Final+Course+Reflections+for+Teaching+with+Techology

1. What outcomes had you envisioned for this course? Did you achieve those outcomes? Did the actual course outcomes align with those that you envisioned? I envisioned learning several strategies that would incorporate different Web 2.0 tools such as Wikis and Blogs that would tie technology to our mandated curriculum. I believe that the actual outcomes of the course taught us how to incorporate Wikis and Blogs into our curriculum in addition to many other positive learning experiences, such as learning to create a Web site with Google Site, and several new teaching strategies such as creating lesson plans with CAST’s Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Book Builder. We analyzed and learned how technology addresses several different learning styles and levels of learners. By utilizing UDL, we learned to accomplish differentiated instruction to address all three brain networks, recognition, strategic, and affective much more efficiently than in the past. We were able to create lesson plans that gave students choices in how they would demonstrate their knowledge of the concept while integrating all the necessary technology to address all the needs of our students. Our lesson plans focused on collaboration projects in which students would create a final product that demonstrated their understanding of the concepts to compare and contrast, infer, create and present the final product. We also collaborated in the creation of an actual website that presented all our efforts and activities we utilized to address all the needs of our students. 2. To the extent that you achieved the outcomes, are they still relevant to the work that you do in your school? Why or why not? The outcomes that we achieved throughout this course are extremely relevant to the work I am currently doing as a third grade teacher at our school. As a teacher, I am constantly working with students that have different needs, and work at different levels; this makes it difficult to create assignments or assessments that incorporate all the needs of my students. The course outcomes provided many useful tips and practical examples on how to use several Web 2.0 tools to address these issues and provide students with assignments or assessments that allow them to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding they have learned. For example providing students options on how they will demonstrate their knowledge on a concept, they may chose to create a multimedia presentation or write an essay. Students then have a sense of empowerment and take ownership of their learning. We learned how technology could simplifies the tasks required to address all the differentiated needs of my students, such as using word processor to highlight text to help student read, or use text help to help students that may have problems decoding words. Technology provides us with many more tools that can help us meet all the needs of our students. 3. What outcomes did you not achieve? What prevented you from achieving them? The outcomes I was not able to achieve were mainly mastering all the added features o f the new technology programs that we learned to incorporate into our lesson plans. In particular, I would have liked to spend more time learning how to incorporate the assistive features that Book Builder offers when creating a book. For example, I wanted to learn how to incorporate the digital coaches that asked questions and guides students in comprehending the content of the book I created. I also did not immerge myself in the features provided in Kidspiration to create a much more friendly and informative graphic organizer. The greatest obstacle in preventing me from accomplish these tasks was mainly lack of time, considering all the assignments and tasks required in the course and the hours worked in school during this hectic holiday season, I found myself working many late night hours to complete all the weekly requirements. Now, as per the team I felt we all gave an honest effort and participated equally throughout the different portions of the project and our solution to the student scenario. 4. Were you successful in completing the course assignments? If not, what prevented or discouraged you? Though we were able to complete all of our assignments successfully, it was not an easy task by any means. We had to ensure that we were all in the same understanding of the assignment and had a unified vision and goals to create the action plan, the activities, and lesson plans that we would incorporate to solve our scenario. Just deciding on what grade level and content area we would focus on took a collaborative effort and discussion. Learning to use all these new technology applications was also a rewarding but challenging experience. I would have liked more time to work on creating a book with Book Builder and use all the added features to create a much more interactive digital book. The best part of the project was the collaborative effort that our team utilized in creating a solution to the scenario and helping each other out with all the different tasks and assignments that were required throughout the course. We all took the initiative and divided the work evenly among the four of us. I can honestly say that I am very pleased with the final product we created and the platform that we used to tie everything together. 5. What did you learn from this course: about yourself, your technology and leadership skills, and your attitudes? I learned that I am very capable of working collaboratively with others and participating proactively in the brainstorming, planning, and creation of a project that will address real life problems and needs of our students. As the team leader, I found myself delegating responsibilities throughout the project to ensure we all participated and collaborated equally. I believe I have enriched and strengthened my leadership skills through this course’s collaborative experience. I also learned several new technology applications and tools that will help me differentiate my lesson plans and provide students with multiple means of participation, engagement and assessment to demonstrate the knowledge they have learned. Tools such as Cast’s UDL Lesson Builder will help me create the lessons that will provide learning opportunities for all my students. Examples of the technology applications that I learned to use and hope to incorporate with my students include CAST’s Book Builder and Kidspiration, both excellent tools to provide students different venues for creating projects that will demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the content being taught. I also learned how to implement other multimedia applications, which I am already familiar with to create multimedia projects and provide multiple options to address the learning needs of all my students, these include, Microsoft Excel, Word, and Po werPoint, Photo Story 3, Audacity, among others. I feel this has helped my attitude towards incorporating the use of technology into the curriculum and using these tools to create lesson plans that will provide help address the needs of all my students.