Michele Biffle - L20144707: EA1210
What outcomes had you envisioned for this course? Did you achieve those outcomes? Did the actual course outcomes align with those that you envisioned?
To be quiet honest, I had no idea what this course was going to be about, so I had not envisioned any outcomes or expectations. I can tell you, however, that I was pleasantly surprised upon discovering that this course was about integrating technology within the classroom. Even though I improved my own computer skills drastically, I realize that was not the main focus of the course. Instead, what I am taking from this class is an awareness of the need of technology in the classroom, inspiration on how to execute this concept, and new, technologically innovative methods of instruction. I am also taking new ways to use various websites and technology tools for my students in the classroom. I have learned through this course that I now fit the Visionary Leadership, Digital Age Learning Culture and the Excellence in Professional Practice domains as defined by the National Standards for Administrators from the International Society for Technology in Education (http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-administrators.aspx). Finally, I learned that the following links are extremely useful to enhancing the technology used within my own classroom. The links are from our Resource section and are as follows:
(1) This website provides the NETS for students, teachers, administrators, and technology facilitators and leaders.
http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=NETS
(2) Marc Prensky’s website contains a collection of his articles which are free for download and provides access to his personal Weblog.
http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/default.asp
(3) This website contains a number of informative videos about e-communication tools, including “Blogs in Plain English,” “Podcasting in Plain English,” “Social Networking in Plain English,” “Wikis in Plain English,” and “RSS in Plain English.”
http://www.commoncraft.com/show
(4) The following links address Fair Use.
http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl102.html
http://fairuse.stanford.edu/Copyright_and_Fair_Use_Overview/chapter9/
http://www.copyrightwebsite.com/Info/Law/FairUse.aspx
http://chillingeffects.org/fairuse/
(5) This website contains a definition of fair use and copyright and guidelines for educators.
http://home.earthlink.net/~cnew/research.htm
(6) This website is sponsored by the Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use.
http://cyberbully.org/
To the extent that you achieved the outcomes, are they still relevant to the work that you do in your school? Why or why not?
I feel that the outcomes that I achieved through this course are extremely important and relevant to the work I do on a daily basis as a teacher and hopefully one day as an administrator. As I was taking the course, I was continually thinking of ways to modify my own instruction using technology within my content curriculum as well as in my classroom. I have already started a Wiki and a simple discussion posting for students. I’d like to add podcasts, blogs, video, games, and creative PowerPoint or alternative presentations to the mix – such as Animoto. I know that integrating more technology will only enhance the learning that is going on in my classroom, because the students are already there technology wise; therefore, I wouldn’t be leaving anyone behind. If anything, they’ve been leaving me behind, already equipped with laptops and smart phones and the knowledge to run a variety of applications to make their work easier and more powerful when it is submitted for a grade. The knowledge I gained from this class is absolutely relevant and applicable and It’s time for us teachers to catch up, and stop trying to fight technology. Our students will appreciate learning through a medium which they understand, and we need to understand that just because with technology integrated classroom, which doesn’t look like the traditional one we grew up in, that it is not necessarily ineffective. If anything, it is teaching more concepts and skills, because in addition to the content material, students are learning valuable tech and computer skills.
What outcomes did you not achieve? What prevented you from achieving them?
Unfortunately, there were a few aspects of this class that I was unable to fully explore like instructional capabilities with my blog. In addition, I’d also like to try conducting an interview using podcasts to see the relevance with in my curriculum and content area. My students have an enormous research assignment due at the end of the year, and I’d like to set up a blog or wiki to help organize instruction, conduct benchmarks; post podcasts, videos, PPTS, etc. I think it would also be an excellent forum for students to see each other’s progress and provide peer assistance regarding the assignment. The only thing preventing me at this point from achieving all that I want to is time. Once I get a second to breathe, though, I’ll give it a shot, and ask my students to help me in organizing all that I want to implement in a way that will help them in their learning endeavors.
Were you successful in carrying out the course assignments? If not, what prevented or discouraged you?
I was successful in carrying out the course assignments. I thought that the discussions where a bit lengthy and time consuming; however, they were very informative and helpful in most aspects of the course content. The discussions did force us to interact, by sharing thoughts, varying perspectives and opinions. I did enjoyed setting up the blog and learning new technical processes, like converting PowerPoint presentations to new formats. I also enjoyed reading and posting on my colleagues blogs as I advanced through this class. Some of the assignment requirements were a bit vague or unclear; thus, very frustrating at times. The assignments themselves however were extremely thought provoking once the requirements were figured out. One of the more enjoyable videos was the round table interview between Dr. Jenkins, Dr. Abernathy, and Ms. Cummings. It was inspiring to hear and see these three experts getting noticeably excited by the possibilities that technology can provide in the realm of education for the future. Technology is definitely here to stay and is the way of the future and we must get on board and prepare today’s students for a future that is not even imaginable at this point in time. In fact this excerpt from the article “Bridge the digital divide for educational equity” by Mason & Dodds, to me sums up the wave of the future best.” Failure to provide adequate technological resources for all translates into failure to provide quality education." This statement is saying to me that in order to provide a student with a quality education that he or she can carry with them into their adult lives; we need to make sure that they are receiving the technology training that the future will require. We cannot count on this to be done at home. So we as educators and administrators have to make sure they are receiving adequate technology training and have accessibility at school and in all curriculum content areas in order to be successful, productive citizens in the future.
Mason, C. Y., & Dodds, R. (2005). Bridge the digital divide for educational equity. The Education Digest, 70(9), 25-27.
What did you learn from this course…about yourself, your technology and leadership skills, and your attitudes?
I learned that technology integrated education has to be the way of the future. It has to be, or we will find Americans being shut out of a competitive, global market, and it will be the fault of educators. I feel a sense of responsibility now; a duty to teach our youth in a manner which they can understand, relate to and build upon. I know my own technological abilities are average at best, but they keep getting better especially after completing this course where I was forced to try new things. I was never an active participant with social websites or online communication until now. I’ve always preferred face to face time. However, I feel like it’s getting to the point when I can no longer deny the power and influence that online communication can convey. Whether I prefer it or not, it definitely has its benefits, and it is time that I got on board if I am to be an effective administrator as well as educator for my students. In fact these excerpt from “Who’s in control of the technology-integrated school?” by Price I feel are relevant and convey two important points that I have learned from this course. The first one states "Technology will change the role for the principal. Over the next decade, the principal must increasingly foster a community spirit by which teachers and the techies work together to create an affordable and functional learning environment." I feel that this is an accurate depiction of where we are going in the future. Each has their own expertise and knowledge base that sometimes doesn't translate to the others' language very well. Not only will they need to get on the same page with each other, the principal will be vital in making that communication seamless. The principal will need to understand both languages in order to build those bridges. This is going to be a challenge for some. Sometimes those with the best "people skills" have the fewest "techie" skills. We must all work at developing both competencies. The second one from the same article by Price states "To learn, students must use computers to store and organize information, enter and interpret data, do calculations, make graphs and charts, visualize difficult concepts, navigate interactive activities, receive immediate feedback, expand resources, update content, develop presentations, build publications, create artistic works, and so on." With this statement I feel that it there are obviously many aspects of using computers that enhance student learning. We have to get beyond the basics and start increasing the expectations of what our students are capable of doing with technology. So with that thought in mind we MUST find a way to ensure that ALL of our students have adequate internet access in order to be successful and meet our expectations in school as well as in society
Price, B. (2005). Who's in control of the technology-integrated school? Principal Leadership, 6(1), 51-56.
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