Reflection

Technology in Education

Reflecting on things that we experience is essential in the life of an individual who is studying. It gives the chance to illustrate your understanding of the material and how it affects your ideas and possible practice in the future. Reflection allows you to share your thoughts on an experience and apply what you've learned to your life and education.

I have been a student at the Moneague College for under a year now, and I have learned a lot about myself through coursework, classmates, and various types of learning. This course was designed to prepare teachers like myself for all different grade levels with skills, concepts and understanding among other skills to integrate technology in lessons to enhance teaching and learning as well as to make learning effective.

The focus of this course is allowing for the balancing of learning theories and educational technology applications. This course is based on the notion that it is imperative that teachers provide opportunities for students to engage in authentic learning experiences within and beyond the walls of the classroom.

This course is in a virtual setting. As a result, different online platforms were used to convey and receive information. Our lecturer, Mr. Damion Kelly effortlessly piloted us through a journey which is sometimes rough base on connectivity issues and the different learners in the classroom. It is a very important course which is required by the educational society.

Throughout this semester, I have had an array of assignments and a major project that have made me confused, annoyed, and proud all at the same time. The course is divided into six units which carries a weight of four credits. Unit one entails: Introduction to Educational Technology, Unit two: Theoretical Framework of Educational Technology, Unit three: Instructional Planning, Unit four: Designing Effective Computer-based Instructional Support Tools, Unit five: Designing Effective Web-based Instructional Su

pport Tools and Unit six:

Assessment with Technology. It sounded a bit easy in the beginning due to that fact that I had some amount of experience in technology but as the days went on, I was very shocked at how time consuming and demanding this course was.

Technology in Education is a coursework base course, which is divided into group presentations, individual work, reflection, attendance, and class participation for a final grade. The course works were challenging especially the digital portfolio; it had me confused and excited. Now am capable to enhance learning through technology integration.

Overall, the course itself was interesting; this was so because I had some amount of knowledge of technology and was excited to create instructional materials online vs writing on charts. Often during group work I felt like quitting or deviating to doing it individually, but I had to just endure and move on. With determination and perseverance, I was able to be successful at gaining the knowledge and skills to create these learning tools.

I am overwhelmed because all the impossible turned out into possibilities. I have learnt about the new tools in technology, I had the opportunity to become an ‘expert’ on, not only using technology efficiently in the classroom with presentational purposes, but also to develop my own

activities which bring as much educational information as fun to the class. My most basic skills involve the use of PowerPoint and the Internet in the classroom among others, however since the introduction of the different tools I have used others like podcast that was included in this course in the execution of lessons in other classes.

My personal observation has showed me that technology is a positive tool in the classroom. It brings advantages in the teaching process both for myself as a teacher and my students especially boys. Motivation and changes in students’ behavior arise when efficiently employed and managed.