Reflection of CEP 811

Before this course I still thought that technology could hold it's own in the educational environment to help motivate and educate the students. My eyes are really opening to the fact that without specific teaching strategies addressed with the use of the technology, not only does it lose it's value, but it can also hinder student's learning by just becoming a distraction. Effective teaching strategies should be the "pathway" or "map" we use to help us develop powerful and productive technology integration into our curriculum.

I have had a difficult time being the "guide on the side" in the past. I am starting to understand the impact of letting the students do WebQuests and StAirs and become more involved in their own learning and discoveries. In the past I have relied more on the "sage on the stage" approach because I thought I had to be in control and cover all the curriculum guidelines exactly how I saw fit. What I am learning is that you have to let the students be more responsible for their own learning through problem solving and discovery based projects using the technology that is available. This is definitely an area I will continue to grow in.

Before CEP 811 I was extremely intimidated by the thought of making a web page and I had no idea at all how to link things together. Honestly, I didn't even understand how this whole internet thing worked. I now see the organization of it and the "big picture" better. The whole "host" thing was news to me. I am really feeling much more comfortable now. Instead of asking for my hubby's help at every turn, I will try to figure out the "glitch" myself and I have even taught him a few things.

I have learned a lot more about blogging as well. I didn't know you could set up authors and set parameters for who could comment. I can now see this as a very valuable teaching tool.

It was fascinating to read everyone's thoughts about how to implement various technology in their classroom. It really gave me some great ideas. I have started keeping a list of these in a special file that I can refer back to in the future. I am also saving a lot of the 'tips and tricks' ideas in a file.

In the future, I want to learn more about setting up virtual classrooms and keeping track of student records and assessments on the computer and with electronic portfolios.