Come to the Edge

This project was done collaboratively with Jordan Jimenez

Reflective Statement

This Come to the Edge Project allowed me to take time to find and test out educational tools that I can use in my future classroom. I learned how some tools I was already familiar with worked through the teacher’s perspective rather than the student's. This allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of how useful these tools are. This project also gave me various educational tools that I had never heard of before and that I can’t imagine teaching without. Incorporating technology in my teaching is key to providing my students with a meaningful education. The Come to the Edge Project has allowed me to gain a deep understanding of what a meaningful education is by also giving me new tools to take into my future classroom.

Technology is rapidly advancing and has become an important aspect of today’s society. At some point students will be faced with technology; incorporating technology into my teaching is key to giving my students a meaningful education. Technology integration is making teaching relevant to students. (Spector, 2012) To create a meaningful education for students it must be appropriate to their everyday life experiences. “If schools are to foster meaningful learning, then the ways that technologies are used in schools must change from technology-as-teacher to technology-as-partner in the learning process.” (Howland, 2012,  p.7) This quote demonstrates the perspective teachers need to view technology incorporation in education. With technology continuing to advance it will not go away. Teachers need to view technology as assisting students instead of harming students' education. Teaching technology is not always simple, teachers must consider the time that is needed to teach themselves the technology they wish to use in their classroom. (Kimmons, 2018) The Come to the Edge project taught me this lesson. There were many tools that I used as a student before; it caused me to underestimate how much time I was going to need to learn those tools I believed I was already familiar with. I now needed to learn how to use these tools from the teacher’s perspective. 

Overall, I believe to leave an impact on my future students I must incorporate technology tools into my teaching. Technology is seen every day in today’s society. Knowing this, I will take advantage of this idea and positively integrate technology in my future classroom. Through the readings and the Come to the Edge project, I have come to the idea that technology should be seen as assistive not harmful to our education. 

References

Howland, J. L., Jonassen, D., & Marra, R. M. (2012). Goal of technology integrations: Meaningful learning. Meaningful learning with technology, 1-19.Goal of Technology Integrations - Meaningful Learning. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uNsJpOvmLEdAdGuN2nstjfXKcCvqhRlO/view?usp=sharing

Kimmons, R. (2018). Technology integration: Effectively integrating technology in educational settings. In A. Ottenbreit-Leftwich & R. Kimmons, The K-12 Educational Technology Handbook. EdTech Books. Retrieved from https://edtechbooks.org/k12handbook/technology_integration 

Spector, J. M. (2012). Remarks about the responsibilities of educators and evaluators. Retrieved November 15, 2018, from Mike Spector’s Blog http://aect-president-2009-2010.blogspot.com/2012/02/