As this course comes to the end, I would like to share three things I have learned throughout this course, including my favorite assignment and a couple of ideas of how to incorporate technology into my classroom.
Three things I learned:
First, I discovered that it is extremely important to explore a wide variety of technological tools available for teachers and students that can be incorporated in my content area to facilitate learning. Exploring and trying it in the classroom is the only way to test the best use of each, and the potential to enhance my students’ learning. I cannot only watch other teachers using it and stay behind. I have to take an active role in using technology tools that best serve my students.
Second, I finally understood what the SAMR stands for and its application to a lesson that I was able to implement on my own. In the past, I heard about it and even sat in a workshop on infused technology session at my school, but there was not an authentic application to my content area. Surprisingly, when I was entrusted to develop the application of the SAMR model into my classroom, I realized that I was already doing it, but I needed to refine the steps, and to keep in mind that my students will benefit more if there is a true modification and redefinition of the traditional model of teaching.
Third, I clearly understood the difference in between a Web 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0. I believe that it is important for me as a teacher to know the backbone of these three. I do not want to get behind on what is out there for my students. The benefits of using web 2.0 that I am also using now in my classroom and the transition I will probably see when moving from web 2.0 to web 3.0
My Favorite assignment:
I had various favorites assignments, but I think the one I had a lot of fun in developing was creating the introductory video for my new students. Previously, I had two to three slides that were used to introduce myself to the class the first day of school. Creating the video using iMovie gave me the opportunity to add a variety of pictures, videos, voice overs, and music to make it more interactive. I can include this video into my class website and have the students and parents see it and get to know me in a formal, but fun way. I learned a lot creating this video, like how to hold my phone when taking a video and how to edit my iMovie. It was a great learning experience.
Infused Technology in my classroom:
I think this is my favorite part to talk about. When I started the course, I thought I knew enough to be able to incorporate technology in my classroom, and actually I was doing it. Although, reading the textbook and being exposed to a variety of technology tools, I understood that I was far from understanding the reason of the use of technology tools. I had to dispose of my old thinking in order to gain valuable information on what this course was trying to teach.
The course was clear in establishing the central focus – to learn the use of technology tools and to incorporate them to my lesson planning, in order to enhance my students’ learning. I can picture in my head the word “enhance”. I am grateful that our professor was clear in motivating us to create products that pertained to our content area and how and when to use those tools. With this in mind. I now have a variety of learning tools that I developed throughout the course of this class. I sit back and think how these can easily be incorporated in my class. For example: My introductory video, my screencast tutorial, my visual products, my interactive assessments, with quizizz and Edpuzzle, my Nearpod lesson, and a sample of the SAMR model.
All of these products are going with me to benefit my students, but also, I would like to share them with my school’s technology department, and my colleagues so we can all benefit from the many tools available. I am so happy to say that this has been a challenging course, but at the same time a very rewarding course. I have learned, applied, and incorporated all of what I learned with one focus, to enhance my students’ learning. I am planning to continue and explore other great technological tools in the future, so continue to look on my blog as I will post more ideas when using technology.
Thank you for a Great Summer,
Mirna Deakle
This blog has been created with the goal to share my professional learning experiences. I am not an expert, but when learning new information, I would like to share my personal experience. Hope you find this blog helpful and perhaps, you can find information you can apply to your own learning.
