Course Reflection for CEP 812

I have learned a lot about effective teaching strategies when integrating technology into the classroom during this course. First and foremost, I have learned that the most critical part of using any new technology in the classroom is to do extensive research, evaluation, and clarification of not only the technology, but the purpose of it or problem of practice you are trying to solve with it. I think too often we get caught up in the bells and whistles and “promises” of the actual technology itself before we really stop to analyze and address the true “solution” it may provide, if any. There is so much out there to weed through and evaluate that sometimes we get stuck in a rut. Just like using Google to do searches all the time. Every teacher I know will tell you that there is never enough time in the day to get through everything we want to with our students. We certainly don’t need “fluff” to fill time. It is critical that everything we implement has a clear purpose and is truly “change with a difference.”

Web-based technologies are very valuable and accessible but that doesn’t mean that they are all worthwhile. It has been such a pleasure to share our resources as a community of educators. I have discovered so many resources that I never knew even existed. Again, evaluation and research, prior to implementation, is key. The nice thing about sharing our favorite sites and “tricks and tips” is that you can utilize someone else’s experiences with the site and that saves a great deal of time and energy which is something that we can all benefit from!

My own personal goal for learning about technology integration during this course has been met in just the past few days when I realized how far I have come! When I began this course I was still quite timid about solving problems using technology and feeling comfortable and confident when trying something new. Wow, have I come a long way! I am now the family member and staff member people are turning to for advice and help in this area. Me, little old me, the one who just a few short weeks ago was asking others for help whenever there was a problem I was struggling with. I am now educated enough and confident enough to find solutions to my own problems. When I couldn’t get my podcast to download to my blog, instead of waiting for my husband to get home or asking someone at school how to do it, I immediately went online, did the research, downloaded a tutorial, and figured it out all by myself. The amazing thing is, I even understood WHY it wasn’t working and how I fixed it. Now that is progress for someone who really only knew how to email and use Word in the fall.

Of course a lack of time for using all the new technology we came across during this course has been one area that has hindered my learning and achieving the maximum benefit from the course. I could honestly just get lost for days checking out new web-based technologies and programs to use. Unfortunately, this is not a reality and probably not healthy either. It is all about balance. Too bad I need to sleep!

I am comfortable enough with technology integration that I am advising and giving great resources to other teachers in my building that I am subbing for. I can use the Promethean Boards and flipcharts with confidence and go to the computer lab with students and teach them something new for a change!

Yes, I do have new goals both short and long term for integrating technology into my future classroom and using it at home with my own children. I have been teaching my own children how to use Audacity and Movie Maker with the Flip Cameras I purchased for them for their birthdays. We have been doing all kinds of great movie making and even claymation with them. One of my short term goals this summer is to get my 9 year old and 11 year old more comfortable with various productivity technology tools so they can use them when developing projects for school and creating their own masterpieces. I have also been researching web-based technology to use with them to increase their math facts, spelling accuracy and typing skills (which I could use as well).

My long term goals for school are to be comfortable enough and knowledgeable in current technologies that I can apply to my own classroom. I am hoping to have a classroom of my own in the fall and I would like to use blogging, wikis, and a classroom website to help with my teaching. I think it is true that if you don’t use it you lose it, so I plan on staying on top of current issues and research in this area throughout my career. This will mean that I will need to attend and even organize, professional development meetings about it and continue into the official master’s program for my Educational Technology degree.

I think I can honestly say that at this point in my life I am finally comfortable enough with technology that I don’t feel like I am walking uphill in sand every time I try something new. I no longer yell at my computer and get so impatient with it that I think it has it out for me when something goes wrong (ok, once or twice I may freak a little). I am now more comfortable and confident using technology both at school and home. This means that I am utilizing it more effectively and it is truly starting to be a “change with a difference” in my life!