CEP811 Reflection

Effective Teaching Strategies:

I have learned that it is very important to consider different teaching streategies when implementing technological lessons. It takes a lot of thought and polanning to create a lesson that will be successful. You don't want to be using technology just for technologies sake, but fort learning's sake. Consider cooperative learning, active learning, how to scaffold the information, how to lead the kids to discovery of information instead of telling. Being a guide on the side!

Integrating Web Based Technologies:

You cannot honestly evaluate an application or style of teaching without first trying it out yourself. Being able to integrate different web based technologies into the assignments helped me see the applications strengths and weaknesses. I often found that I was integrating it or further exploring the applications new ideas would come to me.

Meeitng My Personal Goals:

My main goal of this class was to learn about different technologies that I could use in the classroom. I also wanted to learn more about the technologies I already use.

I have used PowerPoint before, but had never created a student run lesson/game before like the StAIR. It is a great way to use powerpoint rather than just as a presentation tool.
Blogging frustrated me VERY much at the beginning of the course, but I grew to really enjoy it. I am implementing a lesson in my first grade classroom utilizing many of the technologies I have learned. I admit I am nervous about it... yet excited at the same time. It is a writing lesson where the students will use a story they have written and edited. They will publish it with parent help in a blog as an author... and then turn it into a movie using wither PowerPoint Narration or voice thread. The images will be stills (illustrations they made) as their voice reads their story over them.

New Goals:

My new goals are to start using the technologies I have learned with my students to further their learning. I learned last week that computer lab will no longer be a special offered for the first graders at my school, so it will be up to me to give the students age appropriate and content appropriate technology access during school! I feel like that is a big responsibility along with everything else teachers do... but I am excited and more comfortable with it than I would have been had I not taken these courses!