Week 8: A New Mind-set – Reflection
- In what ways has this course helped you to develop your own technology skills as a professional teacher?
Through this course I have had to learn and adapt to technology resources that I was previously not very familiar with. I had very little experience working with blogs, wikis, and podcasts. This course introduced me to the development and use of those tools as applications for content in my own classroom. I have expanded my technological skills by working with those tools and also any other technology tools that aid in developing those resources. Most of my prior technology-based work centered on using the Internet and working within already-structured web pages. This course has helped me see that I can expand beyond those boundaries and use resources to better engage 21st century students.
- In what ways have you deepened your knowledge of the teaching and learning process?
This course has shaped my teaching ideas to better develop content and lessons that are better-suited for the 21st century student. I have had to change my approach to lesson planning so that my classes can be geared towards digital native students. I feel as though I have a better perspective of why technology needs to be integrated into the modern classroom setting after working with the course resources. The research and perspective given by the various contributors to the course resources opened my eyes to the changes in student learning that is and has taken place over the last decade. I feel that with a new perspective on student learning, I can develop my own classes to enhance the learning process.
- In what ways have you changed your perspective from being teacher-centered to learner-centered?
Much of my own class setting prior to this course was teacher-centered. That is how I was taught as a student, and that is how I was instructed to teach in college. I now see the shift that is taking place in the modern classroom towards a more learner-centered class environment. The improvement of the technology resources available to students and teachers makes a learner-centered class environment easy to create. I no longer have to run the entire class or lesson, or even trust that I have all the answers. Modern students have the capability to move at their own pace within a given structure, as well as have the ability to find information in all new areas. My objective of creating a more learner-centered environment really puts the onus on me to create lessons with structure and guidelines that will press students into using their own knowledge and skills to complete and expand on our class material. I have had to shift quite a bit of my old teaching standards and lessons, but I believe the benefits will far outweigh the work I have to put into making the transition.
- In what ways can you continue to expand your knowledge of learning, teaching, and leading with technology with the aim of increasing student achievement?
I have to continue to change and advance with the 21st century students. If I want to keep student engagement at its maximum possible levels, I will have to continue to adapt my teaching to the shifts and changes in technology. As the modern student continues its technological growth and understanding, I have to be willing to change along with them. Continuing my own education as it relates to technology integration in the classroom and then applying my new skills into the classroom will continue high levels of engagement with my students and ensure that I will not become irrelevant in the changing educational environment.
- Set two long-term goals (within two years) for transforming your classroom environment by which you may have to overcome institutional or systemic obstacles in order to achieve them. How do you plan to accomplish these goals?
My first goal is to have my students work at a one-to-one ratio on computers at least three days a week for the entire school year. To accomplish this I will have to work closely with our media center and technology department to find ways to expand the number of computers we have available to all of our students. There are a variety of ways to try and go about this process, from grants, to fundraising, to changing applications of department funding. My second goal is to expand the time and work of my classes to areas outside of the normal school day. I want each of my students to have to interact with some kind of online course materials at times beyond the regular school day. This will involve each of my students having access to a computer with online access from home. While most of my students already have this, there are still many that do not. I want to work with the media center and technology department to find ways to provide computers to students to use at home that have access to our online classroom. Again, there are various ways to go about this; they just need to be instituted.
- Refer to your checklist from Week 1. Have any of your answers changed after completing this course?
Most of my answers in regards to “Practices to Support 21st Century Skill” have not changed. The biggest shift in my own involvement with technology integration in my school has occurred with “Developing Technology Skills for the School and Workplace Environments.” I have become more involved in developing a technological vision for my school and working across departments to work for better technology integration in our school. I feel that I have also done a better job of modeling technology integration and proper technology use to support student-centered work. I see my areas of strength sustaining, while taking advantage of our course resources and applications to improve on possible areas of weakness.
Week 8, Reflection:
Ross Walker
Teacher - Forsyth Central High School
Grade 9
Cumming, GA
Submitted, June 13, 2010
EDUC-6710I-1 Understanding the Impact of Technology on Education, Work, and Society
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