A Reflection to Move Forward
A Reflection to Move Forward
Overview
Taylor Swift's happy dance accurately describes how I feel at the end of the course, just as it did in the beginning of the course. I don't mean that I'm excited for the class to be over, but that I have made it this far and have been able to gather new information which I am BEYOND excited to incorporate in my classroom. This course has given me insight to parts of Ed Tech I haven't looked into before, and I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to learn alongside many wonderful educators who were open to sharing their insight and experiences with the class.
Looking Back
At the beginning of the course, I had general knowledge on technology usage/incorporation in the classroom and how to use technology (somewhat) effectively on a day-to-day basis. I knew how to use the technology that is in my classroom (Chromebook, projector, speakers, etc), as well as the features each of these pieces contain. I was fully aware of digital footprints (or tattoos as they are referred to now) and how both students and teachers (adults) alike should be aware of what sort of content they post online. Ever since the start of Covid and working through a quarantine, I had to figure out how to create effective online classrooms, but I wanted to better implement those online spaces and resources into my in-person classroom as well.
A few things I was unsure of is how educators incorporated ideas like social media and technological features into the classroom. I have only ever made a connection to TikTok and Snapchat with my students (referring to them throughout class/within lessons), but I, personally, never gave a discussion on digital tattoos and their affect on others. I wanted to know more about implementing active learning with technology as well as ways to include effective technological usage in the classroom--in ways that would benefit my students.
In my original blog, I mentioned that there is a love-hate relationship between me and technology. I still agree with that! I was just recently introduced to Chrome Canvas (different from the Canvas we use for our courses) on our school Chromebooks, which I have been trying to use in place of Microsoft Teams (if you remember my blog on Building an Online Classroom, I mentioned how the one downside to it is that is tends to lag and freeze). Canvas is replacing the note taking portion of my lessons, but I still cannot figure out how to switch writing utensils nor can I use them correctly the first time around--it takes a lot of patience and practice.
However, one of the things this course has taught me is that there are so many platforms that can be used in the classroom that will benefit both the students and the teacher, as well as there will be days where technology is not necessary and that's okay.
Moving Forward
The more we blogged and used flip in the classroom, the more ideas I was able to gather to use these sites in my own ways. Blogging would be a great way to have my students, especially the 7th and 8th graders, reflect on the topics and/or lessons we've covered in class--a way for them to show new knowledge they've gathered and how they're going to use it in the future. As for "side chats," they would be a great way for all students to participate in a class discussion without having the fear of saying something incorrectly or worrying that their classmates are watching them. Everyone's participation would also show me how students are interpreting information that we read (more so when we read The Outsiders and To Kill a Mockingbird); I'll be able to see what they understand and where they are struggling, so as to know what to discuss further and explain in the classroom.
My views on Ed Tech have enhanced, in a sense. I have a better idea of how to use technology in the classroom in various ways. Not only can I use it for active learning, but I can use it to create and keep track of content that both my students and I provide. I can also use technology (or at least have a better idea of how to use the technology) to assist students in my room who need certain accommodations/modifications and help them succeed academically.
I do hope that the knowledge I've gathered and ideas I've come to know will be as beneficial for my students as they were for me.
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