A Final Word: Bringing it all Together

Well, as I look over the work that I have completed in CEP 811, I am proud of what I have accomplished. There are certainly areas that I can improve upon, but overall this has been a very positive learning experience, yielding very positive results.

One of the things that has really changed with me is my overall opinion of the use of technology in the classroom. I have been somewhat closed mindedness in the past when it came to introducing technology into the curriculum. Using technology, to me, meant that I would have to learn how to use it myself, take time to teach it, and monitor it. This meant more work on my end, and more dedicated time, which most teachers know, is a hard thing to come by. By utilizing different technologies in the classroom, I realized that there is some really interesting, beneficial things that can be done, and the little bit of extra work that is required is will worth the results.

Technology is far more than a gimmick, or an accessory. By utilizing different teaching strategies through technology, real learning can take place. Just as I have to very my teaching methods to appease the different learning styles in my classroom, it is important to include various pedagogical strategies to ensure students are learning. In thinking about deductive, constructivist, or inductive theories, none are better than the next. It takes a perfect marriage of different strategies to best utilize the technological resource, and best reach our kids.

My goal was to open my mind to something new. Kids are different types of learners than what we were, and we have to be open to change and new methods in order to keep up. By really exploring these different options, I see a real purpose in utilizing technology in the classroom and am filled with new ideas.

My new goal is to actually make good on my intentions. I feel, sometimes, that time I am most inspired is at the end of the school year. Sadly, over the weeks of summer, my enthusiasm dies down, and I fall into old habits in the fall. It is my goal to apply what I have learned. Sure, they may be hurdles, and it may be a little more work, but if it helps students become active learners, or understand a concept a little more, than it is totally worth a shot. To make sure that this happens, I have been sharing what we have been working on with my Professional Learning Community, and together we have been bouncing off ideas of how we can make these work in our classes. They particularly love the WebQuest and the StAIR. We have a meeting in the summer where I get to teach them the very basics so that we can be on the same page. I figure, if I apply what I have learned by teaching it to others, I am more likely to remember and use it myself.

This has been a great course, and I am very glad that I have taken it. It was never my intent, when beginning my Master's Program, to have an emphasis in technology, but it has opened my mind to a new way of doing things, and I am more excited about teaching than ever before!