Final Reflection

          IT365, what can I say? I am not a technological savvy person by any means. When I found out I had to take a technology class, was not happy. I assumed that I knew all I needed to know for my future classroom, but was I ever wrong!

          I learned so much this semester about a lot of different things. The assertive technology assignment was probably the one I learned the most from. I had no idea what a toggle key was until that assignment or just about what any of the things were that we learned about. I now know that technology really is a very important part of the classroom in ways I had never even thought of. I never considered having a hearing or visually impaired student in my classroom but now I feel more prepared about assisting them and fitting things more for their needs.

          I feel that my strong point is that I learned several new things about computers and how to use them. My weak point would have to be that I am still a little nervous about computer and having to show students things or how to teach students things on the computer. I think that is because I do not get to sit down and actually explore the computer very much. If I could just sit down and explore the computer that would help boost my confidence and help me to better serve my students.

          I hope to integrate technology into my classroom in many ways. I want to allow students to have time to work on the computer and give them some projects to do on the computer. I hope I am able to incorporate things like concept mapping for the students into my classroom as well as many other things.

         

         

Refletions on assignments

Reflection on Concept Mapping:

          Concept Mapping was a very interesting tool to learn about. I have made several concept maps in the past but I have never created one on the computer. It was very interesting to actually create one on the computer. I liked being able to set up links to each different sections of it. When making one by hand, you cannot do that. It was interesting to learn about that and I enjoyed getting creative with it.

Reflection on using web tools: Rubrics, Online Quiz, Worksheet, and Puzzle

I love the only rubric maker. It was very helpful and I loved how if basically set the rubric up for you. It really made it much easier. The online quiz maker was very interesting as well. I like that it helps incorporate technology into the classroom. I have never made my own puzzle before so it was interesting to get to do that. I think that would be a fun feature to show to my class.

Reflection on Classroom website:

          The class website is a great idea. It is a great way to keep the parents involved and also and eco-friendly way rather than sending out a newsletter, you can just tell the parents to check the website. It would also be fun for the students to help keep it updated.

Reflection on Assistive Technology:

          I learned a lot from the assistive technology assignment. I had no idea about half of the things on it. It really was great for me to learn about that for my future classroom because you never know what type of student you will encounter.

Reflection on Video Assignment:

          The video blogging assignment was very interesting. I really enjoyed playing around with my pictures. I have always wanted to do something like that but have never set down to actually do it. I think it will be a fun activity to include in my classroom for my students to do.

Standard 5

Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership

          As a teacher, you are constantly growing as a learner. It is very important for teachers to continue to engage in learning new things not only about their students, themselves, and new things about teaching in general; they need to continually stay updated on technology for their classrooms. It is vital for teachers to participate in global learning as well as local learning. It helps get a better understanding of their surroundings in order to better teach their students.

          As a teacher, you are head of the classroom, which means you have a very important leadership role. It is a teachers job to infuse technology into students learning and also model leadership for your students. Teachers also need to evaluate and reflect on new technological developments and decide if they are a good asset to their classroom or not.

          It is also very important for teachers to contribute to the effectiveness, vitality, and self-renewal of the teaching profession and show that to your students. If you want your classroom to run smoothly, you have to continue to grow as a teacher. Teachers are students as well as teachers because everyday something is changing and as a teacher, you must stay on top of it. 

Artifacts: Blog, Website, Web tools

Standard 4

Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility

          Standard 4 mentions the importance of copyright laws and intellectual property as well as modeling, advocating, and teaching safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information.. It a crucial part of being a teacher to teach what is right. When using technology in the classroom, it is a vital part of teaching it to make sure we teach copyright laws and teach what is ethical, safe, and legal. Digital information can be very tricky when it comes to copyright laws and what is ethical and not ethical to copy. It is very important that students know how to properly document sources of used data.

          Part d of standard 4 mentions developing and modeling cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with colleagues and students of different cultures using digital-age communication. I interpreted this as using things like some sort of social networking to communicate with people across the world. Allow students to set up some sort of secure social network and as the teacher monitors what they are doing, allow them to meet students from different parts of the world. It is very important for the teacher to stay engage with the students while doing this though. It would be a fun way for students to learn about different cultures from across the world.

         

Artifacts: Turnitin assignment, blog

Standard 3

 Model Digital-Age Work and Learning

          Another word for teacher should me model, no, not the runway kind but the kind that is a representation of how something is done. All teachers must model for students how to do a project.  You should not just ask a student to do something without first showing them how it is correctly done. In a digital-age classroom, this is crucial.  Students must know how to use a computer and how to get on the internet and know so many different things before beginning to work in a digital-age classroom. Teachers have to be fluent in technological systems and be able to easily demonstrate how to use them before even beginning to teach the students. It is very important for teachers to also stay updated on the latest bits of technology information.

          Teachers can easily use technology to collaborate with students and parents and allow students to work with other students like by having a classroom website.  Students would love being able to help update the classroom website and parents usually love staying involved in the classroom  and using digital-age technology to do so is a perfect and easy way to accomplish this.  Classroom websites are a great way to share all sorts of information with parents and/or students.  Blogging is another great way to communicate through the digital world. It is an ideal way to model and facilitate how to use a current digital tool to communicate.

Artifacts: Website, blogging

         

Standard 2

Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments
          Standard 2 seems to mean that we need to update our way of working with students. Rather than just give them a worksheet and take it up for a grade, we need to be creative with our assignments to them. Teachers need to give them more experiences with digital-age projects. The world is constantly changing and progressing. Technology is all around us and students need to know how to use it.
          Part B of Standard 2 states, develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress. I love this statement. It is so true. We as teachers should do all of this. We need to allow the students to set their own goals, give them a chance to manage their own learning, and let them asses themselves. They need the opportunity learn by doing.
          If we give the student the opportunity to customize and personalize their learning activity, it will allow them to be much more engaged in their work. They will be more interested in it and want to do a great job on it. Every student is different and they all learn differently so we should not hold them all to the exact same standard.
          We also need to give student multiple and varied formative and summative assessments. Do not use just one set way of doing something. Branch out with different forms of assessments and then use the information that has been gathered and utilize it as a teaching tool and a learning tool for yourself and the students.
Artifacts: video assignment, blogging, online quiz, rubrics

Standard 1

Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity
          Being a teacher means so much more than just teaching. As teachers it is your job to inspire students as they work. Teachers inspire students to do their best work and be creative with it. We encourage them to let their personality shine through their work. Using technology gives them so many more options and opportunities to be creative with their work.
          In order for teachers to facilitate creative learning, we must first model it for the student. We then let the students engage in it. It is very important to give the students as many different experiences in the classroom as possible so they will be better prepared for the real world. The more problems students are faced with or things they may encounter while being supervised will give them the best chance to succeed.
          In order for teachers to properly model for students, they have to know the subject matter they are teaching. Which is why it is so important for teachers to be overly prepared for class, especially in a technology based classroom. They need to be prepared for anything and everything.
          Teachers also need to be prepared to learn with the students. It is very important for teachers to be open to what students have to say because you never know when an opportunity will present itself for a student to teach you something.
          What I have learned over this semester in IT365 helps promote all of these, every activity we did allowed us to incorporate a little of ourselves in each project. The more creative students are allowed to be, the better they will enjoy the work.
Artifacts: Concept Mapping, Blogging, website