Reflection 6714

This class, Reaching and Engaging all Learners through Technology has been so enlightening and eye opening. I have learned so many different tools and resources to use and implement into my classroom. Being able to work in a social network group and learn from each other has been really helpful and important. I always thought I was doing a pretty good job of trying to meet the needs of all of my students especially the ones who have IEP's, but after taking this class and learning about all new tools and resources, I feel as though I am falling short on my responsibilities as a teacher. This class has made me realize that I have the classroom environment conducive to learning, but now I need to focus on the needs of the individual students to make sure they succeed and learn.

The first thing that I am going to change and implement into my classroom is giving my students a learning styles survey in the beginning of the year. Starting the year off with a starting point of where each of my students is and how they prefer to learn will be a key component of meeting their learning needs throughout the year. Another tool I will implement a lot more of is technology. Our school has so much technology available to us, that I need to take advantage of it and use it. I have started implementing the use of a SMART slate which is a mini smart board. The students can participate in interactive games using the SMART slate. I have also let the students participate in projects using the programs powerpoint, kidspiration, and word.

After taking this class I have so many new ideas for my students to participate in using technology that I have to slow down and think about how to go about them and if my ideas are grade appropriate. Dr. Stephanie Throne and Dr. Grace Smith stated that we are "falling short at our jobs if we don't give them the tools they are capable of learning." This is so true. If we don't give our students the tools they are able to learn, then we aren't doing our job. We live and teach in the 21st century so we need to teach to what the student are growing into, not what was appropriate in the past.