At the beginning of CEP 810, I thought I was fairly competent with using technology. I was willing to try new things in my classroom. I knew there were a lot of great benefits to using the technology, but if a parent were to ask, “Why are you using (insert wiki, Quizlet, mobile devices) instead of doing it the way we did things as kids?” I don’t know if I would have been able to give them a great answer. Many of the things I learned this semester would help me understand the value of what we do in the classroom and explain why it is important.
My two goals from my Personal Growth Plan were:
1.) Find out if using technology in the classroom as part of a lesson is beneficial to my students.
2.) To allow my students to succeed beyond the walls of my building.
What I have learned from the International Society for Technology in Education and the National Education Technology Standards (NETS) helps me understand what I need to do to reach my goals.
First, I now know there are technology tools I can use in everyday lessons. A good lesson/unit will address several levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy. There are tools available to help at each level of Bloom’s. Some examples: Remembering -- Social bookmarks and You Tube; Understanding -- Twitter and Blogster; Analyzing -- Google Reader and other RSS feeds. Creating -- Prezi and Voicethread. Using these tools is an extension of things that come natural to them in this day and age. They become an extension of the way students get/share information outside of the classroom.
Secondly, I need to apply the NETS whenever my students are using this technology. I need them to see the big picture. I need them to understand what they are doing is more than just part of a lesson. When they are creating, they might be collaborating, showing creativity and demonstrating digital citizenship. When they are analyzing, they might need to do additional research (informational fluency) and using critical thinking and decision-making skills. It might sound like more work, but a good teacher would do this if it were being done with pencil and paper, so I don’t see it as more of a burden -- but an opportunity.I now see things available on the Internet in a different way. Before, I thought there were things out there that did not fit in my plan. Things like Lemonade Stand seemed like just a game that students wanted to do to get out of typing lessons. Sure, I knew the game was created as a learning tool. Now, I see it as a way students need to critically think about the information that is given to them (90 degree day equals more lemonade sales). In the future, I would be more likely to discuss what students found out after a round or two of the game. This would make them more cognizant of their critical thinking (I hope it doesn’t take the fun out of the game!).
One assignment that I turned in that I feel really exemplifies good teaching with technology would be my Personal Technology Plan using Voicethread. Using Voicethread, and seeing others use it, helped me connect future lessons with the NETS. Students using the tool have an opportunity to be creative. There is the opportunity for analyzing others work and leaving feedback. It is possible that students on the other side of the world could see the presentation and leave feedback. In that case, the students need to be aware of the global reach of their work. If students use pictures or music, they must be aware of the responsibilities of digital citizenship, etc.
I am confident that using technology in day-to-day lessons, with a focus on the NETS, I will be teaching my students how to succeed in beyond the walls of my classroom. And if an administrator or parent asks, “Why?” I can answer them with utmost certainty.
