End of Class Reflection - Bringing It All Together

There are always mixed feelings for me as a educator when a class comes to an end. I am of course relieved to have a break in the stress of balancing work, home, and class. However, the teacher in me is sad to know the class is coming to an end because it has been such a great way to learn about new technologies and see how other teachers are using them in such creative ways.

The biggest thing that I have learned through this class is that I don't have to compromise instructional strategies like scaffolding when using technology in the classroom. The STAIR project helped me to learn through experience that I can slow things down for students who need key concepts explained in smaller, more manageable chunks. I also liked how I could use a program I already knew how to use (PowerPoint) in a brand new way. I can also create STAIRs to teach my students when I can not be directly with them.

I really enjoyed learning about the web-based technologies. I am very frustrated however that so much of those great technologies are blocked in my classroom. While cleaning out my email inbox this week, I realized that I personally was the one who requested for Weebly to be blocked in the fall of 2008. We had a student creating a website that included gang related pictures and pictures of her using drugs during class. Not knowing much about the site, I requested for it to be blocked. I now regret that move and wish that I had found another solution to the issue at hand. It also helps me think about how some of these great technologies can be used inappropriately if we do not monitor our students closely. I am glad to say that I know I have the Vision program in the computer lab that allows me to monitor and control my students computers, as well as do demonstrations on their monitors. Not only can I argue that Weebly can be unblocked because I have been given the tools to help monitor my students, I now have the means to demonstrate to my students how to use the technology I am learning about through these great MSU classes.

Through this class (CEP811) I truly have achieved some of my personal goals of creating both a webpage and a webquest. These were goals I had for myself long before I had considered the Educational Technology Program. I guess I just needed a push, guidance, and some requirements to help me achieve those goals. I am grateful for that. My new goals, as a result of this class, is to continue to develop my own computer based instructional resources. I would like to create more webquests to use in the future. I would also like to continue creating STAIRs. Knowing how long I spent on them for this class, I know I will have to set aside time to work on those two things. I guess that's why we get summers off. (I say that sarcastically, of course!)