Reflection

My course is coming to an end. As I reflect on the things I have learned, I realize that technology is everywhere and will continue to be throughout my lifetime. I have always thought that I am pretty competent using technologies such as computers and hand held devices. After taking this course, I realize there are so many more things I can utilize with these technologies in my classroom. By using all technology that is available to me in my school, I see more student engagement and excitement for learning. It is so important to keep myself up to date with new technologies. I plan to continue to subscribe to educational and technological blogs as one source of keeping current. I also intend to encourage other colleagues in my school to try new technologies as well.

In the next two years, I would like to transform my classroom learning by leaning more toward a student facilitated learning environment. I do not need to be the sole source of information and learning. I want students to be able to use computers to research and create projects. I know it will be a bit more challenging to increase this in first grade. I know that I will need to provide a lot of modeling and practice together before students are able to create some basic things on their own. It will take time. It will be a learning experience for myself as well. A more focused and outcome based goal I would like to achieve is using podcasts for writing and reading fluency. I want students to create their own writing pieces, edit them, practice reading them, create artwork for them, and then read them in a podcast. Many students love to hear their own voices and they will immediately hear how fluent they have become as the year progresses on. I would love to have students do this several times a year to monitor their own progress in reading fluency. Just as student facilitated learning will take a lot of modeling and practice with me before they are prepared to create on their own. In the end I believe my students will be fully engaged and excited about using technology for learning.

Technology Use Podcast

This week I created a podcast. My district does not allow student interviews without a three week approval process, so I interviewed three students that are not in my first grade class. Here is the site where you can listen to my podcast.

http://podcastmachine.com/podcasts/4452/episodes/20217