Week 7 Reflection

This course has helped me to develop my technology skills by forcing me to focus on the educational needs of my students. As an educator, I must take into consideration the learning styles of each student and incorporate technological tools that can drive learning as well as prepare them for the future. Education has changed tremendously. The past educational strategies cannot assist students with the future. Research has proven this theory. As their instructor, I must continue to learn and use instructional tools that can achieve the highest educational outcome possible. As a result of this course, I have learned that integrating technological instructional tools can increase retention and allow students to learn from others (not just the educator).

As an educator, I have deepened my knowledge of the teaching and learning process by not being the dominate force throughout the instructional time of my lessons. This particular course has taught me to focus on economical tools that are key indicators as they enter the work force. As a result, I have transformed my role into the facilitator and allowed my students to learn from their own assumptions and experiences. Strategize with their peers on forming a hypothesis and determining adequate solutions for the problems based on their assessments.

Giving students equal rights in a classroom was a teacher’s nightmare until recently. A teacher-centered learning environment does not allow students freedom or access to their environment (peers, community, & world). Teacher-centered environments have proven to hinder students within the learning process (strict drill and kill methods) as well as cause inferiority within collaborative environments (not exposed to the setting). Technology within the classroom converts education into a student friendly (student centered) atmosphere because the student must use their resources to successful. Student centered learning environments present students with opportunities to integrate higher order thinking as well as connect to the world for answers.

To expand my learning and knowledge, I too must continue to learn. Technology is constantly changing. As a result I must continue to enroll in programs that provides great insight on how to effectively add these technological tools within my learning environment that will assist the students’ economically and educational.

At the conclusion of this course, I have two answers that have changed based on the self-check. I found myself creating lessons that require students to present their findings. This instructional strategy lets students to teach the learning environment information they have found (learn from others). The last tool I have integrated within my classroom is the use of collaborative tools to communicate with students and parents. This will eventually become an instructional strategy that allows students to communicate to the class upon approval from the administrative team.

Two long term goals I have for transforming my classroom are to create a technological-environment friendly classroom in addition to create lessons that include these tools. In order to achieve these goals, I must present my ideas to improving my classroom to my instructional facilitator and administrators. Allow them to see the advantages of these technological tools in combination with learning outcomes. The skills and concepts will still be taught, but include tools that have the interest of the students (social networking, blogging, etc.).