Personal Learning Reflection CEP 810

     Well, I can honestly say that the first class in my technology certificate program far exceeded my expectations of how useful the information was and how easily integrated the programs were in the classroom.  This being my first online course, I was unsure of how class would run and what type of interaction would take place between the professor and students.  I found it very helpful seeing other students posts and ideas.  I felt as though we were all teaching each other and Sue was being more of a facilitator and I thoroughly enjoyed that.  This is what I strive for in my classroom and the things I have learned in CEP 810 have provided me the knowledge and confidence to take a step closer to that goal.

    Incorporating technology for technology sake is about the most ineffective way to integrate technology into your curriculum.  Using technology to further the education process by providing differentiated learning is key.  We can't merely use a projector like a glorified overhead projector, otherwise its a waste.  Technology can offer you the tools to reach every student and allow them to be successful by developing lessons that are current, engaging, and interactive for the learner.  Technology can offer more in-depth learning through online collaboration with fellow students and self-reflections from online blogging and forums.  Plus technology feeds each kind of learner if use right.  It has stimulating text that can be read to the learner for the auditory learner,  it has engaging videos and current images for the visual learner, and it is full of interactive simulations, games and animations that help the kinesthetic learner.



     The assignment I turned in that exemplifies the best teaching with technology I feel is our SIG presentation.  One reason I feel this way is that it was done completely online using Google Docs (a cloud computing server) and we, as a group, had only technology to interface with and create a viable product.  In the real world, this is similar to an American company having to work with a Chinese company to create a viable product.  It is inconceivable for the two groups to meet and complete the project, so they will utilize some sort of online collaboration system (like Google Docs) to get the work completed.  Another reason I feel this assignment represents good teaching with technology is that throughout my portion of the presentation, I incorporated interactive video's that drew the audience into the presentation.

      The class started out with a bang, having us create so many new accounts.  RSS readers, Blogs and Twitter accounts just to name a few.  From the very beginning it has been easy to work towards the goals i created in my personal growth plan.  I have been able to pull numerous current event starter questions/journal entries from some of the things I have been following on my RSS reader.  I think one of the largest assets that I have gained is the expansion of my personal learning network to include jing's and blogs like MACUL spaces, and classroom 2.0.  I have pulled numerous ideas off of these sites and have been able to immediately implement them into my room.  Later on this year I plan to use Prezi to allow student to present material for a project.  I have already begun making screencasts of my lectures in class and posting them to my Moodle for absent students as well as student who need clarification when I am not able to give it.  The students love being part of the lecture.  I am currently in the process of using digital storytelling to create a still frame video or the different types of weathering processes.  Starting next week I am offering extra credit for students that turn their assignments into me by sharing them with me through Google Apps.  I have set up a number of assignments that will be able to be done this way.

      A new goal of mine is to become paperless as much as possible.  Some of my students have their own laptop and therefore can access my entire class online either through Google Apps or Moodle.  One step I am trying to take currently to make this goal a reality is getting my entire class uploaded to Moodle.  I have created groups in both Google Apps and Moodle and this should simplify my grading.  Another new goal is shifting my curriculum from meaningless worksheets, to interactive engaging projects that use technology to enhance learning.  A long term plan is to create at least one meaningful project per unit per year.  This way in three to four years, I will have a plethora of projects to choose from that use a variety of different technology to assess the students learning. An underlining plan that will help me reach both goals is utilizing what I learn in my certificate courses as well as my masters courses into my curriculum.