EDLD+5364+-+Teaching+with+Technology



**Week 1 Reflections:**

This week the readings and videos covered a lot of interesting material. In the readings I loved the descriptions of the different classrooms. The examples were very enlightening. I always try to imagine how I would feel in one of those classrooms. I am excited to read more of the text book //Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works//. In the article //How People Learn,// there was one particular quote in chapter 9 that struck at note with me. It says, "Several groups have reviewed the literature on technology and learning and concluded that it has great potential to enhance student achievement and teacher learning, but only if it is used appropriately (e.g., Cognition and Technology Group at Vanderbilt, 1996; President's Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology, 1997; Dede, 1998). The last part is what stood out ot me, "if it is used appropriately". Just putting a student in front of a computer and calling it using technology is not good enough. It is so important that teachers learn and use 21st Century learning tools to keep our students moving forward. Our students are using these tools outside of the classroom, we as technology advocates need to find ways to infuse the technology seemlessly into our classrooms. The article on Social Networking was informative. It gave me a lot to think about as we are approaching some decisions regarding this in our district.

The videos of this week were good also. I saved the YouTube videos to my favorites in YouTube. Those are probably the best explanations I have heard on Constructivism and Connectivism. The video on Cyborg Theory really caught my attention. I can't imagine testing these things out on myself. It does add some great dynamics for the future of education. As always, the discussion boards brought out a lot of good points. I am finding that as we progress through these courses, our discussions have changed to be more informative. I feel our group is really starting to share their experiences and thoughts.

This week I found the reading to be most informative. Again, I am learning a lot from our text. I cannot wait to share this text with our Campus Technology Integration Specialists. I think it is a book worth sharing with them and hopefully they will encourage teachers to read it as well. I do think we need to expose our administrators to this text as well. The integration ideas are certainly worth sharing. Until we have administrator buy in, technology integration will always remain low on the priority list.
 * Week 2 Reflections:**

The videos this week are what grabbed my attention. Even though they were very short, the introduction to Center for Applied Special Technology Web site and UDL is what I found worth all my time. I took the time to explore the site. I have been in Instructional Technology for years and have never heard of either one. I know so many teachers that could benefit from this site. I plan to talk to our Special Education department and support groups to make sure they are aware of this site. We have a fantastic support group for our students with special needs, whether it be dyslexia, hearing impaired etc., but these valuable resources can make the difference for some of our students. Any resource that provides suggestions with working with diverse learners is always welcome. I think one of the greatest struggles of a lot of teachers face is working in a classroom with students of varying learning levels. The fact is, all classrooms are like this. Some have greater gaps than others, but all students are not the same and all students need and should receive appropriate insturction for their learning ability. CAST will help teachers find lessons that are designed to help their students. As our professor said this week, "Clearly, teaching with technology can positively impact diverse student learning when teachers select the right tools to support learning goals." With CAST and UDL, this will be possible for our students.


 * Week 3 Reflections:**

Again, the readings for this course have been the most informative yet. The text is such an awesome resource. It think it should be added to the new teachers list of books to read. With the hype of 21st century learning, and being able to reach students on their level and with their tools, teachers are going to have to stay on the forefront of technology integration. They are going to have to jump out of their compfort zone and use the social networking and collaboration sites. As we prepare students to enter the work force and be successful working adults, collaboration is the key. With offices being spread over the country, businesses are relying on these collaboration tools to hold meetings and complete tasks that require the input of multiple employees.

To prepare our teachers to face the realities of how the classroom structure is changing, staff development will play a pivital role in equipping teachers with the proper tools. School districts are going to have to make time and spend money to obtain adequate training for their teachers. They are also going to have to equip the district with proper server space, speed and promote the use of 21st century learning tools. Right now, a lot of districts are restricting the use of certain sites because of the security risk to students. Districts are going to have to find a way to make it work. If not, our schools are going to become a place where students will feel pigeon-holed by having to stay with out-dated, traditional classrooms. They will not be prepared to enter the college educational arena. Once they get there, a certain level of frustration will exist until they manage to teach themselves or seek help from classmates on the latest and greatest educational technology practices.


 * Week 4 Reflections:**

When reflecting on this weeks readings and a lot of the topics from the discussion board, it seems the topic of meaningful staff development keeps coming up. The most important route to educational improvement is to improve the skills of the teachers and administrators who work within our educational system. As districts plan staff development, it is imperative that is has relevance to the teacher's job. Just as our classrooms are filled with diverse learns, so are our professional development sessions. Presenters seem to forget that just because there are adults in the room, they can just talk and we will understand and be able to put into practice what they are telling us. I have also noticed that a key component left off of most professional development sessions, is follow-up. Giving teachers time to practice what they learn and then checking back with them to make sure they have tried their new learning is just as important as learning the new skill itself.

I have presented technology workshops for the last 10 years. Sometimes due to time constraints, I had to use the Demo method instead of the Hands-On approach. Nine times out of ten, when I used the Demo method, I would have to visit many classrooms to provide clarity to the teachers. For technology, the hands-on approach, with guided practice and then a chance for independent practice has been the most successful for me. Even though I am not at the campus level any more, I try to follow my trainings up with an e-mail or a visit out to the campus. I always leave my attendees with my e-mail address and phone number and encourage them to contact me if they have any questions or need further assistance. I always try to make the trainings relevant to what they are doing, by providing examples they can see themselves doing. I provide written handouts with detailed instructions and a place to take notes. I also have those same handouts located in a central location online that they can access any time.

Our district is moving to make professional available 24/7 so teachers can learn when they are ready. When setting up our online classes, we make sure to have handouts and videos of everything we do. Feedback from our first attempts have let us know, the teachers so appreciate the short video clips walking them through the steps instead of just having to read it or listen to it. We have also learned to respect the course evaluations and make changes to our courses to make then more useful to our attendees. We are in the process of building a best-practices video collection for teachers to view when they need to see an example of a lesson of any type. Our schools are full of teachers doing wonderful things, it is important for us to use those resources and showcase the talent we have all around us on a daily basis.


 * Week 5 Reflections:**

This week as I jumped back in CAST and UDL to work on my technology activities, I was once again struck by the core framework that helps use technology tools to apply those rich Web 2.0 tools to support learning, reduce barriers to the state and district curriculum and address a multitude of academic challenges while at the same time maintaining high expectations for all students.

When we are creating activities for our students we need to combine hands-on learning with the use of new technology trends and put into practice effective teaching strategies that have a core lesson, time for independent practice, proper assessment and continuous feedback for our students during the duration fo the school year. The use of UDL can only improve learning outcomes for all students. UDL also helps teachers to maximize opportunities for all students, therefore enabling all students to obtain new knowledge, new skills and maintain a great enthusiasm for learning.