EDLD+5364


**This page will include various updates on the devloping knowledge about incorporating technology in my instruction. Such information will come from various readings I will do including the following two texts, __Web 2.0- new tool, new schools,__ by Gwen Solomon and Lynne Schrum as well as __Using Technology with Classroom Instructio that Works,__ by Howard Pitler, Elizabeth R. Hubbell, Matt Kuhn and Kim Malenoski.**  **__Week of November 16- 22, 2009__**

This week was the first of this new course that included plenty of reading with a plethora a valuable infromation for me to use throughout my planning and instruction. One such new finding was that of the Cyborg theory and its potential uses. First off, I had never even heard of such a thing where one could have a chip implanted into their body and attach such a chip to the nervous system in order to then connect such chips to the computer. The interesting part of this was that it help Kevn Warwick, the gentleman going through this rather peculiar process, detect all other elements like UV rays and Xrays that are going on around him that his brain would have otherwise ignored. This systems truly puts our senses into perspective. As a result, Kevin was able to experience the extra sense. This type of experiment proves that technology is eventually going to change the way we communicate via the nervous system as well as the way we think.

Another new concept I read about this week is rather broad but none the less interesting. The concept of our new web, Web 2.0. Web 2.0 is basically a transition to an interactive network that promotes collaboration amongst users. The biggest example I can think of is Wikkipedia. I have visited Wikkipedia in the past and had previously been told not to use this website because it was an "unreliable source". However, since beginning my journey of educational technology, I have since noted that this is the new knowledge. Wikkipedia is user based, we as users can modify information and constantly update pages with the newest information. As stated in the Web 2.0 text, these pages are works in progress. I personally think that Web 2.0 is going to be a great thing for our 21st century learner in that they will be able to publish information or assignments to their Wikkis and then have their peer and other users read and provide immediate feedback and input on their pages. The old web is too boring and unpersonalized for our 21st cetury learners.

This is a slice of the knowledge pie I enjoyed this week. I am looking forward to next week!

Week of November 23- 29, 2009

This week we have dived into the realm dealing with how to set technological objectives as well as analyzing data yielded when following a specific objective in the classroom. What I found most interesting this week is the vast amounts of positive and negative results in student achievement and skill acquisition that has come about from incorporating certain technological devices or software into instruction. Our text, Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works, details how to set objectives in your classroom that are specific to the applications possible.

I also had the privelage of reading an article describing the effect that technology enriched classrooms have on low socioeconomic students. This is particular relevant for me because I currently work at a low socioeconomic school in which all 30 of my students are economically disadvantaged. The study conducted indicates that there is an increase in student achievement as well as student self worth as a result of having technology enriched classes. Just the exposure to technology has created such positive results. It truly puts it into perspective for me when I plan my lessons. I certainly plan on enriching my classroom with technology in order to promote higher student self worth along with higher student achievement. Week of Novemeber 30-December 6

Up until this point in the course I have found this week to be the most helpful and informative on what to do in the classroom. This week we explore many topics including the new tools that are available for us to use in our instruction that only enhances what the students are learning. We also discussed UDL and its components. I was so intrigued on UDL and its purpose and methods that I will be discussing that in this update. UDL (Universal Design For Learning) "recognizes that every learner is unique and processes information differently. UDL is based on CAST's research related to three primary brain networks (recognition network, strategic network, and affective network) and the roles they play in understanding these differences. "

Throughout this week I have been able to explore the UDL page and gather information on how to modify my lessons in order to ensure that I am truly reaching all of my students without changing my expectation. What I found to be evident is that many of us change our expectations just because we may have a "special" student which only hurts the student. We do however, think that we are helping the child when the reality is we are widening the gap. What I found so interesting is that UDL provides us with the framework to maintain our high expectations and to differentiate our instruction for our students.

We had as an assignment this week, to create a UDL Book in which we may customize it however we felt necessary to reach our students. I found that this should be part of our Web 2.0 new tools in which we can create lessons via the UDL book builder in order to change up the format in which students recieve information.

Week of December 7-13 2009 This week we really focused more on the new tools that are available to us in the new web 2.0. As stated in the book, with new tools, we have new schools. These tools are very innovative in nature and can help revolutionize instruction. All tools are to help meet the needs of our students, regardless of how special the need is. One of the tools I found interesting was podcasting. Podcasting can be used in the classroom to stream infromation that can be recorded in different formats. Another use is not necessarily in the classroom. In order to make professional development a little less inconvenient, some districts have resorted to podcasting the sessions so that its employees can watch and learn on their own time. Although I think this may take away from the negative cloud that sometimes hovers over professional development, I still feel that this may be a tool that should be used with caution. Other tools that were discussed this week were the wiki and blog. We have all had some experience with the wiki and blog as part of our curriculum in this program therefore I feel that we are truly understanding the benefits that using these tools can have in a classroom as well as a professional setting.

The other main focus of this week's readings was cooperative learning and the many ways to use it in your classroom. When discussing technology in instruction, cooperative learning fits easily. For teachers there are many activities we can conduct in our classroom that will prove to be the most effective for our students of different needs. One example I liked from our "Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works" book was WebQuests. The reason I liked this and why I think I will be using this with my students is that it is inquiry based. Many students are very inquisitive and I feel that using WebQuests will not only promote this behavior but also facilitate them searching for their own answers as well as monitoring their own progress as they work together to find answer through means of the technology tool.

 Final Assesment:

 When beginning this course, I had initially envisioned gaining another perspective on incorporating technology in my instruction. I had also hoped to find some more information that corroborated with the importance that is placed on technology being incorporated in technology. I believe I did in fact achieve these goals in that I now know the importance technology can play in education as well as the techniques one can use in incorporating it in our instruction. I truly believe that the articles and texts used in this course have provided me with many relevant examples as well as research that indicates to me the importance and the results that can be yielded by practicing such uses. I think that this course has provided me with more than I had initially hoped for and I think I am truly one step closer to becoming an educational leader when dealing with incorporating technology into my instruction.

I think that initially, the information gathered throughout this course is not relevant to me in my school. I am a first year teacher, therefore I have a ton on my plate. I have however, incorporated more and more technology in my instruction since beginning this program. I feel that next year I will have a better game plan regarding using technology in my instruction. Another thing I am looking forward to is helping get the school active in investing in such technological devices that will better enhance our instruction and futher our students’ learning. I think that the reason why this information is not as relevant to my work is due to my lack of experience. I am truly trying to figure out the system and with time will come more progression. I hope that in the 2010-2011 school year I will be at a more advanced level regarding technology in instruction. Where I benefit however, from this course is that I am realizing the important role that technology can play in student achievement and information retention amongst our students. This program in general has opened my eyes to the new generation of learning

 I think that the outcomes I did not achieve involve the actually execution of the incorporation. The reasons for this lack of achievement come from two different reasons. First and foremost, it is my first year of teaching and as is custom to hear from many first years, we are just trying to survive. I am working with a new curriculum and time is truly not on my side. I have however, taken “baby” steps toward incorporating more technology each day. I know the importance of it, I have just not had the time or the resources. This brings me to my second source for lack of outcomes. Although my district has gone to great lengths to improve the use of technology in the classroom, we still have a lack in resources. With the ratio of students to computers being less than 1 for each 15 students, we are truly struggling to allow the students the freedom to conduct their investigations and to seek more knowledge via the internet. I think that next year I will have the experience needed to plan adequately how I am going to use these tools as well as I hope that the district will recognize the need and do what it can to fill the voids.

I considered myself successful in completing my assignments throughout the course, however I did find that week 3 and week 5 were extremely daunting. I found that the directions for week 5 for example, were too vague and the due dates were undertermined. Unfortunately, for many of us, we had to scramble to finish because we were afraid to miss the due date. Week 3 however, was a very enjoyable time in which we gathered a lot of valuable information. I felt though, that it was too much information to be digested at one time, therefore I fear I may have missed out on something because there was too much going on at one time. On the whole, I felt the assignments were very relevant to the readings and that they truly benefitted us in our work. I just hoped that the information would be spread out a little more to allow us the time to enjoy all of the wonderful information being gathered.

I learned a lot from this course. First off, I learned how little I truly incorporate technology in my classroom and little about the slight disservice I may be doing to my students as a result. I also gathered a lot of relevant information on how to incorporate technology in my instruction as well as research that indicates the benefits from doing so. As far as being an educational leader, I learned that there is still a lot left to learn. Before I can lead, I must learn and by taking courses like this one that has so much relevant information, I feel that by graduation time I will have the tools necessary to lead my school into the 21st century and equip them with the tools to teach 21st century learners. Many of us underestimate the power of change, but education has certainly changed. With the help of this program and this course I feel I will be ready for the change that is occurring in the educational world today.

Week of 12/14-12/18/2009 This week was our last week of the course. Basically, this week was dealing with student effort, and the effect it can have on student achievement. I think this is a very important part of education. With students now in days, they doubt themselves every step of the way. Many of them rest on the fact that school can be optional. I think that it is very important that we motivate these students to want to try hard and avoid them giving up on their education. I have a 10 year old recent arrival in my class and sometimes I struggle with him because he is afraid to try. He soemtimes makes fun of himself to hide his insecurities about his accent. I have had to reevaluate what motivates him in order to get him to want to participate and to avoid the lag time when he tries to goof off.

Another Important part of this week invovled us relfecting upon ourselves and our instructions. When working on the final assesment, I found that I had to be honest with myself when evauluating the actual use I give to the tools learned throughout this course. I find myself wanting to do all of these things, but resulting in not having the time or the resources. I have set some personal goals for myself in the upcoming school year that I feel will help me achieve the status of an educational leader when discussing incorporating technology in instruction. I have truly learned a lot from this course regarding technology and its importance on student engagement and achievement as well as how I can better my instruction by incorporating such practices. I truly look forward to the future where I will certainly use technology to enhance my lessons.

