I have learned a lot about teaching with technology in the past eight weeks in this course. One thing I have learned is that using technology will not necessarily make you a better teacher. However, if you integrate technology as a way to increase effective teaching strategies then you can provide students with great learning opportunities. One way that I have seen this is through the application of UDL principles. Integrating technology into lessons can often make lessons accessible to students that normally would have had barriers with the lesson. For example, providing audio to a slide show presentation allows a student with visual impairments to have access to the same learning material. Integrating technology such as podcasts can allow teachers to add audio like that.
Web-based technologies like WebQuests have helped me re-evaluate my use of technology in teaching. Previously, I thought that having students research content using the internet was a way of incorporating technology in the classroom. Now, I realize that there are more effective ways to integrate technology by finding or creating WebQuests that are more guided and provide more variety of learning opportunities using the web.
I would say that I have met and exceeded my goals for learning about technology integration into the classroom in this class. Through exploration of web site creation, I have been able to design a Google Site that I will be able to use in my classroom when school begins in the fall.
I have a couple specific goals for integrating technology in my classroom and one goal that will be long-term and continuous. The short term goals include finding WebQuests to meet some of my content and adding to my classroom website. My long term goal is to continue to stay up to date on an ever changing technological world. The technologies that we are using to teach with today and teach our students about, are likely to be replaced by new technologies in the near future. I plan to stay updated on new technological capabilities by subscribing to educational technology blogs and sites on an RSS reader.
Kyle, I have enjoyed working and learning with you during this class. You have been a good member of our class. Your have set some very reasonable goals for yourself and your teaching. I think you will like using WebQuests in your classes. Students really like them, and if they are well designed, they learn well with them as well. Take it a step at a time. Adding technology can have its ups and downs. Thanks for all you brought to the class. Nancy
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