Developing, Expanding and Utilizing Technology Skills

I just completed my first technology integration class, “Understanding the Impact of Technology on Education, Work, and Society” (EDUC - 6710I - 1) through Walden University. I recall watching my first lesson on DVD when Dr. David Thornburgh said that modern educators needed to do different things in the classroom, rather than taking care of traditional classroom tasks using technology (Laureate Education, Inc., 2008). At the time I was not really sure what he meant. Now I realize I was guilty of the behavior he was referring to. I would download a film clip to my laptop and show it to my class using a projector, or use a Power Point version of Jeopardy to review before an assessment. I thought I was integrating technology in my classroom. However, I was just doing old tasks differently. A decade earlier I would have been watching a video on VHS or reviewing by lecture while my students took notes.


By taking this course I have been given the opportunity to participate in activities I had never thought of. For example, I now have this blog page. I do not believe anybody actually reads it, other than my instructor and perhaps a few classmates. However, I see the benefit in reflecting on experiences and writing about them. I visit other blog pages as well. Some are from classmates, which I truly enjoy reading. Others are from educators across the country; professionals trying to improve the effectiveness of others. I keep track of updates via an RSS aggregator, which I learned about during this course.

Following my blog experience, I had the opportunity to work with an international team of educators on a wiki page. Team members were from Turkey, (via Japan) Canada and across the USA. This activity was my favorite of the course. The positive aspects of my experience led to my fifth grade class starting a wiki for our life science unit. Students are sharing their work with friends, siblings and parents. My students may not learn more than they would have otherwise, but the fun level has gone up. Plus, they are learning how to communicate and create as a team using technology.

Podcasting is now a part of my skill set. I surveyed my students on their uses of technology. I recommend this activity to everyone if you have not done this already. The results can be refreshing, insightful, and startling! I recorded my findings and included a sample of student responses in my podcast. This process led to learning about sound recording hardware, format conversion software, editing and posting audio files. During this activity student engagement was up, behavior problems were down and once again; students were sharing with their families. More podcasts are in my classroom future.

To expand my knowledge of technology integration and increase student achievement I need to continue to experiment with technology in the classroom. Learning by doing seems to be the best approach for me. In addition, I continue to build my skills through sharing ideas with peers, maintaining current knowledge in technology, utilizing professional development opportunities, and continued coursework through Walden. Visiting professional education blogs that focus on integrating technology, reading from professional journals; knowing the standards from the Society of Technology in Education(http://www.iste.org/) and visiting commercial web sites such as the Partnership for 21st Century Skills (http://www.21stcenturyskills.org) will also allow me to improve skills and learn new methods of facilitating student learning.

I have two long term goals for transforming my classroom into a place where technology is integrated to meet instructional goals and increase student achievement. The first goal is to complete my Masters of Science: Integrating Technology in the Classroom. Successfully navigating the requirements for this program will give me a wealth of knowledge and experience from which to draw. I have learned a great deal in every class I have taken thus far. If I never take another course, the knowledge and experiences gained make the experience worth the financial cost. My second goal is to analyze my required grade level curriculum and identify areas where technology integration would be beneficial to the learning process. Once objectives are targeted, I can plan experiences, utilize available technology and engage learners. In addition, I will share my learning experiences and ideas with fellow educators. This makes not only my class better, but my grade level, school and district better.

References

International Society of Technology in Education (ISTE): NETS for Teachers 2008. Located at http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForTeachers/2008Standards
/NETS_for_Teachers_2008.htm

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2008). Program 1. The emergence of education [Motion picture]. Understanding the impact of technology on education, work and society. Baltimore: Author

Partnership for 21st Century Skills. (n.d.). A report and mile guide for 21st century skills. Washington DC: Author. Retrieved from http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/downloads/P21_Report.pdf

Podcast Link

Fellow educators,

Here is a link to my first podcast. The topic covers the results of a technology survey my 5th graders completed. I unintentionally used what I thought was a free mp3 converter. During the student interview portion you may here a womans voice in the background. I tried to cut out as much as I could, but it is not perfect. Still, one gets a good overview of my class demographics concerning technology use. I hope you enjoy listening.

http://kennethbedwell.podbean.com/

Ken Bedwell