My Course Reflection -- Understanding the Impact of Technology on Education, Work, and Society (EDUC - 6710I - 4)

Reflection
By Valery W. Poythress
June 27, 2009
Students are immersed in technology daily. It is inevitable for use to get around this as a society. Although most school district now have policies developed to prohibit use of technological devices such as mp3 players, cell phones, iphones, ipods, blackberries, and etc. Most of our kids are nearly experts using the various applications that such technologies have to offer. The technologies that our students are adept to prove to be for more advanced and sophisticated than what many of today’s schools are willing to allow. Yes, we have document cameras, digital cameras, computers, graphing calculators, and digital codes that are linked to each individual student that give them a unique way of checking out book from media center, paying for lunch, and so forth; but what are we doing as classroom teachers to facilitate students becoming accustomed to using technology for more than just researching information. I truly believe that the focus should be on bringing our classrooms into this new technological savvy era as well. Our kids are already there; however, they are often using a gold mine of gadgets for social purposes. We need to catch up. Educator as well as policy makers must seek to better prepare students of today for how our world now operates. Needless to say, if students are not being reached by the traditional paper, pencil, and textbook, and blackboard/whiteboard tools that are used: the time has come for schools, and school boards, and state departments of education to make significant effort in “leveling the playing ground” in the classrooms so that our kids can be successful in learning in a technology rich curriculum. Educators must allow in their curriculum or lessons for the bona fide use of technology that in turn equips our future generations with higher thought processing and collaborative skills that are transferable into society as well.
Nevertheless, when considering how this course helped me develop my technology skills as a professional, I find a few key things that come into my mind. First, I learned 21stht century technology skill must reach far beyond the wall of the classroom. The skills I attained are rooted in the aspect of building connections and as well as constructing networks rather than acquiring skills used to produce and enhance documents or presentations. Next, this course allows me to transform my personal learning about the Web 2.0 technology. Once I understand how to this technology can facilitate worldwide connections for my personal interests. I’ll become able to implement learning communities learning and how to integrate these new skills into the curriculum I teach. Therefore, through developing my own personal technology skills, I can thoroughly understand the educational implications for as professional teacher.
My perspective of the teaching and learning process deepened in several ways throughout this course. I’ve learned that teaching and learning can take place as I serve as a guide to my students. Coaching or guiding my students allows me to facilitate of the learning process. Using web 2.0 that explored in this course, I learn how to that collaboration and communication in a cooperative environment is one of the most important aspects of the 21st century classroom. Furthermore, I am aware of the importance of taking great care in designing technology lesson for my students that integrate blogs, wikis, podcasts as well as other new technological tools. Ultimately, I have strengthened my knowledge of how to model the skills I’ve learned well as help or coach my student’s learning process.
Continuing to expand my knowledge of learning, teaching, and leading with technology includes practicing the skills I’ve learned, researching and innovative technologies as well as seeking professional development opportunities in technology. When I am confident in the 21st century technological tools, my student’s achievement will reflect an increase as well.
Over the next couple of years, I plan to transform my classroom environment into a collaborative community filled with evidences of student-center learning. To do this, I am including a technological rich lesson that incorporates blogs, wikis, podcasts as well as other powerful web tools for my classroom for each standard I am required to teach for my students. This transformation does not come without overcoming some systemic obstacles. I believe the key to accomplishing this goal is building a support system that involves parent-teacher organization, community organization as well as administrative support. Furthermore, I will thoroughly investigate the legal ramifications of such technology use from the local, statewide, and federal levels of education.
In conclusion, I hope to use what I learned during this course and take advantage of all the opportunities the Web 2.0 tools provide. For my students, I anticipate that my students actively engage and have fun while reading, reflecting, writing and participating in real learning.