WOW! This semester has flown by. Soon we will all be in our practicum putting all of the information and strategies we have learned into practice. Before taking Ed 3508, I felt I had a pretty good grip on technology. I knew more than my parents and siblings and often had to explain technological concepts at family functions. However, I have discovered that the skills I possessed prior to taking Ed 3508 were extremely limited in a educational standpoint. I strongly believe that knowing how to use technology is half as important as knowing when to use technology to enhance learning. For me this is one of my take home messages from the entire course. Throughout all of the assignments I completed throughout the semester, I found learning how to use the technology was the easy part. However, when describing how the technology would potentially aid students learning I often struggled and had to take a more critical thinking standpoint.
As future teachers it will be extremely important to remember why we should use technology in the classroom. After discovering more and more what it truly means to be 21st century learner I can honestly say there is a lot more to it than I once thought. I think the idea of a 21st century learner should be the framework for the lessons we plan and deliver to our students. Keeping the ideals of a 21st century learner present in all of my lesson will ensure I am setting my students up for success. However, with all the benefits of technology in mind, we as teachers have to remember the drawback and incorporate those into our ways of thinking as well. Teaching digital citizenship and web awareness is essential and I believe mandatory when concerning including technology in any classroom. There are countless temptations to both students and teachers alike to use the internet in a way that would reflect a buffed version of themselves. I believe as much as we teach digital literacy we must all live and breath it ourselves. In order for students to achieve what we want them to achieve we must model the behaviors we wish to see.
All in all this class has taught me countless ideas of activities and ideas to remember when incorporating technology into my classroom. The assignments I have completed provide a great starting point for me to continually be discovering new technologies and ways to integrate technology into my own classroom. I am excited to try some of these technologies in my PS1 practicum and allow 21st century learners to continually develop and succeed.
Thanks to everyone and Len for a great semester and I hope everyone keeps in touch!!
As future teachers it will be extremely important to remember why we should use technology in the classroom. After discovering more and more what it truly means to be 21st century learner I can honestly say there is a lot more to it than I once thought. I think the idea of a 21st century learner should be the framework for the lessons we plan and deliver to our students. Keeping the ideals of a 21st century learner present in all of my lesson will ensure I am setting my students up for success. However, with all the benefits of technology in mind, we as teachers have to remember the drawback and incorporate those into our ways of thinking as well. Teaching digital citizenship and web awareness is essential and I believe mandatory when concerning including technology in any classroom. There are countless temptations to both students and teachers alike to use the internet in a way that would reflect a buffed version of themselves. I believe as much as we teach digital literacy we must all live and breath it ourselves. In order for students to achieve what we want them to achieve we must model the behaviors we wish to see.
All in all this class has taught me countless ideas of activities and ideas to remember when incorporating technology into my classroom. The assignments I have completed provide a great starting point for me to continually be discovering new technologies and ways to integrate technology into my own classroom. I am excited to try some of these technologies in my PS1 practicum and allow 21st century learners to continually develop and succeed.
Thanks to everyone and Len for a great semester and I hope everyone keeps in touch!!