Reflection

This course has opened my eyes to the numerous ways that I can utilize technology in my classroom to enhance student learning. I have learned how important it is to use technology to its full potential. Many classrooms have technology in them, but not all teachers are allowing their students to use it on a daily basis and in a way that supports their core academics.
When reading about 21st century skills it reminded me that at the end of the day, what matters is that I am preparing my students with skills that they can use to be successful in the real world. Looking at what technology is used in businesses and other professions, reminds us as educators how crucial it is for our students to be getting experience with these tools.
After discussions throughout the course and reading course materials, I feel that I have become more learner-centered and less teacher-centered. As a teacher, it is not easy to make changes and learn new things but it is necessary. If I do not continue my education in the field of technology I am doing my students a disservice. After interviewing my class I found that not all of them even have access to technology. If I do not offer them technical experiences, they may not have any at all. Knowledge of video games and iPods don’t take the place of the importance of technical skills such as using podcasts, Wikis, blogs, etc.
My long term goal is to make technology an integrated part of my daily routing. We always go to computer lab but I don’t want my students’ technology use to be limited to a half hour a day working on computer programs. There is so much that they can do. If technology is embedded within all subjects, they will benefit greatly. In my lesson plan that I created for this course I developed the idea of digital book buddies. I hope that I can use blogs and podcasting to complete this lesson successfully and then continue using it for years to come.
Overall, I have a much better understanding of the importance of integrating technology in my first grade knowledge. My focus is on my students’ success and I feel that I have been given tools to make sure they are successful.