EDLD 5364 Week Five

This week's readings, video watching, and assignments helped me clearly see where this course is taking me. I have evolved from an instructor who used the bare minimum of tech tools when teaching to one who can incorporate a wide range of those tools to teach. The creation and fine tuning of a mentoring plan for a teacher who is pretty much like I was is an excellent way in which to learn what we should be doing. My job at this point is to convince administration that it would be worthwhile to allow access to some of the websites that are currently restricted. They are more than likely concerned for student safety, because if they receive E-Rate funds they “are subject to the requirements put forth in the Children’s Internet Protection Act.” (Solomon & Schrum, 2007)

I practiced a full range of lifelong learning skills that I will be able to incorporate into my teaching of children as well as adults. The collaborative project forced me to stretch my negotiation skills. I will not forget what it took for me to be a good team player while involved in the group assignment. Collaboration is one of the highly touted skills deemed necessary for our 21^stcentury learners to be successful. Project-based learning coupled with collaboration and technology “encourages learning in depth by allowing students to use inquiry-based methods to engage in issues and questions that are rich, real, and relevant to their lives” (Solomon & Schrum, 2007). Construction of lessons for students that are relevant to their lives is a sure way to get them engaged in learning. Once a student is engaged, keeping them motivated may be as simple as allowing them to choose how they approach and display their learning. Catering to their learning styles will help ensure mastery of content being presented. Games, self-assessments, technology use, and project based learning activities give teachers the ability to cater a lesson to all types of learners. This course has been a valuable lesson in differentiated teaching techniques.



References:


Solomon, G. & Schrum, L. (2007). Web 2.0 new tools, new schools. Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education

Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.