Final Reflection - CEP 812

Effective Strategies


Throughout this course, I have been reminded that just with teaching without technology, teaching with technology requires careful consideration of the teaching strategies that will maximize student learning.  Perhaps for some concepts, technology does not help enhance learning.  Sometimes tutorials will be more appropriate than drill and practice and sometimes simulations will be better than drill and practice.  It's necessary to evaluate what you want the students to gain from the lessons and then look at what strategies using technology may be most effective.

Evaluating Uses of Technology

I try to find web-based technologies that can work in my setting.  This is often challenging considering the little access we have to computers and the Internet.  Therefore, it's important to consider how things may be modified to be able to use with what we are given as well as how I can directly incorporate it into something we are already doing.  I find that when I am able to do this, I am not modifying our learning, but modifying how we reach the end result given what resources we have. 

Personal Goals

I am continually learning how to incorporate technology with limited resources.  It may often seem like I sound like a broken record.  I am finding that it is becoming easier to incorporate technology in ways that work with my classroom.  I may not be able to include all students all the time, but the nature of how my classroom is structured allows for me to provide students opportunities that best meet what they are doing at the time.  This may mean that I work with one student on a particular project and teach them something new, while another students learns a different technology.  We are learning together how we can best use the resources we have. 

Beginning in January, I will be serving on a committee that will look at how we can best improve the technology situation at our school.  I'm looking forward to taking back what I have learned in these three courses and helping to educate others. 

New Goals

For now, I think it is best to continue developing goals that I have already begun to meet.  This will mean perhaps taking them a step further.  It is a continual process, but I am pleased with how things are progressing.  As stated earlier, I will continue to help my school gain resources and skills that will help teachers feel empowered to use technology in their classrooms.  Long-term, I hope to complete the Masters program associated with these three certificate courses.