Course-Embedded+Reflections+EDLD+5368

Self–Assessment
This class made me aware of the type of teacher I was categorized into which is Constructivism/Interpretivism of the Instructional Model. I love teaching students and then letting them apply their knowledge to real world situations. Again, I don’t teach your normal every day class. I teach LOTC a leadership class so how else would you evaluate a student’s understanding of being a great citizen but through application. Some classes may require that your teaching/learning theory change to accommodate your students capacity of learning and understanding. Wiggins and Tighe stated, “Yet the idea of understanding is surely distinct from the idea of knowing something. We frequently say things like, “Well, he knows a lot of math, but he doesn’t really understand its basis,” or, “She knows the meaning of the words but doesn’t understand the sentence.” When a student truly understands is when they have been assessed on applying what was taught to real life scenarios given by the teacher in class, home or field based application. If the student does not understand, the information taught remains in the classroom never to be thought about or applied.

Online education is a great resource to use for the advancement of instruction. This concept is not new to me because I begin studying online when I was working on my bachelor’s degree. My district has also implemented the Quia Web online program that will allow teachers to create educational games, quizzes, class Web pages, and surveys. This is a great way to assess the learning skills of students in and out of the classroom. SchooIogy was a new concept that was introduced during this class. Initially, it was difficult to use the program and maybe because we were the first class to access it. The Quia Web program is more user friendly and I have more activities available because the district pays for the account which is an upgrade.

Learn as a Learner
I am in the process of developing new and innovative ways of using online learning within my classroom. Online education can be used for kindergarten through 12th grade just as simple as distance learning education in college. This concept can and have be used for make-up work, home-work, surveys, brainstorming for group projects, tutorials, accelerated credit recovery and advanced learning. Using the “backward design” model of Wiggins and McTighe gave me a lot of experience on how to build courses that are meaningful for students. We currently use online technology for accelerated credit recovery for struggling high school students preparing to graduate in our district. They use this program, at their own pace; to recover credit in all core subjects in order to graduate on time. The netbooks are used in middle school for tutorials and other than that the students are taught Business Computing Information Systems (BCIS) in high school and technology applications in middle school.


 * Lifelong Learning Skills **

Distance education has many opportunities to assist teachers, not only college but kindergarten through 12th grade as well. These tools will assist me in teaching teachers how to implement technology into their classroom which gives our “digital natives” differentiated learning techniques. There is not a student; I know of, that would resist using technology in or out of the classroom. Educators should continuously strive to keep up with a constant changing world and technology is here to stay with constant progression for the future. This class was very beneficial because it gave me the tools to teach my students on the level that they deserve. It has also given me the tools to teach teachers how to implement technology into the curriculum with a creative twist. I want my students to have access to learning 24/7. I don’t want them having an excuse about missing assignments, tests and quizzes. They will be able to learn everything that is taught at school at home as well. I want all students to be successful so why not use the tools that they enjoy to teach them. This is a great concept of learning and can be used creatively to make learning enjoyable and easy for students. This will make our job easier by grading student tests and quizzes online which saves on time and materials. Online learning is a great concept in every aspect of education and is well worth using to create an environment that is conducive for learning.

Technology currently has a huge impact on the business world. We’re able to communicate with more people in less time. Once our students are impacted by this concept there will be endless possibilities for them to succeed in the business world and beyond. There is not a professional office in the world that does not have a computer of some sort. Technology is inevitably the only way to success and without it or comprehending it our students will not have the same opportunities as others.