End of Semester Reflection

Now that this class is coming to a close, I feel that I am walking away with new skills, knowledge and a better ability to integrate technology into my classroom. I have found myself showing colleagues what I’ve learned and how to use it in their classrooms as well. I am setting some goals for myself to use the new skills/tools I have learned (the StAIR, WebQuest) in my classroom. I plan on integrating my WebQuest into the third quarter when my class studies Shakespeare and The Merchant of Venice. The StAIR is something that I will continue to use and develop for my different classes. I would like to do a StAIR on photography and design for my yearbook students to help them get a better handle on what is expected when producing a yearbook. I know more about PowerPoint and the Internet that when I began this class and hope to keep adding to my knowledge base. I came into this class expecting to be a pro at everything I tried, but I am walking away knowing that I can always improve upon my assignments, skills and knowledge.
I have noticed myself critiquing websites and WebQuests more because I had to create my own. Some that I thought were excellent resources have some good materials, but I know they can be improved. I find myself critiquing my own projects (that I do myself and those that I assign to students) to ensure that they are clear, concise and meet standards of teaching and the Internet. I feel more confident when searching the web for resources from other teachers and how I am best able to utilize them in my classroom. I have been learning that technology should be integrated into classrooms, but until I began this masters program, I didn’t fully understand the benefits of it. When I began reading the different articles and discussing each topic with my classmates, I noticed that I used the technology I have available to me in my classroom more frequently. Students began having more online discussions, PowerPoints were presented in a completely different manner and projects for students became more technology based.
I learned that when integrating technology into the classroom, you must have a basic understanding of the program. I know that I will not know everything about a program, but without the basic understanding I cannot model and expect my students to produce something that meets my expectations. When teaching, I learned that it is ok for students to show you how to use something because sometimes they figure it out faster than me, and I am ok with that because I think that is the best way to learn. Students need different strategies at different points throughout an assignment. A guide on the side and sage on the stage are two great examples. I need to teach and model my work before stepping aside and allowing students the freedom to explore each program and their skills. I feel more confident in my students’ abilities and allowing them freedoms because, being a student again, I liked having the freedom especially when I knew I could turn to my teacher or classmates when I needed help.