Reflection

Reflect on a significant learning experience you had in at least one of the learning activities so far in workshop. Describe why it was important.

I have to confess that this class has been frustrating at times. The tasks that could have easily been completed in the states have been complicated with lack of resources or access to certain sites.I have found ways to work around things (for the most part) and to use the technology that is available to me. Sometimes it may be as simple as using an overhead for a lesson or pulling out the IPOD to listen to a song. Even the little things can add up and I have seen my students responding to the different types of technology I have used. One reason I have never used technology as much in the past is due to the area of assessment. It has been nice to bounce ideas off of other teachers and to see how they assess technology with rubrics or other means.

How would you use any of the tools as a form of professional development, building learning networks, and/or provide a platform to become a world changer?

I would like to set up a website for my classroom next year. This is something our school is currently considering and I feel that it would be a beneficial way to communicate with not only students, but parents as well. There has been much discussion about the use of blogs in the classroom, but at this time our school would be unable to assess them as a whole (due to location and blocked sites). There is the thought of setting up VPNs or other means to access blogs, but in the end websites or Wikis may be the most accessible choice for everyone involved.

Also during this process of figuring technology out I have found more ways to not only use technology, but also how to assess it as well. By using rubrics, web searches, and other means I can make sure my students are actually learning while using various forms of technology. My main goal in the use of technology is to give my students practical ways to learn and grow while exploring the world around them.