Sunday, October 27, 2019

Reflective Essay_EDUC6070


Initially when I started this course, I had limited knowledge of some of the latest web 2.0 tools that I can use within my classroom. However, the media, resources and activities of this course have helped me to develop my own technology skills as a professional teacher, as now I am more aware of the various web 2.0 tools that I can use within my teaching and learning environment.  I was new to using some of these tools and as such some of the activities was a bit overwhelming, for example when I was creating the Twitter account and using it to post tweets. However, after completing this course my knowledge have now been broaden on the tools that I can use within my learning environment.  This new awareness have now transformed the ways in which I view teaching and learning and how much more effective my lessons can be if I explore the new changes within the technological environment and use such change to influence the way I plan and conduct my lessons.
I have deepened my  knowledge of the teaching and learning process with respect to integrating technology, in how I am able to use the tool to promote collaborative learning among my students. I am now more aware of how powerful technology can be within the learning environment.  In a bid to facilitate the changing 21st century classroom, I would integrate technology within my lessons so as to promote student engagement, communication and collaboration. 
One web 2.0 tool that I am willing incorporate within my classroom is creating wikis or google-sites to enhance my learning environment. However the potential roadblock to using this tool within my classroom is access to resources such as a reliable internet access. The institution at which I work is located in a rural environment, therefore, there is not much I can do to overcome this issue of limited access. Another potential roadblock would be the time to effectively create the wiki-site, and also time to teach the students how to properly navigate and use the website. However, I would schedule my time to create and update the website, and also have sessions with my students outside of the regular class time to teach them how to use the tool. I believe, my students will eventually become fully competent in using the tool and consequently overcome this issue of time. Using the Wikisite/googlesite will help to develop my students “technology literacy” skills (Applied Educational Systems, 2019) as they will be able to develop competence in using the tool. According to the ISTE Standards for students (2016), my students will be able to develop “communication” skills and also become “global collaborators, by using the digital tools to broaden their perspectives and enrich their learning by collaborating with others (ISTE Standards for students, 2016). My students will be able to use the tool interact and work with others to complete task thereby building their 21st century collaborative skills. As an educator in implementing this web 2.0 tool within my classroom, I am able to achieve the ISTE (2008) standards for teachers by becoming a “facilitator of learning” by using technology to enhance learning as well as “designer of learner driven activities, (ISTE, 2008).
As a teacher of information technology, there are two long-term SMART goals that I will set for transforming my classroom.
-          Within two years my students will develop competence in using various technology tools and applications, to effectively to carry out specific tasks.
-          Within two years my students should be aware of the various technological advances within society and be able to use the web 2.0 tools to collaborate with others to complete given tasks.
-          Within two years I will effectively use technology to differentiate instruction so as to cater to the diverse learning needs of my students.
It is my intention as the educator to help my students develop awareness of the resources available to them by continuing to foster an environment that incorporates the usage of technology, and teaching my students how to use the tools effectively. Also allowing my students to gain more hands-on practice with using the technological tools.
The concepts and topics covered within this course aligns with an issue  I might want to study, in finding out how technology can be used effectively within the classroom to facilitate learning. There is minimal usage of technology within my school environment. Hence, I see a great need for us as educators to know how to use the advances in technology effectively within our classroom environment to impact learning. I believe for us to move with the changes within society then we need to start within the classroom. Our 21st century students, requires diversity, hence the onus is on us as educators to cultivate a learning environment that focuses on using technology to enrich learning for our learners.  I chose the specialization, “integrating technology” within the classroom, so as to aid me becoming more aware of how I can use technology to transform education and lives of my 21st century students.



References

International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). (2016). Standards for students. Retrieved from from http://www.iste.org/standards/standards/for-students-2016

Applied Educational Systems, (2019). What are 21st century skills?. Retrieved from https://www.aeseducation.com/career-readiness/what-are-21st-century-skills

International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). (2008). Standards for teachers. Retrieved from https://www.iste.org/standards/for-educators 

Richardson, W. (2010). Blogs, wikis, podcasts, and other powerful web tools for classrooms ( 3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.

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