Reflection

I have been taking a masters course called Understanding the Impact of Technology on Education, Work and Society. This course has given me some new perspectives on how students of today learn, and on some of the Web 2.0 tools that I can use to engage the students.



One benefit of this class was that I was given the time and opportunity to utilize blogs, wikis, and podcasts and learn to use them to complete simple projects. This allowed me the chance to become more familiar with the tools so that I can understand how I can best utilize them with my classes. I also had the chance to set up an aggregator so I can get RSS feeds from other classmates and other sites of interest.



As a result of taking this class, I have a better understanding of how students learn. Since most students have been surrounding by digital media and information devices throughout their entire lives, they are comfortable learning in a more hyperlinked sort of way. Many teachers, including myself, like to think of learning as a linear process - where you start at the beginning and progress step by step. But, today's students can often process information better if it is presented in a more linked and multimedia format.



I have always been more of a student centered type of teacher. I do some direct instruction, but a majority of the time in my classes has students working on project based assignments that utilize technology skills they have learned. One of the things I would like to improve on is developing more collaboration among students in their projects. I would also like to change the projects so they are based on inquiry questions that the students generate.



Two long term goals I have for transforming my classroom environment:

1. Utilize effective team building activities in my classroom so that students can learn how to effectively collaborate with one another. I want to develop some projects that require collaboration among students and I realize that the students don't know how to collaborate without some specific activities designed to enlighten them. I will work with our Student Achievement Coach on finding and teaching some collaboration and team building activities.

2. I would like to gradually integrate blogs, wikis, and podcasts into my projects. This may require some institutional changes since I know some of these tools are currently blocked by our internet filter. I will be persistent in trying to change the mindset of policy makers who deny access to these important tools and I hope that in the end I will prevail.



I think it is important to realize that although technology tools can be very beneficial to teaching students, it is perhaps more important that we teach students to be good consumers and creators of information. Because anyone can publish information it is critical that students know that they need to scrutinize information before accepting it as fact, or that they recognize bias when they see it. Also, students need to be able to take existing information and create new knowledge. I'm excited that a new school year is beginning and I can begin using some of these new technology tools.

Podcast - students using technology at home and school

Here is a podcast of a discussion concerning how students use technology at home and at school. Click on the link below to hear the podcast:

http://podcastmachine.com/podcasts/1403/episodes/6898