Summer Course 2013

My Final Reflection…..

I am so excited know that I have taken this course to help me become more familiar with technology and how it can benefit my professional skills. I realize that as an educator the students that I will serve need to explore and learn how to use technology as they learn. Throughout this course my professor, Ms. O’Keefe, has encouraged us to “learn WITH technology rather than from technology.” I have embraced this phrase and am eager to apply my experiences and skills learned. As we close this course I have already began to think of creative activities that I could explore that will allow the students to learn with technology. I particularly love the IWB and there are several activities I hope to incorporate concept mapping on the computer with.  This class offered a lot of information and I am better able to communicate the information learned, although I know that I am still learning about them myself. I am now able to not only incorporate technology into my classroom, but also prepare to be aware of how to observe my students as they learn to ensure they are benefitting and learning with the technology.

Technology integration has been around longer than we realize. This course not only showed how to integrate technology into the classroom, but it proved that it is important. From the simplest tools of yesterday such as the typewriter, overhead projector, or even the tape recorder to today’s highly technical advancements like the 2010 Apple iPad, IWB, or even the smallest of lap top or notebook computers, technology integration should prepare the learner for the global world. This video Did You Know viewed and discussed in our classroom offers more insight on the importance of integrating technology into the classroom.

Overall the class was Awesome, Amazing, Active, and took us on a new Adventure each class session! I am excited to apply to new skills and knowledge as well as to continue to embrace the many sites, even if I have to REGISTER/SIGN UP! I enjoyed the ongoing look at the opportunities in technology that is offered for learning in the classroom. If I could suggest anything to enhance the class, it would to review how to navigate through D2L, specifically the Turnitin tool and to begin the development of website earlier in the course. The Turnitin tool offers important feedback that helps improve on assignments and better understand what the learner missed. The website assignment was a huge task that needed much more preparation time. Now it is time to apply how I learn WITH  and teach WITH technology!