Reflection: Bridging Learning Theory, Instuction, and Technology

I feel like a teacher at a parent teacher conference; addressing the good before addressing the bad. I did receive several good ideas concerning teaching and technology. I especially like the new ideas that were given to me while reading “Using Technology with Classroom Instructions”. I received a lot of information and was able to put it to good use, which was part of our goal that we posted to our blogs. This gives me a good intro to the bad. I didn’t mind posting to the blog, but I felt that the majority of the information was redundant as was having to respond twice to a discussion page and a blog. With all the work that was expected of us I found myself going back and checking to see what I forgot. I believe that as a teacher I have enough busy work to contend with at my school let alone having busy work created so that it justifies a grade.
Step 1: Reflecting on my Personal Theory of Learning in week one’s assignment I stated that my personal theory on how students learn in my part of the world is Hands-on and Visual. I believe this still holds true though as I stated before I am a constructionist and use this foundation in the majority of my teaching.
Step 2: I can’t say that I am making any immediate adjustments to my classroom, considering I started making the adjustments when I started this class. I am very pleased with the results and I feel the students are pleased with the changes. I am receiving e-mails and phone calls from parents on a daily basis wondering how they can help improve their kid’s grades and that they are pleased with what their child is learning.
The two technology tools I would like to bring into my classroom are digital photography and storybook. I believe these tools would help enhance the students’ power point presentation that I just implemented.
Step 3: I don’t know if I have two long term goals as far as instructional changes I would add. I already have a sizable amount of technology that I have added to my classroom. I guess my goals would be to stay up to date with my equipment and the students’ equipment and to make sure I continue on with my education so I can better educate my students.
Step 4: http://montyharrison.blogspot.com/
In conclusion I don’t believe this class was what I was expecting; I will complete this class though I have already enrolled in a computer tech class in another department at Walden. I believe this will be a better fit for me and the education of my students.