This course has opened my eyes to several new avenues for teaching with technology. I would say that my two greatest takeaways from this course are the resources and technologies that I was able to learn while navigating this course and the personal learning network (PLN) that I have gained from this course.
Courtesy Warner Bros.
When I first started this course, I was a bit hesitant as to what would be expected of me. I was afraid that there would be a larger coding component that I have always struggled to understand. I took an intro to coding class during my undergrad studies and it was one of the hardest courses I've ever taken - truly, it was learning a new language.
This course was able to teach me that technology doesn't have to be a foreign language. There are several programs that allow me to incorporate new technology without being a master coder or computer engineer. Technology is clearly a useful and widely used tool in the educational system, as evidenced by the infographic above. Utilizing simple technologies is not always a bad thing either. Just allowing students to use their computers to take notes, rather than taking handwritten notes would be an example of having technology present within the classroom.
The course enabled me to dip my toes into several useful technologies that can be utilized within a classroom setting. These technologies included Twitter, Blogger, About.me, Rezzly, Padlet, and several others that can be implemented into the curriculum. Students have changed the way they learn, and a simple lecture and note-taking method of education has become outdated. Teachers must enhance a student's learning by incorporating these new and innovative technologies to both teach and challenge our students.
In the end, the course was more about ways to reach students and utilize their own understanding of technology to enhance their education. Focusing on the TPACK and SAMR models allowed me to think of lesson plans and implementing technology into traditional lessons. This was both relaxing and challenging, as there were different levels of implementation, thus different complexities to uncover.
Again, I feel that my greatest takeaway from this course will be the resources I have gained from my PLN, mostly through Twitter. By researching hashtags and current teacher movements, I have built a strong PLN that will, no doubt, continue to grow as I continue my quest (pun intended) towards becoming a teacher. By spending a few minutes each day, I will be able to see what new trends are taking place within education.
By staying on the cutting edge of technology and educational trends, I will ensure that my students will be best prepared for their future after high school, whether they choose to enter the work force or continue their education.
While this class is coming to an end, I know that I will continue to use some of the tools that I had set up for this class, most notably my Twitter account, as I have found it to be increasingly helpful in growing my personal knowledge of what it truly means to be an educator in the twenty-first century.
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