As I reflect on the past seven weeks of my class, I have realized that this course has helped me develop my technology skills as a professional teacher by teaching me how to incorporate web 2.0 tools such as a wiki, blog, and podcast into my classroom instruction and assessment. Not only have I learned how to use various web 2.0 tools, I also gained insight from suggestions offered by my peers on the best strategies for incorporating web 2.0 tools.
My knowledge of the teaching and learning process has deepened by understanding the significant impact that technology has had on the education field. Digital natives learn differently than students did twenty years ago. Educators need to adjust their curriculum, instruction, and assessment to meet the needs of digital natives.
My perspective of the importance of student-centered classroom has not changed, it has simply deepened. A student-centered classroom enriched with problem-based learning simulates real-world experiences that students will face in the work place. With the increase of technological resources available to students, the traditional teacher-centered classroom shuts out possibilities for students to expand their thinking with research-based learning.
I can continue to expand my knowledge of learning, teaching, and leading with technology while aiming to increase student achievement by seeking out further support and insight from other teachers in my school district and outside my school district. Teachers within my school district could share suggestions for how they incorporate technology into their classroom with the resources we have available, and teachers outside of the school district could offer innovative ideas for incorporating web 2.0 tools.
One long-term goal for transforming my classroom environment is by incorporating at least one technology based lesson into my classroom every week. The technology could vary from instructional technology to a assessment that requires students to use technology. The main obstacle I face in achieving this goal is the lack of available technology in my school. I have access to one computer lab for only one class a week and lack of instructional technology in my classroom. I plan to overcome this obstacle by collaborating with my colleagues that do have technological resources. An additional long-term goal for transforming my classroom environment is by incorporating more student-centered learning projects. I would like to take on the role of classroom facilitator as students seek out answers and collaborate in small groups to solve problems. The main obstacle in achieving this goal is the large focus on standardized testing preparation in my school. I plan to overcome this obstacle by providing evidence for how the student-centered learning projects are standards based.
The majority of the my checklist answers from week one have not changed due to the lack of technological resources provided in my school, however, I am now seeking out opportunities to converse about classroom technology within my school district. While integrating technology into my classroom is a slow process, starting dialog among school and community members is a place to start. I do not have the resources to model integration practices, but I do have the ability to encourage school leaders to move in the right direction.
