Teaching+with+Technology

Teaching with Technology The purpose of this page is to reflect on the course Teaching with Technology  **Outcomes** The outcomes I envisioned from this course were to become a proficient teacher in the educational technology integration process. My expectations from the course included the acquisition of the skills needed to integrate technology in a seamless and pertinent manner for the students. At the end of the course, I wanted to possess the knowledge required to integrate the correct technology with the correct activities and strategies. I believe that I have fulfilled most of the expectations I had. I understand that only through the practice and integration of the technology in the real environment, I will be able to become and exceed the proficient level I am trying to achieve right now. Through out these five weeks readings, collaborations and investigations, I was able to increase significantly my knowledge levels of technology integration, feeling more confident to use it in my classroom with my students. The actual course outcomes were in most of the weeks aligns with my expectations for the course. The outcomes I achieved from this course are completely relevant to the work I do in my school. I am a third grade bilingual teacher, and I try to integrate technology in my classroom with every opportunity I get. My students are clearly 21st century learners, and they demand a differentiated education that satisfies their learning needs. Through the integration of technology, this differentiation is a reality. Educational technology is offering the tools educators need to address the students’ learning needs. Today’s’ learners acquire information in different ways, by using the different tools, software and hardware technology offers, we can help our students become successful in their learning process. It is my responsibility, as a teacher, to help my students maximize their potential, by utilizing the tools that will engage and motivate them to pursue a bright and productive future. For these reasons, I feel that every expectation I accomplish from this course and the future courses will make a great positive difference and impact in my students’ learning.

Some of the outcomes I could not achieve were to experiment more with technology tools and strategies. I feel that I still have more to learn about the educational technology tools, software, hardware and the strategies to integrate it seamlessly in the classroom. I know that practice makes perfect, and because I am working as a full time teacher, I see my practice time a little limited. I try to use every opportunity I have to integrate technology in my lessons, but the limited resources in my school makes this task a little hard. In addition, the design of the curriculum does not help the cause. At third grade, our students take too many assessments that do not evaluate the skills developed through out the use of technology. This represents incongruence in our system, but still is a reality. Most district spend time and money providing technology tools to each school, but then assess the students, and indirectly the teachers, through a system that is completely opposite to the education they are trying to implement with technology.

**Assignments** I have successfully completed the assignments of this course. When I had a question, I felt comfortable asking my coach and she responded in a promptly and efficient manner. Most of the assignments in this course were reflections and I completed them successfully. The assignments related to the group project were not hard to accomplish because my team belonged to the same school district. We maintained close communication and arrange a meeting to complete the project. One of the assignments that I consider was very interesting and helped me with my level of technology knowledge was the electronic book. I have never used this type of technology before and it was fun creating the book. Also basing the book in my students needs helped me realize the importance of differentiated education for today’s learners. The integration of this type of technology will engage and motivate the students to improve their efforts and be successful.

**Personal Experience** This course helped me to realize that the integration of technology is one of the most important tools we need to use to help our students become successful. I have always like the use of technology, but it always seemed too hard to integrate it in the classroom. Through the readings, collaborations and investigations I learned that I could not make any excuse for not using more technology in my classroom. It seems difficult, but it is possible. Our students deserve to be treated with respect; not integrating technology in the classroom is a way to disrespect them. Today’s learners are digital natives; the use of technology comes very natural for them. As 21st century educators, we need to integrate the technology as a tool to motivate, engage and improve the students’ effort and success. How are we going to say that we are preparing the future of this country, if we do not even use or speak their “language”?