My Thoughts About My Experiences in Technology Tools...

My experiences in this class have been wonderful. I have learned a lot and liked working with my group members, it was great getting to know them. This class at times was a huge challenge for me because I became ill during week one and two, the wrong thing to do in a graduate program. Trying to keep up with the huge amount of work, reading, and the work I had to do as a classroom teacher became overwhelming at times. The upside was that I love learning and learning something that I can and will use.

I learned how to evaluate software, set guidelines for when technology is necessary and what some challenges other educators face in using technology their classrooms. I also learned more about how PBL(Problem Based Learning) would look using technology in today's classroom. I felt really good as I read through the textbook because I am using some of these strategies already, but I got some terrific ideas on how to extend these techniques. I will definitely keep this book and refer to it often.

I was also inspired by an idea presented in the book and reiterated in one of the videos we watched during class about student creativity. These were moments that I reflected on my own education and my first years as a teacher compared that time to the present. I have always thought that allowing students to feel free during the learning process to express their natural talent was the magic ingredient in a great classroom. In this class, I was reminded of that and at times felt re energized about my teaching practices, free to be creative myself.

How will I use what I've learned? Well, I am using them now. I used the presentation and comic strip I created for one of our assignments with my students during one of my lessons. I shared some information I found on Edutopia.org with several of my coworkers during a professional development session. Everyone has benefited from my efforts and that makes me feel the value of my experience more deeply.

Oh, did I mention some of my students were emailing me during Christmas break saying that they couldn't wait to get back to school to see what they were doing next. This kind of excitement in the third quarter... well lets just say that is priceless.

How Will I use What I am Learning In My Teaching? This really is a moment of reflection...

When I think about my role as a classroom teacher and the Instructional Technology Leader for our school I ask myself how will I use what I am learning in this class and program overall. I had to look at the big picture how do I feel about what I am learning? When it comes to technology, I am like a kid in a candy store. I get excited and could absolutely spend countless hours PLAYING with it. I love to learn new things and share what I know. This week I spent time reading, testing out new programs, some of the programs...I have been searching for their capabilities for years. I found myself wondering how long they have existed before I found them. I try to justify the amount of time I spend "practicing" by saying I need to use it with my students, but I have to master it first.

In my role as ITL, part of my function is to help other educators in our school learn how to incorporate useful technology into the classroom learning environment, lesson plans and instructional practices. This is not always easy. In Chapter 9 of Supporting Learning with Technology: Essentials of Classroom Practice, I read about supporting teacher development. One particular section that resonated with me, Challenges for Teachers in Technology Professional Development, addressed several areas that I experience everyday. Time constraints, access, knowledge, working with parents and students with special needs have all been challenges in our building.

This portion of what I learned this week has help remind me that I am not the only one who is facing these types of challenges. As I scrambled to get my own assignments done, plan my lessons and syllabi for my three subject areas and two grades levels and just get through the other areas of life, my lack of time really screamed in my ear. As I learned about, practiced and used new technology tools this week the thought of how can I do this with the limited equipment we have in our building tapped me on the shoulder and poked me in the side. It reminded of the look on the faces of many of my coworkers when I approach them about collaboration or peer coaching time. I do understand their frustrations.

How will I use what I learned this week when I go back to my school and classroom? I will use what I learned in my reading to develop a plan to patiently support and share my old and new knowledge with my coworkers and students. I will work to effectively model for them when it is appropriate to use technology. I will continue to make and TAKE the time I need to develop, grow and enhance my own skills and abilities to be a the best educator that I can be. I know that for my students and for some of my coworkers I am a model of what and educator can be at my best or worst. I hope this answers the questions for you,for myself its only the beginning.

A Review of What I am Learning and How I Will Use It...

After a week of learning about the various options available for graphics and presentation tools, I can honestly say I continuing my collection of Tools that I can use. Of course I can not always use everything but the exposure to the many that are out there gives me a lot to test and choose from. A few of the graphics programs that really attracted my imagination were Toonlet and GoAnimate. I was able to create personalized comic strips to use with my students in our Language Arts class. I know they will get a big laugh when they see it.

I was also able to create a slide presentation to use for a lesson I will do with my reading class that can be quickly and easily adapted for both grade levels I teach. Being able to learn and navigate new software easily and quickly is very important for me to incorporate in classroom instruction. During the first week of this course, that has been made fun and interesting. The next test will be the feedback I get from my students.

In Time Site - A Nice Tool

The In Time site is a tool that has come along just in time. As I learn to use new forms of technology to enhance my teaching practices, In Time has given me a model for how PBL (Problem Based Learning) can be enhanced by technology and what it would look like. I was able to search out videos by grade level and content area to view teachers in action as they taught lessons using the PBL method. These teachers demonstrated how guiding students through the process might look in an actual classroom, not just in theory.

I was able to see how students developed strategies for cooperative learning, problem solving and collaboration. This site was very helpful because it gave me a window inside the practices of other educators and their students. In chapter 7 of Supporting Learning with Technology: Essentials of Classroom Practice the author mentions that some educators struggle with relinquishing control or functioning in a noisy classroom. Admittedly, I am one of those educators.

As I grow as a teacher, I attempt to let go of the old model of what an effective learning environment looks and sounds like. The videos I found on In Time has helped me to realize and feel a little more comfortable with this concept. The new way of teaching does now always center around a quiet group of students listening to the lecture of a teacher, but combines the students and teachers interacting together on a journey of exploration including structured content based conversations with student centered activities.