Week 5 Reflections

(1) As I began this course, I did not realize how much I would learn about technology through using technology to complete course assignments. I expected to learn about state technology standards and how to incorporate technology into the classroom. These expectations were met and the course exceeded my expectations in many ways. By requiring us to utilize technology to complete assignments, I learned how to use current technology tools to enhance the learning environment. This course succeeded in getting me out of my technology comfort zone by requiring me to try new things in cyberspace. I’m glad we had the opportunity to get hands-on experience with new technology in this course.
(2) One of the best rewards of taking this course is its relevancy. The learning outcomes achieved during this course will help me now at my current teaching position. They also better prepare me for future school leadership roles. Technology is very relevant to education. As a teacher I try to incorporate technology during instruction every opportunity I get. Today’s students are multi-taskers who are accustomed to processing large amounts of information. The outcomes in this course will definitely help me teach students how to sift through information and how to make wise decisions in cyberspace. I can immediately use some of the information form this course in my classroom to better educate students on Internet safety and using technology wisely.
(3) Although this course was a lot of work, I feel better prepared to encounter new technologies and address technology safety. I feel like I achieved all outcomes for this course. As I stated earlier, this course exceeded my expectations. I got more hands-on experience than I thought I was going to get and encountered several new technology tools that I was unfamiliar with, including setting up blogs and embedding Power Points online. I feel like the assignments and readings required me to invest time learning new skills and applying knowledge. I don’t believe anything prevented me from achieving the course outcomes.
(4) I feel that the course assignments were time consuming but it was time well spent. I was successful in carrying out the course assignments because adequate information was given to complete the assignments and a detailed rubric helped guide my efforts. I like the clear expectations and the structure of the assignments. At times, I felt some parts of the assignments were vague, but the rubric helped me determine the requirements. I liked he hands-on experience with blogs and embedding Power Points the most. Overall, I feel the assignments helped me learn valuable skills that I can continue to build throughout the year.
(5) This course gave me more confidence with technology. I didn’t realize how little I knew about new technologies until taking this course. I feel very positive about the relationship between technology and education. I know now after completing this course that part of my responsibility as a school leader is to teach our students about Internet safety and cyber ethics. I have completely underestimated the importance of these areas until now and will begin immediately incorporating them into the classroom. I also really like the collaborative potential of school blogs. I have much to learn but this course has given me the confidence to press on in learning about new technologies and using them in the classroom.
(6) I believe there is tremendous educational value in using blogs if the resources are available. Blogs are great tools for teachers to use for collaboration and the sharing of ideas, illustrations, and curriculum tools. Blogs open up a 24/7 collaboration opportunity. Teachers who are limited in time at school could access a blog and collaborate anytime. There is also great potential to collaborate with the 21st century learner. Students access technology everyday and blogging would be a great way to enter their world. One major drawback to blogging with students in a classroom setting is the digital divide. Some students do not have access outside of school to online resources. If available, I believe blogging is a great communication toll for educational use.
(7) As I mentioned above, there are some drawbacks and concerns with using blogs in education. One concern is the current digital divide that keeps getting wider. Many students do not have online resources available to them outside of school. This creates a problem when trying to use blogs with students at school. Another concern is monitoring the content in blogs. Blogging could create potential unwanted and inappropriate content from students. Teachers must ensure a safe learning environment online just as they are expected to ensure a safe learning environment in the physical classroom. Although there are concerns with blogging, I believe the potential benefits outweigh the potential drawbacks if schools have the resources in place to utilize blogging.
(8) Blogging could be used as a great communication tool. School leaders could take advantage of blogging to communicate with all stakeholders including parents, students, the community, administrators, and teachers. I believe by setting up a campus blog principals could post upcoming events, important dates to remember, and school information for stakeholders to access. Blogging would also open up the communication lines between parents and teachers and the possibility of having online conferences. A major benefit of blogging would be the potential of immediate feedback from all stakeholders. Blogging is also a quick way to communicate with a large audience.