Blog Reflection #2 - EDU 781

The process of the pilot experience was a very positive experience for myself. It allowed me to take a step back and look at the Technology Support Internship (TSI) course from a different perspective. As my change, I focused on creating an online database that contains troubleshooting solutions for my Technology Support Internship students. Before the guide, students were called to classrooms to help teachers fix a variety of technology issues. The only troubleshooting solutions that were available to students were past experiences. The guide was a collaborative effort created by TSI students and teachers, however, the technology department also provided feedback once they heard about the change.

Completing the pilot experience has made me realize the major need for the troubleshooting guide in TSI. This is a document that we should have started five years ago, however, it's better late than never! The guide has led to consistent troubleshooting techniques, which makes it easier to understand what the students have tried in the classroom when assisting a teacher. The technology department also collaborated on the troubleshooting guide with the TSI students and teachers and offered suggestions that we have never tried before. The plan for the future is to expand the guide and be more comprehensive to include Chromebook repairs and other problems that are seen in classrooms and offices. We have also begun to include daily tasks, such as, checking out/in loaner Chromebooks, how to handle students withdrawing from school mid-year, new students who arrive mid-year and what to do if Chromebooks are beyond repair.

The pilot experience has enhanced my growth as a future technology leader/change agent as it has helped me to see that technology within a school needs to be a collaborative team approach. I have also learned that technology use needs to be meaningful and provide students with authentic learning opportunities. Creating the troubleshooting guide has also helped me to identify areas that do not have a logistical process, but need one. The guide is a great resource for new teachers, substitute teachers, and new students to the course. I am hoping that students who are new to the course can be self-sufficient and rely on the guide to help them through situations, rather than always relying on the TSI teacher.

This was my last course to complete for the Technology Specialist endorsement and I have already completed the Technology Specialist endorsement test. It makes me feel accomplished to complete another endorsement. The courses required for the Technology Specialist endorsement, coupled with a few prior courses also made me eligible for the "Business, Marketing and Computer Ed - Programming" endorsement, which I was issued at the beginning of February. After speaking with my colleague that teaches the entry level coding classes, he is open to me taking a few of the sections as the coding program is growing. I am looking forward to the potential challenge of teaching this new course next year!

End of Course Reflection

This course, Digital and Media Literacy, has reminded me about the important of teaching students how to navigate, understand and reflect on resources that are available in the 21st century. Being a business and technology teacher I have always found it important to teach students the basics of technology and resources on the Internet. This course has given me a large perspective on the topic. It also helped me realize that I am not the only teacher who should be teaching these skills, but, it should be incorporated into very content area and all grade levels.

I will continue to grow as an educator of Digital and Media Literacy by intentionally teaching these skills, rather than just brushing over them quickly. There are so many resources available to educators, parents, and students I planned to incorporate these resources into my courses.

A few takeaways from this course include the major assignments: Lesson Plan, Issues in Educational Technology and Professional Development Session. All three assignments have application and relevance in my teaching career. They are artifacts that I can share with my colleagues. I also really enjoyed the Cool Tools assignment. I know I will incorporate many of those tools in the future. I am grateful for the opportunity to have learn from my peers and have so many ideas for the future.

End of the Journey: Proposal Process

Looking back at the Proposal Process, I have realized how many steps and details were necessary to be successful. I am excited about my proposal and plan on continuing to implement the plan during the second semester. I have been looking for ways to increase engagement and student interaction with the content in my Accounting class for awhile and I think I have finally come up with something that will “stick.” As a teacher, sometimes I think it is easy to come up with grandiose ideas, but they end up not coming to fruition because there was no plan in place. The Proposal Process required that I “put the brakes on” and really think through the idea, identify resources, and create a detailed timeframe. Without those steps it is hard to have an idea turn into something real.

As a Technology Specialist or Instructional Designer, I think it is important to help teachers “put the brakes on,” take a step back and really understand how the technology or strategy will help students learn before trying to implement something new in the classroom. We want teachers and students to be successful, so we need to guide the process by identifying the objective and finding the best strategies and tools to use. One step that I think is often missed is to go back and reflecting on the process or lesson. What worked? What didn’t work? These reflections will help educators improve their practice for the future, which will ultimately lead to student successes.

Reflection

Technology in education is not going away and it is important for educators to be aware of the topics and resources that are available. EDU 776 has helped to increase my knowledge on various topics in technology and education, but also provided me resources that I can use in my current classes.

The educational technology research that we review in module 5 helped me to understand where my school currently stands with technology resources, communication, and student usage and where we need to go. Making decisions based on the data will help us move forward in an appropriate way with our students, parents, and community.

One of my favorite aspects of this class was learning Web 2.0 tools that I can use with my students. I love to learn about practical tools and resources that can benefit my students and myself! There are so many great tools available, however, not enough time to fully explore them all. I really appreciated watching everyone's screencasts. I have already used Quiznetics, and I am planning on using Seesaw in the future. I love that students can share their work with friends and family.

Finally, I have really enjoyed using Blogger. It has been so easy and user-friendly. My head is racing with ways I can use Blogger in my personal life! I would love to share more photos and stories about what my family is up to and I love that I can make in a closed community and help keep my son's digital tattoo minimal.

Thanks for a great course!

Useful sites:
Teachers' Favored Web 2.0 Tools
How to Start a Family Blog