Reflection Prompt Module 4 Reflect on your thinking surrounding your developing a philosophy of Instructional Technology use for learning and your understanding of 21st Century Teaching and Learning
1. Description. Briefly describe your experiences (class activities, reading assignment, your school or job experiences). Do this in a descriptive rather than a judgmental way (merely record events without editorializing or agreeing or disagreeing). Make connections.
This week I began thinking about my philosophy for Instructional Technology. Writing a paper that describes my philosophy is a daunting, but necessary assignment. It has forced me to think about my philosophy for instructional technology. Even though I know there is a lot of work to be done, I am energized to accomplish it because of the many benefits it will have on my students. While reading the Digital Curriculum article the two parts that stuck out the most were the Digital Vs. Analog section and the Necessary Integration section. The Digital Vs. Analog section described that digital curriculum should be about a pedagogical conversion. We as educators need to approach teaching in a completely different way. The analog approach is about using the static knowledge in textbooks that cannot be improved upon or used, just regurgitated. The digital approach allows content and information to be relevant for each student, improved upon and shared with the rest of the world. The Necessary Integration section stood out because I have the 1:1 netbooks in my class, and the article stated that just because a classroom has 1:1 access doesn’t mean that they are using it correctly. When I read the section I realized that I typically fall into three categories: unconnected, procedural, and constructivist. While those aren't the bottom level, there is still room for improvement.
2.Impact. Tell what you have learned (or confirm what you had already believed, or how what you have learned differs from what you believed). How do you feel about what you learned?
After my initial research, I am beginning to understand not only the 21st Century Skills, but how to incorporate them into my my lesson planning. This past week I have learned what the 21st Century Skills. Before this week, I thought the skills were about using computers and emerging technology. Now I realize that the skills are things like problem solving, critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity. Using technology helps students to learn those 21st Century Skills. In regards to my philosophy, I have never really given it any thought until this assignment. I have always know that technology was important, and I tried my best to integrate it into my classroom. I thought as long as I am using it, or the students are using it, than I am doing a good job with technology. I was using technology for the sake of using technology! I am not taking advantage of all of the benefits that technology has to offer. Now I realize just using technology is not good enough. Using technology without have a plan or philosophy in place borderlines on a waste of time. It would be like getting into a car with no place to go and no map, or should I say, GPS. Realizing that my technology use is considered unconnected, procedural, or constructivist, according to the Integration Continuum in the article Digital Curriculum article was an eye opener for me. Just using technology is not enough for today’s learner. Using technology is great, but using it correctly is even better. Technology has many benefits, including helping to teach students the 21st Century Skills.
3.Intent. Make a statement about what you intend to do as a result of your learnings and feelings. BE SPECIFIC! Phrase this in a personal and positive way ("what I will do is . . ." rather than "what I won't do is . . .").
The intent is to become a leader for my school when it comes to instructional technology. I believe it starts with the current assignment of writing my philosophy for instructional technology. I want to continue to research about technology and the 21st Century Skills. If I can attend the Technology Conference this year I feel like I have a better handle on what sessions I would attend that would benefit my classroom the most. I want to be a constructivist and a connectivist when it comes to technology integration. I also want to make my school and my co-workers more aware of the 21st Century Skills the students need to learn, and the importance of integrating technology into their classroom. Through the readings, discussion posts, wiki reflections, and research, I have found numerous websites like Kahn Academy, Edutopia, Polleverywhere, and Edudemic just to name a few that I would like to share with my co-workers to help them begin to integrate technology more. I also want to make sure the students and their parents are aware of the 21st Century Skills. Even though it is important for teachers to be aware of the change in education, it is equally important that the students and their parents are aware as well. I would like to hang information in my room and post information on my website about the 21st Century Skills. Also, conferences are coming up which would provide an opportunity to inform the parents about where education is heading.
Reflect on your thinking surrounding your developing a philosophy of Instructional Technology use for learning and your understanding of 21st Century Teaching and Learning
1. Description. Briefly describe your experiences (class activities, reading assignment, your school or job experiences). Do this in a descriptive rather than a judgmental way (merely record events without editorializing or agreeing or disagreeing). Make connections.
This week I began thinking about my philosophy for Instructional Technology. Writing a paper that describes my philosophy is a daunting, but necessary assignment. It has forced me to think about my philosophy for instructional technology. Even though I know there is a lot of work to be done, I am energized to accomplish it because of the many benefits it will have on my students.
While reading the Digital Curriculum article the two parts that stuck out the most were the Digital Vs. Analog section and the Necessary Integration section. The Digital Vs. Analog section described that digital curriculum should be about a pedagogical conversion. We as educators need to approach teaching in a completely different way. The analog approach is about using the static knowledge in textbooks that cannot be improved upon or used, just regurgitated. The digital approach allows content and information to be relevant for each student, improved upon and shared with the rest of the world.
The Necessary Integration section stood out because I have the 1:1 netbooks in my class, and the article stated that just because a classroom has 1:1 access doesn’t mean that they are using it correctly. When I read the section I realized that I typically fall into three categories: unconnected, procedural, and constructivist. While those aren't the bottom level, there is still room for improvement.
2. Impact. Tell what you have learned (or confirm what you had already believed, or how what you have learned differs from what you believed). How do you feel about what you learned?
After my initial research, I am beginning to understand not only the 21st Century Skills, but how to incorporate them into my my lesson planning. This past week I have learned what the 21st Century Skills. Before this week, I thought the skills were about using computers and emerging technology. Now I realize that the skills are things like problem solving, critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity. Using technology helps students to learn those 21st Century Skills.
In regards to my philosophy, I have never really given it any thought until this assignment. I have always know that technology was important, and I tried my best to integrate it into my classroom. I thought as long as I am using it, or the students are using it, than I am doing a good job with technology. I was using technology for the sake of using technology! I am not taking advantage of all of the benefits that technology has to offer. Now I realize just using technology is not good enough. Using technology without have a plan or philosophy in place borderlines on a waste of time. It would be like getting into a car with no place to go and no map, or should I say, GPS. Realizing that my technology use is considered unconnected, procedural, or constructivist, according to the Integration Continuum in the article Digital Curriculum article was an eye opener for me. Just using technology is not enough for today’s learner. Using technology is great, but using it correctly is even better. Technology has many benefits, including helping to teach students the 21st Century Skills.
3. Intent. Make a statement about what you intend to do as a result of your learnings and feelings. BE SPECIFIC! Phrase this in a personal and positive way ("what I will do is . . ." rather than "what I won't do is . . .").
The intent is to become a leader for my school when it comes to instructional technology. I believe it starts with the current assignment of writing my philosophy for instructional technology. I want to continue to research about technology and the 21st Century Skills. If I can attend the Technology Conference this year I feel like I have a better handle on what sessions I would attend that would benefit my classroom the most. I want to be a constructivist and a connectivist when it comes to technology integration. I also want to make my school and my co-workers more aware of the 21st Century Skills the students need to learn, and the importance of integrating technology into their classroom. Through the readings, discussion posts, wiki reflections, and research, I have found numerous websites like Kahn Academy, Edutopia, Polleverywhere, and Edudemic just to name a few that I would like to share with my co-workers to help them begin to integrate technology more.
I also want to make sure the students and their parents are aware of the 21st Century Skills. Even though it is important for teachers to be aware of the change in education, it is equally important that the students and their parents are aware as well. I would like to hang information in my room and post information on my website about the 21st Century Skills. Also, conferences are coming up which would provide an opportunity to inform the parents about where education is heading.