EDLD+Final+Assessment

Final Assessment for EDLD 5364

1. What outcomes had you envisioned for this course? Did you achieve those outcomes? Did the actual course outcomes align with those that you envisioned? “Teaching with Technology” is just what this course is about: learning to how use technology in the classroom on a constant basis to increase student engagement and higher order thinking skills. Before this course started I had envisioned that I would learn about different Web 2.0 tools that I could use in my classroom throughout the year. Being a math teacher you only think that calculators (graphing and scientific) are the only technology tools available for you to use on a daily basis. This course proved me wrong. Throughout the course we learned that you can incorporate technology not only scarcely through the course, but sometimes everyday. I have learned about the importance of setting objectives, providing feedback, cooperative learning, proper professional development, and reinforcing effort all with the use of technology tools. This course has also proven to me that it not only benefits the students to learn how to use tools that they will need in future, but also the teacher is able to be more hands-on with the students, especially diverse students, than having to lecture day after day. Because of this course, I will definitely changed my outlook on the combination of technology and teaching.  2. To the extent that you achived the outcomes, are they still relevant to the work that you do in your school? Why or why not?  At the beginning of the course, I wanted to be able to use the technology tools in my class so that I can encourage others to do the same. I truly believe that I accomplished that and more. For the first time, I gave my students an assignment where they were able to choose different software programs (Word, Open Office, ExCel, PowerPoint, etc) to create a notebook/dictionary over a chapter covering a huge amount of vocabulary. I was so amazed at the work that I got that I immediately told other teachers about it and gave them some of my students’ work as an example. I plan on doing the same project again but this time assign the students different softwares to use, including a podcast and video that way I will more of a variety. This course proved to me that even in a math class, you can use more technology tools than just a calculator. My next goal is to implement a class wiki for a 3 week group project that we do every year before the TAKS test. I would also like to develop an effort rubric to use throughout the lesson to prove to the students that effort does have a positive effect on your grades. I can’t wait for the next school year to go back and edit my lesson plans to incorporate more Web 2.0 tools.    3. What outcomes did you not achieve? What prevented you from achieving them?  Overall I felt that I did accomplish many of my goals that I set for myself throughout the course. I did not have a chance to the web conference which was disappointing for me. I have used my camera on my computer before for chatting through Yahoo Instant Messager or Skype, but I wanted to experience it in a more professional atmosphere. I was only able to participate once which would have been this past Tuesday (December 15) but I honestly forgot because I was focused on preparing the group project on our Google Site. From what I have heard about the conferencing via webcam was nothing but good comments. The only other thing that I was looking forward to learning about in this course what podcasting. During the first EDLD course was the first time that I have ever heard of podcasting. I would like like to experience it before assigning it to my students. Although according to the information that I gathered from the videos in this course, it is not a bad thing to have the students teach me a thing or two about podcasts.   4. Were you successful in completing the course assignments? If not, what prevented or discouraged you? <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">I feel that I was very successful in completing all of the assignments for this course. I enjoyed all of the assigned readings and videos because I felt that they applied to me as a teacher. I have to admit that it was an adjustment having to work with a team throughout the course. Luckily my team members were extremely supportive throughout the entire course even when I was a little late getting my part of the assignment done. Being a math major you were not required to have to do many assignments within a team setting, so it was nice to experience learning in a different setting. I think that the most discouraging part of the course was the time period it felt in. Along with being a math teacher, I am also a high school basketball coach. Out of the 5 weeks of this course, 3 weekends were spent at basketball tournaments which made it very difficult to keep up with all of my school work. The tournaments along with the holidays caused me to turn in assignments late (during the grace period) which was a first for me. Other than that, I thought that the course went very well. <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">5. What did you learn from this course: about yourself, your technology and leadership skills, and your attitudes? <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">I honestly feel that because of this course I feel more comfortable about using technology in the classroom. I have always been a technology-savvy person because of my technology-knowledgeable family but it is different when you are asking to teach with it. Now I am able to brainstorm more about using technology and Web 2.0 tools in my classroom throughout each unit and hopefully be able to use them on a day-to-day basis. With the UDL information and techniques, Book Builder, Survey Monkey, Google Docs and Google Site, and more practice using my wiki and blog site I have numerous amount of technology tools to help me get started on a new way of teaching, I have always had leadership qualities even when I was young. I know now I can use those qualities to help other teachers incorporate more technology into their classes. My attitude towards technology has changed. I do not feel that technology is “just another thing that I have to do” but a tool that will only increase my students abilities in higher order thinking, cooperative learning, and skills needed for the 21st century. <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">