Course Reflections

ETC 547 has directly impacted my professional growth and development. This course provided me with scholarly articles, research projects, new technology tools which further informed my teaching practices. Through the articles related to diversity in the classroom, I was introduced to various learning theories such as Critical Race Theory and Culturally Relevant Pedagogy. As a result, I shifted my approach from a one-size-fits-all model to an equitable teaching model that accommodates the needs of all students. Additionally, the technology integration in the course provided me with tools to engage students and address their individual learning needs, including websites, apps, social media, and collaborative workspaces. Finally, this course helped me realize that technology is not merely a resource to be used on an as-needed basis, but an integral component of the learning experience. 

Writing the scholarly paper was a gratifying experience that challenged me to improve my writing by using top-quality research and inquiry. Despite not writing academic papers since my undergraduate studies, researching, reading, annotating and organizing the paper were skills I acquired and enjoyed doing. The course's structure also helped me maintain a steady writing pace without feeling overwhelmed or falling behind. However, the assignment still presented a challenge. I wrote more than necessary and had to remove a lot of parts in my writing, making the revision process extensive. Originally, I was going to include a reflection on my own instructional practices using the theoretical frameworks to analyze my teaching and classroom tools, but it never worked out to include that. Nonetheless, I enjoyed writing this paper and I am proud of the final product. The engaging topic, straightforward research process, and the professor's feedback at different stages of the assignment all contributed to the paper's success. Moving forward, I plan to utilize the learning theories as a way to analyze my teaching strategies and to further improve on inclusivity and equity in my classroom. Diving deep into these theories made me realize my shortcomings in my instruction and how I can improve. 

The Tech-Infused Learning Experience Project drew upon various lessons and concepts taught in the course. The ISTE Standards for Educators played a pivotal role in this assignment , providing a framework for technology integration into instructional planning. These standards refined y understanding of how to incorporate technology into teaching, sparking ideas for diverse applications within a lesson's structure. Specifically, in this project, I used the standards to design a comprehensive lesson that integrated collaborative Web 2.0 technology, encouraged student participation, and facilitated content learning based peer-reviewed research. I combined Culturally Relevant Pedagogy with two technology tools, StoryJumper and Flip, to cater to different learners, particularly Adult Education English Language Learners to empower their immigrant stories. As a result, I gained proficiency in both tools, discovering that they could be utilized in facilitating other aspects of student learning such as collaboration, creativity, and assessment.