EDLD+5306

toc =EDLD 5306 Concepts of Educational Technology=

Reflections
Self Assessment   The outcomes for this class could not be more relevant to the work that I do. We need to open up the doors for collaborating and my newly made staff wiki is taking shape. I   have coordinated with our campus technology facilitator to be a presenter at our next staff development in January. Our administration has made technology a focus at our  next staff development because it was so well received at the beginning of the school year. As I have progressed through this course, it has made me a better teacher and  colleague. I have found ways to engage my students with interactive, online activities. I am ecstatic that my peers are finally trying to collaborate with me on my wiki and I  think we are actually going to use this tool going forward. I do know that I need more experience with copyright, acceptable use policies, and teaching my students cyber  ethics and the dangers that technology can have as well. Now, I have established some goals for me technologically. The video conferencing that I was able to experience has  my juices flowing and I hope to incorporate that technology into my classroom. If the students are half as excited as I was, then I know it will be a successful and fun tool to  use. If there is anything I did not achieve, I would say it is my addition to the discussion board. I would like to be more insightful in my discussions in the future. I think the  time that I am able to spend reading the articles is a factor in those discussions. Some of the articles need to be read more than once and I just do not have the time to devote to  that particular area. However, I have saved the articles for reference later.

Learn as a Learner   At first, I received a zero on my first assignment and I was stunned and disappointed. I had studied the Texas Long Range Plan, as well, as the technology TEKs and  thought I had summarized them well. Then, I began my second assignment and through my communications with classmates, I realized they had information about the   assignment that I was missing. I contacted my instructional associate to explain my grade and realized what I was doing wrong. When I was opening the assignment, I did not   realize there was more than one page because a) I did not print the assignment and b) it stated the same information from the GoCourse player and emails that I was receiving. Needless to say, I was embarrassed by my lack of thoroughness. Thankfully, Sarah, being the gracious person she is, allowed me to redeem myself and I corrected   <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">myself before submitting my second assignment. I learned a valuable lesson from that experience. The only other issue I had with the assignment was relying on mycolleagues  <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to contribute to my wiki. It took much persuasion on my part to obtain the collaboration I was seeking. However, it is paying dividends because my wiki now has 13 faculty  <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">members instead of 4. With some veteran teachers there is a fear of not knowing the technology and not wanting students to see us as the Digital Immigrants we are (Prensky,  <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2008). However, as we over come our fears and realize that "...young people may be ahead of us in using tools, but leaders like you will help them use the tools in  <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">educationally appropriate ways" (Solomon and Schrum, 2007, p. 9). <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Lifelong Learning Skills  <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The main thing I have learned is that I still have much to learn in regards to technology. I am very skilled at using technology for my own use, but I need to expand on my  <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">leadership skills to pass along this knowledge to others. I need to keep a positive attitude and do not let obstacles discourage me from reaching my goals and objectives. I  <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">began this journey to enable my self and others to use technology as a tool for teaching our students. I have “bought in” to the 4 E’s of literacy and that we must change our  <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">teaching methods for the 21st Century learner. We are entering the Age of Creation and Collaboration and I see it emerging as I have never seen it before.

Assignments
EDLD 5306 Week 1 Assignment EDLD 5306 Week 2 Assignment EDLD 5306 Week 5 Assignment