Through this course, I have been exposed to new software and applications, and also a new vision of myself as a teacher who fully utilized technology in instruction. It is not enough just to use new methods and technologies in my own classroom, it is also my responsibility as a teacher leader to share this information with my colleagues and encourage them to try new things.
The Horizon report (http://wp.nmc.org/horizon2010/) is certainly a reference I will use each year and share with others that are looking to learn what is coming in the future of technology. It’s a way of thinking that needs to be explored by teachers; how can new developments in mainstream technology be used for education? We know that computer screens and moving figures engage children, but what else? How can we make technology more interactive, to lead our students through puzzles and problem solving activities to sharpen their minds?
With the conclusion of this course, I am wondering, what is the best way to get teachers at my school talking? I could create the modules for teams to try, but would it be more valuable to have them make their own? The latter is slower, and most teachers want something ready to use, they are already short on time. I think I would like to informally start a group that meets monthly, with each month having a technology that we explore. For example, one month could be about using blogs, another could be about podcasting, and then we could follow up the next month by showing the podcasts we created to one another and talking about how it enhanced our students’ learning.
I have been looking forward to this class since I started work on my Master’s degree. I wasn not disappointed. The way this course stressed being a teacher leader and always searching for new applications has really brought all of the coursework and knowledge I’ve gained together.
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