5364+-+Teaching+with+Technology+Final+Assessment


 * Teaching with Technology: Final Assessment **

1. What outcomes had you envisioned for this course? Did you achieve those outcomes? Did the actual course outcomes align with those that you envisioned? The only outcome that I had envisioned for this course included an in depth look at technology integration. This course definitely achieved that outcome and so much more. I had not expected the course content to cover learning theories such as constructivism, connectivism, and cyborg theory. These were instrumental in understanding the underlying focus. Next, the course shifted into instructional strategies and the best practices directly related to those approaches. I certainly had not guessed that the course would require me to work in a collaborative group using web 2.0 technology solutions. Our group project was a huge amount of work, but I benefitted from the cooperative learning within my group. We utilized blogs, wikis, collaborative documents (Google Docs), collaborative websites (Google Sites), video conferencing (TokBox.com), and many other technology tools and resources. These resources truly do make collaboration easier, especially when distance/geography is a factor. All in all, this has been the best course in my Masters of Education track, so far.

2. To the extent that you achieved the outcomes, are they still relevant to the work that you do in your school? Why or why not? Based on the course outcomes that I feel I have achieved over the past five weeks, the outcomes are extremely relevant to the work I perform in my school district. I work at the district level in the Technology Department. First, the constructivist theory paired with the UDL framework highlighted an intriguing method for lesson planning. Not holding a teaching certificate, I have never been exposed to curriculum writing firsthand. This was a new, tedious, difficult, and rewarding experience for me.

Additionally, the collaborative and cooperative outcomes were amazing. My team at work constantly talks about Web 2.0 and have implemented some solutions, but I have never personally used collaborative tools to this extent. The power and convenience of the Google collaborative tools alone is noteworthy. Furthermore, tools like TokBox.com, Skype, and SecondLife add a sense of “face-to-face” interaction, even though it’s virtual. As Solomon and Schrum stated in Chapter 5 of Web 2.0 New Tools, New Schools (2007), “Using these tools as models and methods to teach about them accomplishes two goals. It first provides practice and comfort with the tools, and second, offers the opportunity to experience firsthand the use of the technology for meaningful and authentic activities (p. 115-116). The outcomes of this course will be utilized by my department as soon as possible.

3. What outcomes did you not achieve? What prevented you from achieving them? One expected course outcome that was not sufficiently covered was an investigation into how to sell technology integration to campus- and district-level administration. Technology strategies that positively impact student learning and best practices for teacher professional development is fantastic, but that is not always sufficient to persuade upper management that it is time for a modification. When student achievement is on the line, pushing a new technology initiative let alone a complete rethinking of curriculum design is not easy. With high stakes, standardized testing at the forefront of everyone’s mind, justifying why a structural or pedagogical shift is necessary will be complicated. You have to rethink the learning process for 21st Century learners, strip curriculum back to the fundamentals, and redesign the instructional and strategic methodology. Think of it like a rebuilding year for a sports team. For a year or two, assessment scores may remain stagnant or drop off until teachers and students fully commit to the change. I had hoped that far more research-based tactics for convincing administration would have been offered by this course.

4. Were you successful in completing the course assignments? If not, what prevented or discouraged you? I believe that I was very successful in completing the course assignments. I have received a perfect score (i.e. 100) on most of the homework and activities. In all honesty, I am not a very good student. I tend to procrastinate until a day before the deadline. I seem to follow the mantra of “there’s no motivation like the deadline.” I also fall into the trap of telling myself that I work best under pressure. Even though I am very efficient, my work would probably be of a higher quality if I put forth my best effort. Just as Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, and Malenoski discuss in Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works (2007), perhaps I need to track my own effort and correlate it with my success. Even though reinforcing effort is a solid way to help students understand its connection to success, I seem to beat the odds and produce good quality work. I would not extrapolate that my “just in time” schedule and routine should be followed by any student. If anything might ever prevent me from achieving a desired outcome, it would be these items that I have just mentioned.

5. What did you learn from this course: about yourself, your technology and leadership skills, and your attitudes? Through this course, I have learned many things; although, none of them is more pertinent than what I have learned about myself. I learned that while I love my job supporting teachers and I have the highest respect for educators, I do not want to be a teacher. Please do not take that statement negatively. While I have every confidence in my abilities to run a technology department, I do not believe that I have the wide variety of skill sets, abilities, and sheer patience to perform well in a teaching position. I am very adept in my technological skills and believe I can best serve students by continuing to support teachers. Courses such as this one will assist me to hone and focus my list of strategies and best practices for implementing technology solutions in classrooms and schools. In addition, this Masters program will support my endeavor to become a more effective leader. Thank you for this opportunity!