EDLD+5364+-+Final+Assessment+Course+Reflection+Responses

I was excited to begin the Teaching with Technology course after receiving the textbook, Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works. I actually started reading the book before the course even started and envisioned that I would learn some new methods and strategies for effectively integrating technology into the classroom. The course dealt with the implications of using technology to promote learning as well as making a positive impact on student achievement. After spending five weeks immersed in the group project and learning so many new concepts from the readings, videos, and discussion board, I definitely feel like I achieved the new knowledge I had hoped the course would provide. Being an instructional technologist, teachers look to me for innovative and creative ways to integrate technology into their everyday curriculum. This course injected some new excitement into my veins, and I feel that I have a fresh new outlook on using technology tools for learning, communicating, and assessing.

The outcomes of this course directly relate to my job as an instructional technologist and are very relevant to my elementary schools. Being in charge of two campuses, I have over 70 teachers ranging from Pre-K to Fourth grade who depend on my expertise. Therefore, I can implement what I learned from this course immediately because teachers constantly ask for assistance in creating effective technology lessons that can provide a variety of learning activities. After taking this class, I will think more about the assessment piece being an integral part of the lesson rather than just as an afterthought for a quick grade. I will think more about the abilities and disabilities in a classroom and focus on what technology can do to enhance the learning of all individuals. I will think more about preparing the classroom teachers to plan, design, and create their own lessons through professional development which would allow them to become more comfortable with technology tools.

One of the answers I'd hoped to find during the course was how to best provide professional development for teachers so they gain the skills needed to incorporate technology into their curriculum as well as personally master the variety of technology tools that are available. Our district requires teachers to attend after school workshops to learn basic technology skills but there is no connection between those workshops and implementing technology that is effective for the students. The McREL Report touched on professional development suggestions, but I still don't feel like I have a clear picture of how to best implement teacher technology training. Even though I'm not sure how to best change our district teacher training, I do believe that the skills should be tied to learning activities for the teachers just as they are for the students. The research covered in the readings and videos has encouraged me to set up a meeting with our Instructional Technology Director in order to discuss revamping our professional development.

I believe I was successful in completing all of the course assignments. Since the classroom scenario was a group project, everyone had to brainstorm, create lessons, develop samples, write rubrics, and add reflections for the team. It's always a bit more difficult to complete course assignments when you are dependent on others to contribute. However, I was part of a terrific team where all four members did their part each week to contribute to the team assignments. I wasn't prevented from completing any of the course assignments, but I did get discouraged during the third week because I didn't think I would have enough time to get all four assignments completed. I was also team leader for this project so I felt the extra responsibility of making sure everyone on the team knew what they were supposed to do. I sent lots of emails throughout the course, originated and maintained the Google document used for team collaboration, created the Google site for our team project, and made sure anything that was the responsibility of the team leader was carried out by the weekly due dates.

By being team leader, I learned that I am organized, dependable, and capable of effectively leading a group of people. I usually like to get things done by myself and have a hard time delegating. Therefore, this was a good experience for me to allow others to participate equally and strive for the same level of quality work. I also learned that my teammates wanted me to stay as the team leader throughout the course because they felt I displayed a high standard of work. This was quite a nice compliment and made me feel good about being the leader. I realized that collaboration is an important skill to cultivate and should be used more often with both teachers and students. Collaboration is about give and take and decisions must be mandated by the group. I wasn't thrilled about selecting a secondary teacher for our group scenario project since I've always been an elementary teacher. However, everyone else in my group teaches secondary students so I went with the majority and learned that I can adapt my teaching and technology skills to any grade level.