Module 15 - Blog Reflection

1. What you have learned?

This class has been incredibly beneficial to me as an educator. In fact, by mid-semester, I found myself being quite disappointed that I hadn't taken the course earlier in my program. What I found particularly beneficial was the exposure to different resources, such as Google Earth, Storyjumper, Glogster, etc.. There are so many resources that can be used that often times it is hard to find a place to start. It was nice to not only be given a direction, but then to also have other options in each area, was very beneficial to me as an educator.

2. How the course work demonstrates mastery of the AECT standards?

The coursework demonstrates mastery of the AECT standards in many ways. The standards below are very important to the development and implementation of technology in the classroom. Standard three, utilization, in particular, discusses the implementation of media, which was a main objective in this course. I included the other standards as well because they involve the planning and evaluation of the media usage.

1.3 Instructional Strategies - Instructional strategies are specifications for selecting and sequencing events and activities within a lesson.

Standard 2: Development
Candidates demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to develop instructional materials and experiences using print, audiovisual, computer-based, and integrated technologies.

Standard 3: Utilization
Candidates demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to use processes and resources for learning by applying principles and theories of media utilization, diffusion, implementation, and policy-making.

4.1 Project Management - Project management involves planning, monitoring, and controlling instructional design and development projects.

4.4 Information Management - Information management involves planning, monitoring, and controlling the storage, transfer, or processing of information in order to provide resources for learning.

3. How you have grown professionally?

I have always liked to use technology in my classes, and the benefits are clear as day. However, this course has helped me hone my use into more specific and succinct way. I think that any time an educator looks for new and innovative ways to educate, not only are the students benefiting, but the educator is growing as well. I feel that I have gained a better understanding of how to integrate technology in meaningful ways into my classroom.

4. How your own teaching practice or thoughts about teaching have been impacted by what you have learned or accomplished in this course?

I teach in a virtual academy, where technology already has an obvious emphasis. This class has just strengthened, not only my belief in the use of technology in the classroom, but also increased my confidence when using technology in my classroom.

5. How theory guided development of the projects and assignments you created?

Theory is always present in planning, even though it may be working in the background, and not always sitting in the forefront next to the planning book. However, it is always there, and particularly obvious when planning larger units of instruction. Integrating Educational Technology into Learning was a very helpful book to me as I worked through the various modules and projects in this course because it offered evidence that what I was creating was academically sound and would directly benefit student learning. It gave me guidelines as I was working that kept me on a proper path to ensure that the technology I was adding was necessary and not just added to say I had technology in my lessons.

References

Association for Educational Communications and Technology (2001, October). NCATE Public Standards.
Retrieved September 1, 2010, from NCATE: http://www.ncate.org/public/programStandards.asp?ch=4#AECT

Roblyer, M.D.(2010). Integrating educational technology into teaching.