This course really helped me define what my personal teaching strategies are and how I plan on using my ideals in the classroom. With the support of my peers, I made lesson plans, websites, and even this nifty blog that helped me further understand where I am in this field, how far I have come, and how far I still have to go. Using technology in a classroom environment is very important, especially in today's ever-growing digital world. With new advances every day, students need to be exposed to the basics of computer usage and lingo to fully understand what will be available to them next.
It is especially important to utilize these machines for those students whose families may or may not have computers of their own. Technology doesn't seem to slow down. Children in today's world need to learn the ins and outs of computers early so that they can continue to keep up with the latest devices and updates.
Some technologies I learned about that I'm eager to use with my future students are Edmodo, Classdojo, Discover Education, and Edutopia. These sites will help me connect with both students and their families, as well as help me provide the very best information, videos, and content in class. Connecting with the families of students is very important to their growth and development. Keeping one's family in the loop may be what helps the student succeed and pass to the next grade. Some of the sites I mentioned above have apps that make it even easier for parents to comment, ask questions, and submit concerns to teachers on the go.
Resources:
Maloy, R., Verock-O'Loughlin, R., Edwards, S., & Woolf, B. (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education Inc. Saad Irfan (2011). Android eating Apple. Flickr.com. Web. Accessed 29 November, 2015.
Smart Technologies EMEA (Education). The History of technology in education (3 October, 2011). YouTube.com. Web. Accessed 10 December, 2015, via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFwWWsz_X9s
Thanks for sharing your reflective comments. You have gained a basic foundation of content knowledge and technology skills to utilize in your future classes and classroom, too - there's still more to learn and with technology's changes, there likely always will be, so keep your eyes open! :) You have selected some good technologies for further exploration and I hope you can put them to good use soon. Best wishes as you continue to pursue your teaching career. :0
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