This class has really helped me become more comfortable with using different technology. I would have never thought in a million years I would know how to create a podcast or a blog. I think that as I continue to play around and learn more about technology the more I will introduce it to my class. I beleive that as a professional teacher this class has taught me a lot about how to approach using these tools within my classroom. I always thought that as an educator my classroom needed to be teacher centered. I have a hard time letting the students go on their own. This class has helped me to let go a little and let my classroom be more student centered or learner centered. I think that students learn from experience so letting them do things on their own helps them to learn it.
I will continue to expand my knowledge of learning by keeping up with the newest technology and trends so that my students get the experience and knowledge that they deserve. Technology changes daily, so staying up to date and familiar with the newest ideas is going to be tuff, but I am going to do my best. Not only do students like technology as in computers, video games and interactive games, but incorporating those things into their education will promote positive learning and get the students excited to learn.
One of my long term goals is to have a classroom blog and make it interactive where the students can go on it and do different educational games and participate in class discussions and comment on other students posts. In order for this to happen I will need to talk to our tech person at our school and see if we can have blog sites unblocked. I am going to have to present my case and explain what I am going to use it for. Another long term goal I have is to have a classroom website for the parents. It will be updated weekly to what the students are learning, it will also have links to different educational websites as well as a book list for the parents to read with their children at home. I want to be able to post upcoming events that our school is having and be able to do birthday things for the kids on the website. I am going to need to learn how to create a website in order for this to happen, so it will definately be in the future.
I have really enjoyed this class and learning how to become a digital native vs. a digital immigrant.
