Course Reflections

One of my recent college courses, Integrating Technology in Education has truly widened my knowledge of the various technology tools that are available for use in the classroom. This course is not at all what I expected in terms of the technologies used and introduced, but nevertheless it was indeed an intriguing course filled with adventures and research and it has really helped me to climb to the next level of understanding and using technology. This semester I have observed, learned about, and utilized numerous technology tools created using the ISTE NETS Standards in my lessons.

The wide variety of technology that can easily and effectively be incorporated into a classroom offers every teacher an opportunity to enhance the learning experience for their students. This course not only familiarized me with tools which can be used to improve my lessons, but also taught me about Dale’s cone of experience and instructional design models such as the ASSURE model which guided how I wrote my lesson plans. This course has not only taught me how to use the various technology tools but how to embrace and appreciate them.

Through these technologies, students are now able to demonstrate authenticity as they provide students with multiple pathways through which they can create and complete assignments. Rather than to just write an essay or thesis, students are able to demonstrate their understanding in a variety of ways; through the creation of multimedia productions (movies, animations), constructing websites, WebQuest's, wikis, etc., to organize and analyze information, and design interactive presentations (PowerPoints, etc.) to serve as products for assessment.

As I reflect on this course, I must say that I have really learned a lot and have truly come a far way on being knowledgeable about various technology tools that I had not the slightest idea existed before. It is through this course that I have come to know of and understand the National Education Technology Standard (NETS) which was published by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). These ISTE Standards provide the competencies for learning, teaching and leading in the digital age, providing a comprehensive roadmap for the effective use of technology in schools worldwide.

The standards have been implemented for teachers to assist with the effective tools to engage students help to improve their learning environments as well as professional practice. I've also learned that the ISTE's NETS for Teachers are the standards established for evaluating the skills and knowledge educators need to teach, work, and learn in an increasingly connected global and digital society. In addition, the ISTE Standards ensure that using technology for learning can and will create high-impact, sustainable, scalable and equitable learning experiences for all learners.

In addition, I was also made knowledgeable that as teachers we must align ourselves with the latest technological devices and skills available to foster integration and collaboration within the teaching and learning process by meeting the ISTE standards for using technology to enhance creativity and innovation in the learning environment. This is so as when technology is integrated in the classroom it appeals to the students’ interests, multiple intelligences and learning styles.

To reflect a little more, this course is about promoting coordination and collaboration in the classroom. There was a lot of groups works and discussion forums, which allowed us to interact with each other in spite of our differences and share our opinions with each other about the course and the course works. My course lecturer Mrs. McFarlane has truly shown me the dawn of countless possibilities through the contents she taught in this course and has sparked my enthusiasm in applying technology in the classroom.

As a result, I must say I am very happy and fortunate to have been a part of this vision and this course has helped me tremendously to realize the vast scale of technologies and their respective uses. It is without a shred of doubt, that I say to all my fellow and aspiring teachers that technology have become a vehicle for educational growth and with appropriate utilization it can only improve the lives of us as well as our students.