Sunday, April 25, 2010

Reflection of Course

I can honestly say that this class, Understanding the Impact of Technology on Education, Work, and Society was not at all what I thought. That is a good thing. I expected theories, and this is what you should do, and go practice using this bit of technology, and would be very scholarly, and of little practicality. I am so glad that at the forefront of the class and our success in the class was using the technology we focused on each week. This, most importantly, helped me to develop my technology skills. For two years, I have been badgering my Technology Integration Specialist at school to get together with me and figure out how to do wikis. My media specialist has recommended to me on several occasions to explore the use of podcasts in my class. Both of these technological applications kept finding themselves at the bottom of my “to do” list, replaced by other teacher-things. This class not only enabled me, but forced me, to explore both of these applications of technology. In addition, I have gained a better understanding of blogs, their uses, etc. In fact, it has pushed me to go beyond thinking it was a good idea to use more technology in my classes to actually using it. I think it also gave me the confidence to defend my use of technology as well as helping me sharpen my skills.




There are three ways that I am going to expand my knowledge of technology integration. I want to experiment more and become more adept with using Audacity and creating podcasts. In addition, I want explore the use of video and publishing mini-lessons on the parents web page. I want my students to begin developing videos, too. I absolutely loved the “In Plain English” videos we watched and think we can create In-Plain-English-esque videos for class. The other way I need to expand my knowledge is to create lessons of interest for English. I sometimes think that having the students just publish their work on my Adamsland Ning is doing the same thing in a different way. I know that I need to teach reading and writing standards, but I want to do so in new ways. I want to use technology to take my lessons to a different level, to engage and motivate the students. I also need to find a balance between teaching the reading and writing standards and the technology standards that all of our students need to know.



My first long-term goal is to go paperless in two years. I have been toying with this a bit this nine weeks. We’ve gone through four weeks of this quarter and everything the students have turned in has been turned in electronically. It has been successful so far. I think that the leap is not as large as one would imagine. With my school’s Smart Board technology even quizzes and tests can be done electronically. I also plan to use human resources available in my district to help me write a grant to get a classroom set of laptops. I know that Apple may have such grants. I am going to spend a couple of months researching, then collect my data and work with our grant-writing expert. I know I am going to use the go paperless, go green idea as my slant.

My second goal is to record mini lessons for our grade level standards and indicators to be used in a variety of ways: for students who are on homebound, for parents to help students who are struggling, so students who are absent will get a closer experience of “being there,” to use as model lessons in school and district training, for personal reflection, for other teachers to use for re-teaching purposes. This is a bit frightening, but I think it is a leap I need to take. Not all of the recorded lessons will just be audio-visuals of me teaching. I am thinking that I will use the students to create some where they are doing the teaching, or we are teaching and learning in tandem. I see this as an exciting venture.

These past eight weeks have flown by. They have been fun and frustrating at the same time. I appreciate my classmates that have learned and struggled with me and have excelled and celebrated with me. I feel like we have finally created a learning community built on a shared vision and collaboration.

Sunday, April 4, 2010

I almost met my match with this assignment. Ironic that it was on a week when I'm processing the "digital natives, digital immigrants" debate. Had a wonderful discussion recorded with 5 of my students. Assumed--I know, I know about assuming--that when something is recorded it's saved. If you have a question about it, I'll tell you. It's not. I've had many a "save issue" since I took my Brother word processor to college in 1990. You'd think I'd learn, wouldn't you?

Anyway, below is plan B, using my sisters, each with their unique link to technology in education. Enjoy!