It’s just the beginning….a reflection….
Wow, I can’t believe how fast eight weeks can go! This was one of the classes I was looking most forward to taking, but by far has been the most challenging. For me, I think it has been so challenging but it made me realize that I am even less tech savvy than I thought I was! I was so proud of myself for having a class website, and for creating virtual webquests- little did I know what else was out there- and how little I knew!!
So, it’s just the beginning for me on this journey of technology in the classroom. I thought I was aware of what was the “new” technology being used. This class made me realize I was wrong! Specifically, I thought blog were websites, and I had no idea what a wiki was- I honestly thought it was a picture! As a professional teacher, I learned how to access technology to make it work for me, and to streamline my learning. At first, it seemed like I was making more work for myself, but then I learned how to use the RSS feeds to access the technology sites I used most, and I also learned how to link myself to others in the class. Aside from using some of my new skills to develop activities for my students, first and foremost, I will be able to use my new technology skills to develop myself as a learner so that I can be a better educator.
For me, my technology course has really pushed me as a student. It was eye opening because it put me in my student’s shoes for eight weeks. I really learned I have as much to learn as my students. I also realized that I need to push myself as a student so that I can become a better teacher. In the world of technology, there is always something new.
My understanding of the teaching and learning process has changed. The seven 21st Century Lifelong Skills, were a new group of skills I was unaware of as a teacher. Trilling (2005) help me better understand that collaboration, cooperative, and critical thinking are skills that are essential to the success of my students. To ensure this success, I need to also apply these skills to my teaching practices so that I can model for my students.
As a special educator, my perspective of my classroom has been teacher centered. Initially, my curriculum is developed around my students Individualized Education Plans, but the actual teaching I do tends to be teacher centered. I teach, the students listen. I model, the students perform. I learned a lot from the concepts Thornburg (2008) introduced regarding the new set of skills students will need in today’s workplace. Thornburg’s (2008) explanation of how today’s business problems focus on solving problems as a team was an “AHA” moment for me. I realized that my teacher-centered model needs to go out the window, and I need to start focusing on a student-centered approach. My students need to learn how to work in groups, how to share ideas, and most importantly learn how to identify their strengths and use those strengths to relay information to their team members. Dede (2008) also supports the importance of collaboration and using teamwork in the classroom. Teamwork will allow my students to be the ‘captains’ of their learning by figuring out the problems they need to solve, and then working as a team to find the answers.
In order to be the best teacher I can be, I need to continue to expand my knowledge of learning, teaching, and leading with technology. I can do this in two ways. First, I need to grow as a student. I need to keep up with new and current practices, and find a way to implement them into my teaching. The second way I can expand my knowledge in these areas is by focusing on the seven 21st Century Lifelong Skills described by Trilling (2005). Specifically, I need to focus on collaboration. With today’s technology collaboration has taken on a whole new meaning. Not only can I collaborate with those in my building, but through technology I’ve met people through this class, but also through different educational blogs I’ve found on the web. By collaborating with other teachers, I can find new ways to teach, and work with others to develop ideas that I have myself.
Two goals I am setting for myself is to continue to develop my blog, and to find a way to integrate computers into my classroom. Practice makes perfect. I need to practice what I preach by implementing what I model for my students. By continuing with my blog, I will be reaching out to other educators. This will help me grow as a teacher through collaboration. It’s very easy to start things and not finish, or not find time for it. My short-term goal for this blog will be to log on at least once a week. Once I start, I’m hoping it becomes a part of my routine. In order to accomplish my second goal, I need to jump through some systematic obstacles- mainly money. In my school we have school computer labs, but only teacher computers in the classroom. Money for technology has been chosen to be spent on computers that must be shared. The difficulty with this is access to the computers. Although there’s a sign up sheet, classes are restricted to a certain numbers of days a month. Some of the technology pieces I want to integrate into my class require a weekly time commitment. I would love to be able to provide my class with a set of classroom computers so that students could help develop projects and activities week by week and not have computer access act as a restriction.
At the beginning of this course, I thought I knew what I was getting into. I thought I would learn some quick little activities I could use to integrate computers into my classroom so that I could make learning fun. Once I starting developing these skills, and learning more about technology and 21st Century skills, I realized that Technology is today’s learning- not just something to use to make learning fun. Technology is a skill that my students need to contribute to the society they will be working and living in.
RESOURCES:
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2008). Dede, D. (Speaker). Technology Interfaces. In “Understanding the impact of technology on education, work, and society.” [Educational Video]. Baltimore: Author.
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2008). Thornburg, D. (Speaker). Skills for the 21st Century. In “Understanding the impact of technology on education, work, and society.” [Educational Video]. Baltimore: Author.
Trilling, B. (2005). Towards learning societies and the global challenges for learning with ICT. TechForum. Retrieved from http://www.techlearning.com/techlearning/pdf/events/techforum/ny05/Toward_Learning_Societies.pdf
