Technology Reflection

The master's class that I recently completed has been very beneficial as a professional teacher. The class has provided me with different resources that can be incorporated into my curriculum to enhance the learning environment. Technology and teaching to 21st century skills is now apart of my weekly lessons.

This course has deepened my knowledge of teaching and the learning process by providing different resources to find information that can be used in class. Using wiki's, blogs, discussion boards, etc., to find information has really increased the learning process.

Changing from being teacher-centered to learner-centered has helped to center my curriculum around the student and what they can gain from a lesson and then apply the lesson to the real world. Make sure the students are developing skills that will help them once they leave the classroom and are presented with opportunities outside of school. Allowing the student to learn these skills and teach others these skills will help their education.

Improving my knowledge of technology and education will be very important as I move forward as a teacher. Continuing to explore different avenues for technology and promoting them within my classroom will ensure students the opportunity to increase achievement.

Within the next two years I hope to have a school blog approved and used by students and parents. Along with the blog I would like to add a educational discussion board that allows students to post about topics, lessons or projects. These improvements would help prepare students for 21st century and would promote lifelong learning. Our school district has currently allowed our classroom to run an individual classroom blog. Showing the district the benefit a blog has been for our class will help get these technological improvements in the future.

Podcast

Conducted a podcast with three of my students from Paterson Elementary, discussing technology and the impact it has on their lives.

Podcast

Website Review

I have previewed a website for an organization called Partnership for 21st Century Skills, they describe their mission to "serve as a catalyst to position 21st Century skills at the center of US K-12 education building collaborative partnerships among education, business, community, and government".  A very organized and detailed site they explain how students are learning skills throughout education that may help their learning process but schools are not doing enough to prepare students in order to be successful in the 21st Century society.  Partnership for 21st Century Skills detail how they believe programs and standards can be implemented to better prepare students to fit the demands of the 21st Century.  They include resources and skills, teachers may be able to implement into their individual classrooms.  The website also deals with how American students are falling behind in education, not just in the states, but compared to other students around the world.  My question is, with only 10 states currently actively involved with this program are school districts to hesitant for change? Do they feel students are prepared for the 21st Century? Or can districts not afford such programs or do not have the time with inevitable budget cuts and teacher layoffs?

Resources:

Our Mission.  (2004).  Partnership for 21st Century Skills.  Retrieved January 28, 2009, from http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=188&Itemid=110

Blog Use

Currently my 7th and 8th grade World History class is studying Israel and Palestine.  With the current events happening in the Gaza Strip a blog would be a great resource for students to post their thoughts on the happenings in the Middle East.  If they are watching news, or perhaps reading a newspaper ( I am hopeful they do this every now and again) and come across something they feel is pertinent to the conflict they could use the blog to post their thoughts right then and there.  They would not have to wait until class time, they could immediately provide their information to the class.  Discussion topics could also provided and as well as required posts, to push the discussion along.  Providing supplemental readings or links to videos would be a great way to get students interested in the lesson.   A blog would be a great way for students to continuing learning even when they step outside of the classroom

Filling in the Blanks

Just wanted to post something on the blog, so it wouldn't look so bare and plain.  Hopefully this adds a little spice to my blog.