Reflection:

         Through the course, Understanding the Impact of Technology on Education, Work, and Society, I have developed new technology skills, deepened my knowledge of the teaching and learning process, and in many ways have altered my perspective from teacher to learner-centered.  Prior to this course, I considered myself an average technology user.  After completing a short technology survey during week one, I concluded that I was a moderate technology user, in both my personal and professional life. In a mere seven weeks, I have learned how to blog, construct a wiki, and create a podcast.  With help from my professor and classmates, I have been able to expand my knowledge of relevant technologies and learn ways to effectively integrate these technologies into my classroom.

          As educators, we often strive to be experts of the content we teach.  Seven weeks ago, I considered myself far from an expert technology user.  In turn, I was somewhat uncomfortable integrating new and upcoming technologies into my daily teaching practices.  I often wondered how I, as a Digital Immigrant (Prensky, 2001, 3), would teach my students innovative was to use technology, when the knowledge and technological skills they possessed well outweighed my own.  Now, I am more confident and feel secure in my abilities to teach and engage my students through fresh technological avenues. 

          Through this course, I have taken the appropriate steps along the path of a life-long learner striving to successfully integrate technology into the classroom.  Through this graduate course, I myself have become an accomplished blogger, who now follows other blogging educators through a Google reader.  By doing so, I am currently able to collaborate and learn from educators around the globe, while expanding my opportunities for professional development.  In addition, I am a recent co-creator and collaborator of a wiki space, experiencing first hand its uses and benefits.  Lastly, I am a director of a podcast, recording students’ voices as well as my own to report collected class data.  Through these new experiences, I can not help but feel a sense of accomplishment and growth. 

          While experiencing new types of technology, I have opened my eyes to a new age of learners.  An age of students dubbed Digital Natives, who learn in different ways and at rapid speeds.  Students who are “used to the instantaneity of hypertext, downloaded music, phones in their pockets, a library on their laptops, beamed messages and instant messages (Prensky, 2001, 4).  With this in mind, I now know the importance of fostering a learner-centered environment to engage and motivate my students.  I have learned that it is necessary to stretch beyond the assigned curriculum and teach students the 21^st century skills that they will need to succeed outside of the classroom.  Students need a facilitator who will provide them with opportunities to problem solve, and take ownership of their learning. 

          As this school year comes to a close, I have already begun to set goals to transform my classroom environment for next year.  One goal I have is to create a class blog, and introduce it to my new set of fourth grade students in September.  Initially, I plan to have students post about themselves and their summer.  Therefore, in the beginning, the class blog will serve as an outlet to get to know one another.  As the year goes on, I foresee continuing to use the class blog as an area for homework questions, reading assignments, and much more! 

          A second goal I have for next year is to introduce the students to wikis.  Although familiar with Wikipedia, many students are unaware that they can create and collaborate on their own wiki space.  I would like to have the students create wiki spaces, in pairs, as part of a required research unit.  Within this unit, students will create several pages on their wiki for resources, images, and a page to draft and edit a collaborative research paper.  To ensure that I achieve these goals, I have included them as part of my Professional Development Plan for the 2012-2013 school year, which I have shared with my administrators.  Although I expect challenges, I also anticipate successes.

          Week one of this course, I completed a short technology checklist gagging my employment of 21st century skills as well as my use of technology skills for the school and workplace environments.  Much has changed since I completed this checklist, particularly under the area of developing technology skills.  Previously, I did not have a clear vision for technology integration.  Now, I not only have a clear vision as how to integrate technology across the curriculum but I am communicating that vision to my colleagues.  

          I am grateful to have taken this course, and look forward to continuing this journey.  Thank you to my both professor and colleagues for their guidance, advice and support.  

Resources:

Prensky, M. (2001). Digital natives, digital immigrants. On the Horizon, 9(5).