EDLD+5364+Teaching+with+Technology

​  = EDLD 5364 Teaching with Technology =

My Reflections from Week 1: This has been a very interesting week. Technology has not always been a top priority in my life, so as an older, returning student, I learned that I would have to educate myself and learn what was important to me to function in today's society. From the beginning, pen and paper worked for everything that I needed to do..grocery lists, business books and writing to name a few. Now that I have incorporated technology into my life, I am lost if I do not have access to a computer, my iPhone, or gosh forbid – no Internet connection. The videos, readings and even the discussion board has been very interesting to me, although I quickly learned that this class is going to require a lot of time as I am not currently in a K-12 classroom. Much of the theories discussed are somewhat new, or I just didn’t know that is what they were actually called, although project -based learning is something that I have always used, especially this semester as I have incorporated a "simulated" learning enviroment teaching applications. Learning about the constructivist learning theory, Connectivism and Cyborg theories have once again lured me into wanting to learn more in order to help my students in the lab or in the classrooms.

Connectivism Theory – I have always related my life to this theory….I call it the “brick wall” theory. In life, whether in education or learning how to do something new, you have to start from what you already know. You can then incorporate the experiences or learned theories of what you find, or learn from others into what you know. The relationship that is formed from both the old and new experience and how you understand it is considered to be your new learning. You then repeat this procedure until you interact with another idea or thought. I see this as just rolling along, content with life and then you crash into a brick wall. When you are ready to incorporate your new skill, you pick yourself up, along with some of the new bricks, and then proceed again until you hit the next wall. The constant adding of bricks is like adding to your own knowledge or skills. I think this is the way that many people learn.

Cyborg Theory – This theory was interesting, although it seems more like the Star Wars or the extraterrestrial theory, not something that I am ready to grasp whole-heartedly at the moment. This is more of something that I foresee years from now. I don’t want anyone to have the ability to know what is actually going on in my head – I like the element of surprise, not being able to be connected or become another machine. I also do not want to become a subhuman person who has been “updated” with a chip to become more of a machine than a human species. I do not want to be robotic (although my life sometimes feels that way) and I do appreciate Kevin Warwick’s theory, but I do not like the idea of everyone being made more superior because of science or technology. If this theory is used, why would we need parents, we can grow our students in a lab and would not have a need to teach anything.

Overall, I think that Week 1 has been very successful and looking forward to next week and working with my project group

My Reflections from Week 2:  In week 1, we learned about different learning - the Constructivist learning theory, Connectivism and Cyborg theories, some of which were new to me and some that I was aware of, but just calling it a different name. I found that I use the Connectivism learning style as I always try to start my classes with a little explanation about what we will be learning (topic area) and then find out what the students actually know or how they use it. I also ask those who have not used it what they think it is used for. After a discussion, I use a cross between a lecture (I show them) and then a hands-on (learning together) approach to the basics. I show them examples, and then allow them to use what they have learned to complete their projects. I think it is important to always reinforce the skills that they know (or in my words "comfortable" with) into later assignments or learning tools. Reinforcing the skills they know into other areas makes learning more fun and gives the student more incentive to learn because they already know specifics and can incorporate the new information into their new skills or knowledge.

Week 2 discusses the advantages and a few disadvantages of using a variety of technology strategies in the classroom. It also discusses the impact that it has on the overall learning process of different learning styles in our readings and videos. Using the different types of media that are available is very important in teaching as we do not all learn the in the same way or at the same time. Now more than ever before, a classroom is made up of more diverse learners - from ESL; a wide range of low to high ability levels; those unable to read on grade level; different cultural backgrounds; gifted and talented; vision; language or learning disabiities; or those students with behavior, attention or motivation problems. It is our job as a teacher to be able to ensure that all students are taught using the same high standards. Technology allows us to have and use many resources that were not available in prior years. Although technology gives us the tools, it is up to us to incorporate them in our teaching plans. The Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a way that we can incorporate all of the styles of teaching to this diverse group of students. Teachers can individualize istruction for each student to promote success and follow progress. In the book, //Avatars of the Word//, James O'Donnell (1998) gave speculation of what an educators role would be in an information rich world. I agree with him that we need to include new ways of teaching and that the technology that we have today is just the beginning of of how we will educate our students in the future. The students today do not learn the same way we did, by teaching in a individualized format, all students will be more successful, instead of being left behind. They will learn to be a little more responsible for part of their own learning.

According to John Schacter, technology has had both positive and negative impacts on student achievement. He used the findings from Kuliks Meta-Anaysis to aggregate the findings and found that students who used computers scored higher than students who did not have computer access; that students learned more; and that overall students were more positive. In Sivin-Kachala's research it found that technology had both positive and increased effects on achievement and that students attitudes about learning and about their own selves were improved. He also used a study from Apple Classrooms, Dale Mann (West VA) and Wenglinsky and found that technology (or computer use) all had positive afffects on achievement, self esteem and higher order thinking skills.

Overall, week 2 has been very enlightening. I spent hours on the sites that were provided and got totally immersed in some of the information that was provided. As this course progresses, I cannot wait to use some of the things that I learned in my own classroom. Although I teach technology, and use some of the processes discussed in several of the articles, I plan to incorporate what I have learned in order for my students to be more successful. I am also thankful that I am learning skills that I can use in my classroom that will contribute to my students overall success. I am looking forward to week 3 to learn more.

My Reflections from Week 3:  This has been a very busy and somewhat overwhelming week. In addition to the accident my son had, and his surgery, I originally thought that I would never get through with the readings, videos or assignments. When I finally challenged myself to begin, I was so excited to read or view much of what I have been teaching my students. On several occasions, I found myself mesmerized in certain areas and became lost in all of the links provided in the texts. In Web 2.0 I learned about new ways and opportunities for students to learn, explore more information, and ways that they can present their new knowledge. I learned about group communication, reform to enhance our 21st century learners, and ways that teachers can implement or teach with technology. Wikis, blogs, podcasts, video, PowerPoint, or the Internet itself are excellent ways for students to reflect and show what they have learned. I have always believed that students who use technology to learn are more likely to fully participate in the lesson and that sometimes those quiet students or even those who are falling behind often excel when they are allowed to learn in a more comfortable way.

Learning new strategies to help students acquire and integrate learning by using technology is very powerful and can help teachers differentiate instruction or make instruction more complex depending on the way that each student learns. I also learned strategies that help a student to practice, review and apply new learning by homework, practices, simulations and differences.

I had to use the CAST site on several occasions for assignments, and then ready so much that I was lost in what we were supposed to do for this weeks assignments. Although this information was new to me because I am not in a K-12 setting, I actually enjoyed using their site, and learning that I already incorporate much of the information into my courses, but in a different way. The Universal Design for Learning (UDL) has so much useful information that I have it bookmarked to share with others and know that I will use it for my classes in the future.

Overall, week 3 has given me so much information that I cannot wait to incorporate it. The readings, videos and assignments this week, along with the some of the information from the discussion board has given me ways, or insights into what I need to do in order to teach the students. I have already bookmarked many of the sites provided and plan to share them with others in my department. As overwhelming as it seemed in the beginning, I have enjoyed this weeks lessons.

My Reflections from Week 4:

This week has really been an eye opener for me from the challenges of using technology, using UDL’s, participating in professional development, and the responsibility of a teacher to be able to teach multiple learning styles – including hearing, visual, learning disabled and even the low ability and high achievers. First, I learned some interesting information in how various types of media and a UDL framework can be extremely beneficial to the evaluation and assessment process. Using my creativity to design an curriculum for a learning unit was not as easy as I originally planned. Once it was complete, in my eyes, I had to go back and make sure that all students could use it successfully. That was very difficult as I am not in a K-12 classroom and do not usually have students with special circumstances to include. This assignment really opened my eyes and I will definitely take all of my future assignments into consideration.

Learning about a site that specialized in software, amplifiers, books, and other assorted technologies for the hearing, visually impaired, learning disabled or other students was also very enlightening. Although I have had the ability to work with Zoom Tech and a text reader on my campus, I also discovered an amazing number of other items that make learning easier for those with certain disabilities. From readers, amplification devices, scanners, specialized software and a host of other products, technology sure plays an important role in our lives, especially those with disabilities.

I was most amazed at the responses on discussion board regarding professional development and support from campus technologist and administration. I am already aware of instructors (even on my campus) that have some amazing technology, but yet allow it to sit in a dark closet. I agree that some professional development is extremely eye opening and interesting but I also know that unless it is incorporated into the learning or working environment that it is a waste of time. I learned that support for technology cannot come from one source – it needs to be implemented from administration, to the technologists, the instructors and finally the students. It is our job to teach these students and by not learning to incorporate even just a little of what the Internet has to offer, we are doing a disservice to our students. I can understand how busy the teacher is and feel that professional development can be handled in better ways…not when the teacher is tired after a long day, or too busy thinking about what she needs to do for her family, etc.

Finally, I read, but already understand that putting technology or computers in schools is not effective integration. Teachers do have the ability to figure out a simple use for their classrooms, but usually only use what they know. Most software has many underlying uses and teachers must be taught ways that they can use it. Professional Development needs to inform each teacher what it can do and then follow up and provide uses particular to that grade or teacher.

Overall, I have learned much more in this week with the readings, videos, and project work that I have in the other weeks, including some of the other courses. I am looking forward to completing our project and then going back and reading the rest of the chapters in some amazing texts.

My Reflections from Week 5: This has been a very hurried week – in addition to having a short class week, no time to work on the weekend, plus additional assignments, readings and videos in addition to our final project – stress is the word that describes it the best. And for some of us, this is the final week of school and grades have to be posted. First of all, I would like to comment that I have thoroughly enjoyed this course and have learned so many new ideas that I cannot wait to incorporate into my courses.

During Week 5, I found the videos to be interesting, but not as much as the previous weeks. I did learn that playing video games was considered a type of assessment. I have never really thought about that aspect of it but it does make sense as I listened to some of the videos several times. Our brains, or should I say those of our students, can multitask the coordination of the fingers, the brain and the suspense (mental issues) of the game in order to play efficiently (obviously I am not going into a bunch of details) but don’t seem to be able to use the same fingers, brain and mental capacity to apply effort into a math problem, writing a sentence or in some other learning capacity. I think that the education field needs to hire a programmer to create learning games that flash bits of mathematical calculations, words, or text on the screen that the player has to learn or understand in order to continue playing. Incorporate learning INTO the game….and you would never have to ask them to learn anything again…can you imagine how much, and how fast they would learn. I can envision how much our students would, or could learn, if every teacher began to incorporate the Web 2.0 tools into today’s classrooms.

The readings this week, using the //Web 2.0// and //Using Technology with Classroom Instruction That Works// texts were also very interesting. I am looking forward to being able to try some of the suggestions in my classes in the spring. I have a much better understanding of assessments and the effort that is required. I have always tried to explain to my students (and to myself on occasion) that unless you put effort into your work you cannot thoroughly understand or learn a topic. I also do not believe in rewarding a student for learning, but often comment how proud I am of them for taking the time to learn a little something extra, or helping them to understand that effort will eventually pay off. Sometimes encouragement can open whole new areas of learning for a child, especially those who are not encouraged at home. In reality, everyone likes to be noticed. Like others on our discussion board, I had to read the chapter a few times in order to fully understand how the Effort Rubric will help not only the student, but the parents. This is also something that I plan on applying to my adult learners and the use it as a project while we are learning Excel. I also plan on using the Survey Monkey in order to get data at the beginning and end of a topic area and using a graph to show the difference. It will also be useful to me as the instructor in order to see where changes need to be made in the course.

The group project is the highlight of my week. Luckily, I have two of the best group partners that I could ever have participated with. Each of us brings forth so many efforts and ideas of assessments that our project was fun to work on and something that we can all be proud of. Even though our lesson was on endangered species, I am thinking of ways that I can apply it to my adult learners as a PowerPoint project in the future. I am already incorporating the McRel Technology Solutions Lesson Plan template in the units that I teach. I think that by planning out each section of the template will help me to focus not only on the needs that students need to learn, but on ways to help make it a much more effective lesson.

Week 5, has been great and I really hate that this course is finished. I certainly plan on reading each of the texts over again, from start to finish, and hope that we will be able to use what we have learned as we complete the last few courses.