Module+2+Reflection

Reflection Prompt: How the artifacts in your pre-competencies verification reflect your technology use as an educator? In light of your learning about TPACK, identify areas of improvement needed.   1. Description. While completing the pre-competencies verification, my eyes were really opened to how I do, and don't use technology in my classroom. I think what I learned most about my self as a "technology facilitator" is that I use technology many times for technology sake. I really enjoy technology, and I love seeing my students enthusiasm and excitement to use technology themselves. However, I need to take my own advice that I give on my blog, and make more "objective centered" technology. I use technology on a regular basis through my blog and TPT, and I am constantly interacting with other teachers who use multiple types of technology and learning from them. I need to transfer this into my classroom. The TPACK concept really opened me to the endless possibilities that technology provides!!!   2. Impact. After reading these standards, the biggest impact on me is that I need to make integrating technology into my classroom a "process" and it isn't going to happen over night. Especially teaching a younger age (4th grade), I need to begin the year with technology, and slowly grow it in my classroom. I especially enjoyed the charts and diagrams that the TPACK resources gave for multiple types of technology to use in the classroom. I think it really showed me how I can use many different types of technology, and let my students explore multiple ways to use technology to learn and present their knowledge. This is different than my method of teaching my students a software such as Powerpoint, and then having them make one on a topic.   3. Intent. After the required readings and videos for this module, I am both excited and overwhelmed with using technology in the classroom. I have already bookmarked SO many pages of ideas and charts for software that can be used for many different learning projects and explorations. I have so many ideas of lessons I teach that can be enhanced by these technologies. On my blog, I participate in a "Technology Tuesday" linky party where I share a technology I use in my classroom with fellow bloggers. My intent for next year is to create a "Technology Tuesday" in my classroom where I introduce a new type of technology every Tuesday and give students opportunities to explore it. I have to remind myself that I HAVE to make time for this, because it is not "wasted" time, but rather time where students are exploring and LEARNING ways to further enhance their understanding of concepts and make them 21st century learners. By doing this, I will be able to launch units using technology in an easier fashion, because students will already have a preview of their options of types of technology they can use to complete their projects. My biggest worry that makes me overwhelmed is our districts technology capabilities. We are supposed to be getting completely "revamped" and reimaged laptops after this summer, and our network is supposed to be improving. I am hoping that with these changes, technology won't be "looming" over me, but rather will be a wanted and invited concept in my classroom!! 