Bitter Sweet Endings....

My view of instructional technology has changed dramatically over the course of this semester. When I first came into this technology class, I assumed that most of the technology we were going to learn was about SMART-BOARDS and the use of those in a classroom. I had no idea of this new generation of technological pieces that we could use in our classrooms. Wikis, Blogs, Google Docs, and many more are site and resources I had never really heard of or thought to use in a classroom. But after seeing the amount of collaboration and teamwork that was used for these pieces, I found it is a great way for students to reflect and respond to many different topics throughout a year that I think are beneficial. We live in a technology savvy world and to keep up with those demands in the classroom is amazing. I think that students will really appreciate the use of non-paper and pencil or chalkboard teaching methods that i have learned this semester. Each new site or resource I found is just another way to reach my students at many different angles. 

The quality and appropriateness of what I have learned and created this semester  is on key. I have learned very appropriate and fundamental resources that can help make my classroom a more user-friendly and interactive classroom. There are now so many ways to do an "About me" ice-breaker introduction in a classroom or new forums for group discussions that I never thought were possible. The work I did is just a reflection of how easy it is to pick up on these new technology tools and use them to help further your educational expertise in an area.    I feel that all students can add new dimensions to their learning from trying some of the technology items we learned in class this semester. 

Moving forward with technology, I find myself feeling solid. When I first started this class 6 weeks ago, I thought I knew a decent amount about technology and I still do. I just have added so many new items to go forward with and use and improve myself. I think it will only help me become a better teacher by continuing to push myself with new technology tools and incorporate them into my future classrooms. They will not always be easy and fun to try out, and sometimes not work the way I want them to, but I feel that with time and patience that I can make it work for my students. Technology is the future, and to actually be able to use it effectively in class is something I will truly strive for in my future. 

Group 1 Rocks :)

Google reader has been a LIFESAVER this year with catching up on everyone's blogs. I have been able to go to one site and scroll my way through a weeks worth of data entries on 15 different peoples different websites. I have found that there are so many little things on the internet that work to the benefit of students and educators alike. The Blog and the Wiki have also been very interesting forms of communcation I never expected to use for a classroom setting. It is an easy way to find a lot of information in one area.

Within our cohort, we started this semester with a lot of different technology information but have now come on the other side with a lot of new knowledge. It is funny to see the similarities between my classmates on the same questions even though we have different subject matters. Everybody makes valid points of how to use different technology aspects in different context.

Lots of people had ideas about brining technology into the classroom but one that I did not see or remember well is on Megan's blog about the site Scribd that allows a classroom to be mainly paperless by being a site that is an avenue for students to submit papers. For someone in science, it is awesome to hear of other students in my class that are looking out for the environment in their own fields. I know English teachers have a lot of papers to grade so having them be able to use less can help our carbon footprint a lot. Other then it helping with a carbon footprint, it allows easily for collaboration on the work that a student submits. There are more opportunities for people other then the teacher to comment on a students work, just like we do on blogs and wikis. It seems to come full circle. 

Another idea that I found very interesting and unique was on Sarah's blog about the use of more mainstream technology aspects in the classroom. She explains how iPads/iPods/iPhones can be used for assistance in classrooms, especially for students with hearing impairments. I would never have thought of something that now seems so common for most of our students to have access too or use at times to be beneficial to their learning styles. It shows how educators are ever changing to the new demands of their students.

Students need to be comfortable with the technology that is around them but understand how to use it well and appropriate where needed. Students are interacting with more then just themselves on the internet and there are plenty of people that will be out there reading what students write about or express on the internet. All of my classmates have appropriate ways to incorporate these newfound glories to their class, but the main feelings I think as a group we think are that these tools need to appropriate for the audience, collaborative with others to learn from not just yourself, and enjoyable since no one wants to participate in something they don't enjoy. I feel ready to start my student teaching with a a full amount of toolbox items that continue to help me be a more effective teacher.

References:

Lacey, M. (2011). Finding the words: Literacy in the classroom. Retrieved from http://mlacey.blogspot.com/

Pierz, S. (2011). Language Arts in Action: Putting assistive technology to use.  Retrieved from http://mrspierz.blogspot.com