer lasting effects since the students internalize their learning, making it meaningful for themselves (Laureate Education, 2008).

I plan to continue expanding my knowledge of technology by subscribing to technology blogs and websites through their RSS feeds. This was I can stay up-to-date with current technology and collaborate with other educators for ideas and support. I am fortunate that my grade level team is also interested in integrating more technology into our classroom, so I have a built-in support system when I go to work everyday.

Within the last week, I also subscribed to a technology magazine for teachers that is published bi-monthly. It is a free publication with valuable ideas and new products.

I also will continue to be outspoken about the use of technology in all areas of education. We cannot keep teaching with 20^th century products and ideals when we are now living in the 21^st century. Times change, methodologies change and so must the integration of computers and inquiry based learning in our classrooms.

Two long-term goals I want to implement in my classroom within the next two years include creating a blog with my students and also providing more opportunities for inquiry based learning. My first “project” was to find a blog provider that wasn’t blocked by our school server. SchoolBlog on ePals can be moderated and also only open to administration, teachers, parents and my students. The next step setting this up in my classroom was to get approval from our Director of Technology who also had to “run it past” our superintendent. I have already begun preparing a classroom blog for students to interact with each other. My next step is to introduce my students to what a blog is, model its use and expected behaviors, and then begin allowing students to post their thoughts and ideas related to things we do in class (i.e. science experiments, literature circle groups, projects, etc.)

The second goal I have is implementing more inquiry-based projects into my classroom. To accomplish this goal I plan to search educational websites for WebQuest projects that I can use with my curriculum. If none are available, I plan to create at least one for my students to use to research/explore a topic. This will require a lot of searching in different areas, putting together open-ended type questions for students to answer and guide their learning toward a final product.

I look forward to continuing my educational journey with integrating technology in the classroom!

Resources:

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2008). Bringing the fun into teaching with technology: Understanding the impact of technology on education, work, and society [DVD]. Baltimore, MD: Author.