Reflective writing is
often viewed as an easy process because people just assume the only parameters
regarding reflective writing center around spewing out information on what you
believe and how you feel about a topic being covered. I totally disagree. In
fact, American philosopher, psychologist, and educational reformer John Dewey
expressed it best when he explained that “We do not learn from experience… we
learn from reflecting on experience.”
As such, my
reflection on this course, EME 2040 Introduction to Technology for Educators, focuses
a little deeper than merely what I feel about three components: what I liked
about the course, what I can take away from the course, and finally, how the
course structure can be improved upon to make the experience better for another
group of learners.
Firstly, I think this class was filled with a host of
positive elements. The best being the actual book, Transforming Learning with
New Technologies. It was a great resource. The format of the chapters were easy
to understand and they linearly progressed in a method that made sense for a
future teacher to follow in their new journey to becoming an experienced
teacher. For example, chapter one starts out exploring what it means to
becoming a twenty-first century teacher; whereas in juxtaposition, the last
chapter, chapter twelve, takes all the knowledge gained throughout the book and
explore how to use it in order to create change as a teacher who leads in
integrating technology into the classroom. Also, within each chapter in the
book there are tech tools and web resources that focus on the chapters’ concept.
Chapter nine, was by far the most useful. I found many tools that I can use as
a physical education teacher versus other tools outlined in other chapters that
pertained mostly to other academic concentrations. I think the lightbulb
finally went off in this chapter and I understood that “…there is an
educational advantage to using multimedia…” (Malloy) Additionally, I liked the
actual set up of the online component of the course. The consistent due dates,
the assignment rubrics, and the tutorial videos all aided in making the class
assignments easy to navigate. Knowing exactly what was expected and having the
ability to self-assess my work as I progressed through it, left the guess work
out of knowing what it took to be successful. The use of rubrics used to
outline all of the course assignments and assigning a project where a rubric
had to be made, placed student learners on both sides of the equation in
experiencing just how beneficial rubrics are. Independently, I thumb nailed the
site iRubric
because it was one of the better sites that offered access to hundreds of
pre-made and blank rubric templates.
Lastly, the aspect of the discussion board was great because it offered
varying viewpoints on different subject matters. Specifically, I found solace
in many of Richard’s responses as they often mimicked my own train of thought.
However, even more gratifying was that I learned, if not even more, from
discussion posts from group members like Jamie’s whose perspectives sometimes
differed from what I initially thought. Being able to dive into the different
viewpoints while experiencing an atmosphere of respect, was refreshing. All of
these components contributed greatly to what I loved about the class.
Secondly, experiencing a multitude of different tools
during this course has allowed me to walk away with a lot of different
resources I can use in my future career as a teacher. First of all, I cannot
say enough about how I feel far more comfortable navigating tech tools as
opposed to when I first experienced them. By feeling more comfortable, I will be
able to better share the benefits of these tech tools with my students in the
future. I am no longer limited. Who knew that there were countless ways to
access mastery of concepts beyond the use of paper and pencil? Moreover, I am
definitely going to be able to walk away with a little bit more knowledge about
the downsides to technology integration into the classroom. In actuality,
chapter 5, Teaching Information Literacy
and Digital Citizenship, provided powerful knowledge necessary to make
technology a positive instrument to use because it should readers that even if teachers
learn a million and one tools to integrate technology into their classrooms, if
they are not aware of how to keep safety and relevance into learning concepts,
the integration of technology becomes mute. As such, teachers must familiarize
themselves with strategies of success. One such article I will keep pinned near
me to reference was written in the Learning & Leading with Technology
journal entitled Digital
Citizenship: Addressing Appropriate Technology Behavior.
This is a great reference article to help streamline success with the usage of
technology in the classroom.
Finally, true reflection cannot fully happen if the
reflection does not take a look at things that can be improved upon. For me, a
point of frustration and minimal learning happened during the process of the
Instructional Strategy Wiki group project. Having so many people responsible
for so many different components of an assignment proved frustration and in
that frustration my only goal was not to learn anything, but to get done as
quickly as possible and rid myself of the headache. The lack of communication
and the varied work ethics from different members only took away from the overall
objective of the assignment. Additionally, not having check points for the
teacher to stay abreast with the progression of all members, left participants
who cared about their grades in an uncomfortable position where they had to either
“tattle” to the instructor or pick up the slack. So, as I reflect on this
problem, I must offer up a solution because for me, reflection is only
successful when we can use it to make changes based upon what you’ve learned.
Thus, without ironing out all the details, I believe that the Wiki project should
be an individual assignment. In this process one or two students can be given a
topic to construct. Then each individual construction can be pooled together into
an overall class Wiki page. With that, students are able to practice the
assignments goals, contribute to a larger assignment as a whole, and not be
slated for the downfalls of others. Lastly, I think that the repetitious
approach to the group discussion posts could be improved upon. Although I loved
reading through varying ideas, sometimes it became automatic to find the
person(s) you share ideologies with and respond to them. Too easy, I thought!
My solution would be to look at implementing one of the two methods: assigned
pairing or teacher lead response. With assigned pairing, the instructor could
change up weekly mini groups of 3 or 4 people and have students reflect only on
the discussions of the members within their mini group for that particular week.
Similarly, the discussions can be changed up a little through the use of a
teacher lead discussions. My train of though is that the professor could use
one of the response requirements to post a thought, question, quote, situation,
etc., regarding the required reading of that week and let everyone respond to
that specific post. With this, participants would be able to see everyone’s
thoughts on a particular concept as opposed to migrating to posts that closely
mimic their own. When all is said in done, it is important for me to clarify
that neither of these areas of dissension overpowered the benefits of the course.
In the end, the class was well structured, the atmosphere was professional and
the information was unbelievably beneficial.
Resources
ERIC - Digital
Citizenship: Addressing Appropriate Technology Behavior, Learning & Leading
with Technology, 2004-Sep. (n.d.). Retrieved December 8, 2016, from
http://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ695788
IRubric
home.
(n.d.). Retrieved December 8, 2016, from http://www.rcampus.com/indexrubric.cfm
Life-imprisonment
Cartoons and Comics. (n.d.). Retrieved December 10, 2016,
from https://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/l/life-imprisonment.asp
Maloy, Robert W. Transforming Learning with
New Technologies. 2nd ed. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.