Week 8: Conclusion: A New Mind-set - Reflection

Walden University – Masters in Education
EDUC-6710I-1 Understanding the Impact of Technology on Education, Work, and Society

Some final thoughts…

In what ways has this course helped me to develop my own technology skills as a professional teacher?

This class has allowed me to learn new technology applications that are applicable to EVERY class I teach. I have not had the time to learn podcasting or wiki space presentation. I doubt that without this course, I would have learned it this year. I already use a blog for each class I teach, and I find it to be a great way to develop interaction between classmates how would not normally talk to each other.

In what ways have I deepened my knowledge of the teaching and learning process?

I have come to learn that teaching and learning are interchangeable. I find that I can learn about the latest technology from my students if I just get out of the way. Students are often so much more eager to share how things work. I am quickly learning that it is not so important to teach with the latest technology as it is to teach with the best technology for the lesson. Sometimes that technology might be as simple as a pencil and paper or as complex as 3d street scenes from Google Earth. But not every lesson requires the student to be completely plugged in; they just need to be “powered on.”

In what ways have I changed my perspective from being teacher-centered to learner-centered?

I have always tried to teach my classes in a collaborative manner. In music, it is the student who makes the music. There is no “music” in my room. You can’t go to a file drawer, open it, and pull out extra “music” when you need it (Yes – sheet music, but that is just a paper with symbols on it.) I have tried to step beyond the traditional educational approach of speak, memorize, assess. My first teaching assignment was at a charter school based on the Paidea Philosophy of education, where student centered and student directed learning is the norm. That experience has helped me greatly in my role as a public school teacher. This Paidea approach is now becoming more integrated in our local district and I feel that I was lucky enough to get a head start.

In what ways can I continue to expand my knowledge of learning, teaching, and leading with technology with the aim of increasing student achievement?

A few years ago I was fortunate enough to take part in the Intel Teach to the Future technology course for teachers. I wish that there were more of these courses offered. I know that the use of technology is not readily accepted by all teachers – some consider it just a fad, but I will continue to investigate and research in my classes how best to provide instruction and content with technology that not only inspires me, but also my students. My Promethean board may not make content delivery easier - but at least it keeps students attention.

Set two long-term goals (within two years) for transforming your classroom environment by which I may have to overcome institutional or systemic obstacles in order to achieve them. How do I plan to accomplish these goals?
My first goal is to train another teacher in my building in the “ins-and-outs” of the technology systems used by our school. I am the sole technology resource in the building and I am constantly being called to fix this or that. If I wait until after school to work on a technology problem, I run the risk of our district technology ER being closed. Having another staff member familiar with the hardware and software will benefit not only me, but the school. By training other staff members, I hope to provide additional support to technology not only used in my room, but by all students in the building. The second goal is to begin to teach my Earth Science and American History class in the computer lab on a daily basis. I would like to move to a paperless class in two years. With computers, internet, and Wi-Fi, my students will be able to communicate and collaborate in both real and virtual time. I am in the process of finishing the wiring for a second computer lab in our school that should allow me to begin this process next year.