After setting my goals to improve student learning through technology and growing professionally, I collected information and worked on developing ideas to accomplish these goals. Through this Walden course, I have continued to learn new ways that I can integrate technology in my classroom. I am currently focusing on how I can also use technology to assess students. I must first become confident in my abilities to integrate technology in all areas before introducing it to my students. I have continued to read articles in the Walden library and find helpful resources on the internet. The professional development training that I have been taking at my school has taught me how to use new tools, such as SMARTboard clickers, to assess my students using technology and use the quick results to direct my instruction.
I feel confident that the action plan I have in place will help me to meet my goals. The strategies that I am using are helping me to learn new ways to increase student motivation and creativity, as well as feeling more confident in my abilities to grow professionally and work with other teachers to encourage technology integration in their classrooms.
Thus far, I have learned what motivates students in 21st century learning and what skills are necessary for them to be able to learn 21st century skills. I have gained knowledge of the tools that students can use in the classroom to communicate their knowledge and how I can assess them based on this work. To personally grow professionally, I have been looking into pursuing a higher degree after my Master’s. I have gathered information about how long it will take to complete a Specialist’s or Doctorate, and started to get a better idea of what I would like to get a higher degree in. Walden offers an Education Specialist degree in Educational Technology. This seems to be the direction that I want to go in to develop professionally and continue to learn ways to integrate technology into the classroom. With this new knowledge, I will become more prepared to work towards my goal to become a Technology Integration Consultant.
Now that I have taken action towards my goals, I am still working on planning out how I will introduce new technologies to my students. Because many of my students have not had access to the technologies that I am introducing them to, I am questioning what they do know and how long it will take to introduce new technology concepts to them. I am also still collecting information about the higher degree that I am looking to pursue. I am questioning the time that it will take to complete this degree and how this will conflict with my life outside of school. I feel confident in my development towards meeting my goals, and I know that I am on the right path after evaluating my actions towards them.
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ReplyDeleteTiffany,
ReplyDeleteI tip my hat to you for knowing that you will pursue more education in the field of technology integration into the classroom. Knowing this is a strong indication that you know your GAME plan. It also appears you have put much thought into the time commitment required for that next step.
You make a good point in that it takes time to learn the technology we introduce to our students. I believe that there is going to be a natural delay to fully implement what is being learned in our program and when we can fully apply it in our classrooms. Juggling university, school, and a personal life can be time consuming. I can see myself hitting a better stride in one or two years after I am finished this program.