Course Reflection

Coming into this course, what was your level of technological savvy or skill?  What aspects of the course did you find the most difficult and which did you find the easiest?

I think that my level of technological skill coming into class was pretty high.  I found creating presentations and navigating websites to be the easiest.  The most difficult aspect of the class was my blog, where learning how to post and edit your submissions took a while to gain competency.  Social media apps were also a little difficult to wrap my head around, because my generation didn’t have access to these apps in school, since dial up and AOL was just beginning to become widespread.

In what ways has your level of tech skill/knowledge increased the most this semester?

I think that I have become savvier in using online educational resources this semester.  My skill as an online blogger has grown, from zero to barely passable, where now I understand how to create and publish materials for either personal or professional use.  I have been exposed to Prezzi presentations, where before I had heard about it but never seen it in action.  Finally the snipping tool in windows has been a great tool that I have learned about this semester.

What have been your favorite activities/assignments in class so far and why?

I think that he TPL assignments have been my favorite in class.  This is only a second year course in most college curriculum, and having the exposure to creating lesson plans especially with the technology we have access to today has been good for me.  It is amazing how much more access to supplemental material you have for your students that you can include into your lesson planning.  I think being able to integrate everything and letting your creativity out has made it my favorite assignment.

How do you see yourself using educational technologies in the classroom?  Out of all the tools we’ve learned about so far this semester, which ones do you see using the most frequently as a teacher and why?

I think that I can see myself using multiple educational technologies in the classroom.  The use of teacher blogs as resources for lesson plans and in class activities will be a great resource in planning out my lesson plans, especially as a new teacher.  This class has also opened my mind to using websites like Khan Academy as supplemental learning materials for my future students to help either in class or at home.  I can also see the use of social media in my classroom as a good way for me to stay connected to my students and also their parents as long as my district permits it.

What do you want to know MORE about concerning educational technology? What are you still curious about?

I would like to know more about the devices that can be used in the classrooms.  I know what a smart board is and have seen videos about it, but I have never actually seen one used in person or used it myself.  We talked about using phones and computers for formative assessments during lectures and I would like to know how to effectively use technology like this in the classroom.  I think we are at an age where the older generation is leaving the educational institutions and the newer ones are trying to integrate the never ending advancements in technology now in the classrooms.  I see someone trying to sell districts and states VR technology now to help students learn about things and environment that they don’t have access.  May be every year, this course can start looking at some of the newer technology for the classrooms, so teachers can see were the integration might start happening when they graduate.