When I
reflect back on my personal learning theory I can honestly say that my theory
has not changed but following this course I have added so many tools to my
teaching repertoire. I now feel that I
have the knowledge to reach the diverse sample of learners that I teach. Dr. Orey has touched on a number of learning
theories and strategies that I cannot wait to implement in my classroom. This class also helped put a lot of what I
already do into words. I found that I
use a lot of these theories without understanding that I am using them. After this class, my efforts now have more
direction and I feel comfortable knowing when to use each theory and
strategy. I know when to use dual coding,
I realize that I have an emphasis on behaviorism and that I use technology more
for an instructional strategy that a teaching tool. These are very important to know and
understand, those things that are good and those things that need to be reeled
in like only using technology for a teaching tool need to be monitored.
The
biggest adjustment that I will make to my instructional practice regarding
technology integration is not in the realm of using technology, but in how I
use technology. I believe that I am a
great user of technology as an instructional strategy, but I really lack in
using it as a learning tool. I would
love to use blogs and voice threads with my students. The blogs will allow the students to interact
in an environment that they are comfortable in.
The blog also allows for running dialogue between students and
topics. Maybe a student does not like to
speak in front of people, but feels extremely comfortable commenting online,
this helps them. I love learning about
the voice thread. Not only is it down
right cool, but the voice thread allows the students to use both linguistic and
non-linguistic representations for the purpose of learning. It is very easy to use and permits peer
review and interaction. The course
talked about not having technology for technology’s sake and with blogs and
voice thread software the technology has a profound importance. I cannot wait to use virtual field trips in
my class. I teach 10th Grade
Global Studies and the Holocaust is a major topic. To actually tour the Holocaust Museum will be
a great instructional tool.
There
are a few changes I would like to make with my instruction regarding
technology. One change is that I would
like to transform the SMARTBoard from an instructional tool to a Learning
tool. I would like to see students up
and moving around the classroom and manipulating the board instead of using it
as a high priced projector. My second
long term goal is to implement one project per unit that utilizes voice thread technology,
blogs, wikis and the like. I feel that
it does not have to be a major project, but that the extra technology and time
with content can only help student learning.
As
this class closes, I am finishing the course with knowledge that I had not
anticipated learning. I am confident
that I can apply the lessons of this class to my classroom and truly benefit my
students. Whether they are creating
PowerPoint presentations or Voice threads, the technology I use in my classroom
will have a purpose and create meaningful learning experiences
