My Reflection Statement...
That was then...
Technology has always been an interest of mine. As technology has changed, I have always tried to keep up with it. I am guilty of buying the latest phones and staying up to date with the newest internet options and software that is available to me. Learning new technology has always been easy for me. That is why I believe I was led to teach technology at the secondary level. Trying to further my knowledge of the latest technology and to enhance my teaching, I sought a graduate degree program in technology. I originally looked for a program that was online and that emphasized educational technology within the classroom. That is when I stumbled across the Information Science and Learning Technologies Education Specialist Program at University of Missouri with an emphasis on Educational Technology and a focus in Online Education.
When I started at the University of Missouri, I thought I was going to spend the next two years learning about different software, creating projects, and working collaboratively to develop a deeper understanding of the software. That is what I have done in previous programs, so I didn't think it would be much different here. I am more of a hands-on (kinesthetic/tactile) kind of learner. I ultimately prefer to complete projects instead of learning and applying theoretical knowledge. However, this program created a paradigm shift in my opinion of learning. What really set this program apart was being able to get different ideas on how to use more technology and in different ways in my classroom.
This is now...
Learning from technology is when technology is used by a teacher to teach. This process doesn't always end in learning, although those are the initial intentions. Learning with technology occurs when the technology is a vehicle in the learning process. It is allowed to drive the creation, thus learning, of the student. This program has made me think deeply about my own teaching. Through this learning process, I have gained a better understanding of my own use of technology and evaluated my ability to utilize technology in my classroom for not only my own benefit of a better lesson, but also for the students to gain a knowledge they might not already have. Do I teach from technology or with? I have to say that I am in the unique situation to be able to do both. I am currently teaching Digital Media and Advanced Digital Media for NC. They include graphics, web design, and video. I use technology to teach, demonstrate, and model, thus my students are learning from technology. But in order to retain the practical side of my curriculum, my students must learn with the technology by creating. I think both are important. However, without the learning with technology, these students would not be stimulated to learn what we are teaching. The artifact below, produced in my Introduction to Technology in Schools course, demonstrates how I have gained this understanding. The technology integration learning plan (TILP) project, with supplemental peer reviews, forced me to actually create a plan for the technology instead of simply adding it to my lesson plan. My strategy over this summer sabbatical is to create a TILP for each of my units of teaching.
Artifact: Technology Integration Learning Plan
Another important concept I learned from this program was how to assess different learning: active, constructive, intentional, authentic, and cooperative. Active learning can be assessed when learners explore and manipulate the components and parameters of technology-based environments and observe the results of their activities. Constructive learning can be assessed when learners articulate what they know and have learned and reflect on its meaning and importance in larger social and intellectual contexts. Intentional learning can be assessed when learners determine their own goals and regulate and manage their activities. Authentic learning can be assessed when learners examine and attempt to solve complex, ill-structured, and real-world problems. Cooperative learning can be assessed when learners collaborate with others and socially negotiate the meanings they have constructed. I have learned how to self-reflect on lessons that I created after teaching that lesson. The artifact below, produced in my Technology to Enhance Learning course, demonstrates not only how I have gained this understanding of learning but also how to reflect upon it. It is a self-reflection that I created after teaching a lesson on post-secondary education options to freshmen.
Artifact: Technology to Enhance Learning Self-Assessment
In addition to learning about teaching “with” technology, I learned about the immense amount of resources that are available and at my fingertips as long as I look for them. Throughout the program, through my peers as well as my own research, I have discovered that there is truly no reason for any teacher of any subject to claim that they cannot integrate technology into their classrooms. There is something that everyone can do. There are always limitations and frustrations that we, as teachers, can use as excuses for not using technology, but technology is necessary. Our students benefit greatly from the use of technology and I believe that the resources available are endless and wonderful. I have been amazed at all the resources that are out there that I had no idea about. I have learned a great deal from this program. The artifact I have included to demonstrate this insight was my eThemes request that I submitted in my Technology to Enhance Learning course. This assignment allowed us to use a resource that put in a request for instructional technology, and the eThemes team helped find as many resources they could find and provided me with that information. I was amazed all the resources that were out there, that I had no idea about. I learned a great deal from this assignment.
Artifact: eThemes Request
Looking into the future...
Having completed the Information Science & Learning Technologies Education Specialist Degree from the University of Missouri, I now have a newly found appreciation for the impact educational technology can have on teachers, students, and school culture. When thinking about emerging technologies in the classroom, I feel that I currently integrate technology in many forms, however, I need to be willing to take risks and step out of my own comfort zone to find out what impact new technology has in learning. I feel that technology can be used as a learning tool to meet the needs of the different types of learners in the classroom.
As a result of familiarizing myself with a number of different tools suggested by my fellow students, I have not only become more proficient in using them in my classroom but I have undergone a paradigm shift in how I approach my classes and my students as well. The collaborative sharing within this course has been an invaluable resource of different technology with which to use with my students.
It has been a fantastic journey and I hope that the learning that I have gained and the experiences that I have had thus far represent the opening of a door into a new frontier that will change me forever as a learner, as a teacher, and as a person. I want to be a leader of adopting new and emerging technologies in my school by being willing to try new technologies in my own classroom to discover how the different technologies impact learning. To stay up-to-date on technology, my plan is to create a wiki within my district to promote collaboration of new technology for learning.
Technology has always been an interest of mine. As technology has changed, I have always tried to keep up with it. I am guilty of buying the latest phones and staying up to date with the newest internet options and software that is available to me. Learning new technology has always been easy for me. That is why I believe I was led to teach technology at the secondary level. Trying to further my knowledge of the latest technology and to enhance my teaching, I sought a graduate degree program in technology. I originally looked for a program that was online and that emphasized educational technology within the classroom. That is when I stumbled across the Information Science and Learning Technologies Education Specialist Program at University of Missouri with an emphasis on Educational Technology and a focus in Online Education.
When I started at the University of Missouri, I thought I was going to spend the next two years learning about different software, creating projects, and working collaboratively to develop a deeper understanding of the software. That is what I have done in previous programs, so I didn't think it would be much different here. I am more of a hands-on (kinesthetic/tactile) kind of learner. I ultimately prefer to complete projects instead of learning and applying theoretical knowledge. However, this program created a paradigm shift in my opinion of learning. What really set this program apart was being able to get different ideas on how to use more technology and in different ways in my classroom.
This is now...
Learning from technology is when technology is used by a teacher to teach. This process doesn't always end in learning, although those are the initial intentions. Learning with technology occurs when the technology is a vehicle in the learning process. It is allowed to drive the creation, thus learning, of the student. This program has made me think deeply about my own teaching. Through this learning process, I have gained a better understanding of my own use of technology and evaluated my ability to utilize technology in my classroom for not only my own benefit of a better lesson, but also for the students to gain a knowledge they might not already have. Do I teach from technology or with? I have to say that I am in the unique situation to be able to do both. I am currently teaching Digital Media and Advanced Digital Media for NC. They include graphics, web design, and video. I use technology to teach, demonstrate, and model, thus my students are learning from technology. But in order to retain the practical side of my curriculum, my students must learn with the technology by creating. I think both are important. However, without the learning with technology, these students would not be stimulated to learn what we are teaching. The artifact below, produced in my Introduction to Technology in Schools course, demonstrates how I have gained this understanding. The technology integration learning plan (TILP) project, with supplemental peer reviews, forced me to actually create a plan for the technology instead of simply adding it to my lesson plan. My strategy over this summer sabbatical is to create a TILP for each of my units of teaching.
Artifact: Technology Integration Learning Plan
Another important concept I learned from this program was how to assess different learning: active, constructive, intentional, authentic, and cooperative. Active learning can be assessed when learners explore and manipulate the components and parameters of technology-based environments and observe the results of their activities. Constructive learning can be assessed when learners articulate what they know and have learned and reflect on its meaning and importance in larger social and intellectual contexts. Intentional learning can be assessed when learners determine their own goals and regulate and manage their activities. Authentic learning can be assessed when learners examine and attempt to solve complex, ill-structured, and real-world problems. Cooperative learning can be assessed when learners collaborate with others and socially negotiate the meanings they have constructed. I have learned how to self-reflect on lessons that I created after teaching that lesson. The artifact below, produced in my Technology to Enhance Learning course, demonstrates not only how I have gained this understanding of learning but also how to reflect upon it. It is a self-reflection that I created after teaching a lesson on post-secondary education options to freshmen.
Artifact: Technology to Enhance Learning Self-Assessment
In addition to learning about teaching “with” technology, I learned about the immense amount of resources that are available and at my fingertips as long as I look for them. Throughout the program, through my peers as well as my own research, I have discovered that there is truly no reason for any teacher of any subject to claim that they cannot integrate technology into their classrooms. There is something that everyone can do. There are always limitations and frustrations that we, as teachers, can use as excuses for not using technology, but technology is necessary. Our students benefit greatly from the use of technology and I believe that the resources available are endless and wonderful. I have been amazed at all the resources that are out there that I had no idea about. I have learned a great deal from this program. The artifact I have included to demonstrate this insight was my eThemes request that I submitted in my Technology to Enhance Learning course. This assignment allowed us to use a resource that put in a request for instructional technology, and the eThemes team helped find as many resources they could find and provided me with that information. I was amazed all the resources that were out there, that I had no idea about. I learned a great deal from this assignment.
Artifact: eThemes Request
Looking into the future...
Having completed the Information Science & Learning Technologies Education Specialist Degree from the University of Missouri, I now have a newly found appreciation for the impact educational technology can have on teachers, students, and school culture. When thinking about emerging technologies in the classroom, I feel that I currently integrate technology in many forms, however, I need to be willing to take risks and step out of my own comfort zone to find out what impact new technology has in learning. I feel that technology can be used as a learning tool to meet the needs of the different types of learners in the classroom.
As a result of familiarizing myself with a number of different tools suggested by my fellow students, I have not only become more proficient in using them in my classroom but I have undergone a paradigm shift in how I approach my classes and my students as well. The collaborative sharing within this course has been an invaluable resource of different technology with which to use with my students.
It has been a fantastic journey and I hope that the learning that I have gained and the experiences that I have had thus far represent the opening of a door into a new frontier that will change me forever as a learner, as a teacher, and as a person. I want to be a leader of adopting new and emerging technologies in my school by being willing to try new technologies in my own classroom to discover how the different technologies impact learning. To stay up-to-date on technology, my plan is to create a wiki within my district to promote collaboration of new technology for learning.
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*All items found in YELLOW are links. Please feel free to click on them for an enriched ePortfolio experience.