Class Reflections

Coming into this course, I felt I had a pretty decent background on many of the topics discussed, perhaps with the exception of using Web 2.0 technologies in the classroom.  My undergrad tech class required us to make a website, and my teaching portfolio was done with PowerPoint in a similar way that the StAIR project was.  However, I still feel this class broadened my horizons and required me to think about effective use of technology.  I have been challenged to think about how technology can be a part of my instructional teaching, not just the means to an end.  I have given thought to the idea that my own "style" of teaching can be shown using technology.  Creating a StAIR or WebQuest require the teacher to think about the teaching going on, not just the result or what the student will create.  I liked being challenged to think about how to most effectively carry this out and feel that some instructional strategies such as metaphors, inductive/deductive reasoning, simulations, and the rule-example work quite well with integrated technology. 

I still sometimes worry that too many teachers just use technology for the sake of technology and I am concerned that this will lead to students depending too much on it or not learning some critical skills.  As much as I would like to incorporate blogs into my classroom, I have mixed feelings about this.  I worry about students losing face time with each other.  Will they simply become content with sitting in front of a computer to communicate with other people and lose the face-to-face communication skills?  I know it might seem drastic now, but if I think long term, I can't help be wonder about this.

I do feel I have learned some new ways to be able to use technology effectively despite not having many resources.   In fact, I am able to incorporate much of what we studied this semester without too much trouble.  I am eager to continue to see how I can improve the use of technology in my classroom. 

I am looking forward to serving on a committee at school that will be looking at how to improve the technology at our school.  I feel this class has aided in allowing me to know ways to help lead this committee.  My goal is to do just that, and then work to train some of our teachers in how to use technology effectively.