Personal Learning Reflection

 

What are some things that you have learned about effective teaching strategies when integrating technology?

Some personal strategies I have learned is to be patient. While sometimes technology is not always reliable, it can be effective and useful for teaching. I have also learned about a few new technologies that are appropriate for students with disabilities in the K-5 setting. I learned about Prezi from some of my peers and I learned that it could be an effective mode to completing a project in a non-traditional way. 

How did integrating the Internet help you think about and evaluate uses of technology?

Integrating the Internet helped me thing about and evaluate my use of technology and has strengthened my confidence to use the Internet during teaching. I have been recently using the Internet in teaching to show videos, use games and now referencing blogs for my own lesson plans to enhance my knowledge base for how other teachers are using technology in their classroom. I am using the Internet in my classroom for web-based learning and remedial instruction. My thoughts about using technology and integrating technology has been very positive; my students respond well and enjoy a variety of learning opportunities in a given lesson. 

Which of the assignments that you turned in do you feel really exemplifies good teaching with technology and why?

I feel that the PLN assignment exemplifies good teaching because it gave us a chance to explore a new medium to express our learning networks. I feel this was the best example of good teaching with technology because the assignment allowed us to be creative, without many limits, use our own place to express our ideas (blogs, prezi, voicethread etc.). Furthermore, the assignment allowed us to be reflective of our learning networks. Good teachers are reflective on their practices and I believe this was a great opportunity to reflect on our practices as teachers and teachers of technology.  

How have you met your goals established in your Personal Growth Plan?

I believe I have met the following goals: “My second goal is to develop or use a technology where students can share their work or learn from a website that allows voice to text software so students can speak their message or record their message.” I have learned more about how to use blogs and use Prezi in an effective way in the classroom and have explored using both of these in my classroom recently. I found that Prezi is a great tool for my students who are visual learners and may have difficulties with oral presentations. “A personal technology goal for my own learning is to become more familiar, comfortable and independent with technology.” I have been using the Internet in my classroom, using games and videos and pictures to teach and reinforce concepts and have become more confident using and relying on teaching with technology. “I would like to learn about several new technologies and be confident to know the uses and applications to take that knowledge and experience back to my classroom.” I have been exploring RSS reader on Google and this has been very important for my professional growth in content and with special education laws, ideas and classroom teaching.  I have recently been using Popplet for teaching writing with my students and this has been a powerful teaching tool for pre-writing and organizational skills. “My goal is to find a web based program that can support their outside learning or enhance their school experiences.” I believe I have found some new web-based programs that can support outside learning on the MACUL sharing tips/tricks posting. I believe my learning about web-based programs still has the ability to grow and will continue to grow. This may be a goal that I can work on by talking to colleagues about what programs they have had success with. MACUL is a great resource for me to find new ideas for my classroom. 

Do you have any new goals? What are your plans for reaching your new goals and your long-term goals after this course is over?

Currently, I have the goal to continue to grow as a teacher and learner of technology and apply the technology I have learned in the course in my classroom as much as possible. My idea of growing is using and being informed with new technology; this could involve my attendance at more technology workshops and conferences. Now that I know the curriculum for my program, I have the desire to teach with technology more now than my first year of teaching when I was learning the curriculum and becoming comfortable in my daily professional requirements.