At the beginning of this course, I wrote that I believe students learn as a result of repeated exposure to the materials or concepts being presented. The exposure should be varied and touch more than one learning style. The process should be student-driven, and students need to have a reason to learn the material. I aligned myself with the constructivist perspective. While I still believe this is true, I have refined my personal theory of learning as a result of my learning in this course.
The social learning theory is my new personal theory of learning. It makes sense that students learn best when they are creating an artifact while they are working together (Laureate Education, Inc., 2009). When students work together, they can bounce ideas off of each other. They can build confidence by encouraging each other. This model is important because it closely matches the real world that students should be preparing to enter.
I am now certain that technology must be incorporated in the classroom, preferably as a learning tool. “Technology should be transparent” (Laureate Education, Inc., 2009). Teachers should not use technology for the sake of using technology. Rather, technology should enhance learning. Educational technologies make it easy to practice the social learning theory. Using blogs and wikis, students can access learning anytime, anywhere. They can collaborate with other students, even when they are not present in the classroom.
I have already started making adjustments to instructional practice regarding technology integration as a result of my learning in this course. I initiated a class wiki. My students are excited to get started on a math dictionary on the wiki. We are in the planning stage for this. I have recorded several VoiceThreads for my students to use. I really want them to begin to make their own VoiceThreads as they see math in the world around them. Then, they will be creating artifacts to enhance their learning.
My repertoire of instructional skills has expanded exponentially as a result of this course. At times, it is completely overwhelming! I want to incorporate everything I have learned, right now. The hardest part is to gradually introduce the technology and make sure that I am using it for the right purpose and not just because it is new and exciting to me.
I have been reading about the flipped classroom concept quite a bit lately. I must say that I am intrigued. One of my long-term goals as far as changes I would like to make to my instructional practice regarding technology integration would be to flip my classroom. I would integrate technology into the flipped classroom by creating podcasts or vodcasts of my instruction for students to view at home. Then, I could use my class time to do more hands-on activities, assist students who needed extra help, and enrich the students who are ready to go deeper into the content. My strategy for achieving this goal is to start making podcasts and vodcasts now, so that I will be ahead of the game when I actually flip the classroom.
This leads to my second long term goal of changes I would like to make to my instructional practice regarding technology integration: I would like for every student in my classroom to have access to technology all day, every day. Whether it is an iPad, laptop, or SmartPhone, I think that we need to put technology into our students’ hands. Technology provides a platform for using several different learning strategies at the same time, making differentiation possible for all students. “…technology allows teachers to differentiate instruction more efficiently by providing a wider variety of avenues for learning that reach students of divergent readiness levels, interests, and learning styles” (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, & Malenoski, 2007, p. 3). I will continue to seek ways to provide technology for my students. I will look for grant-writing opportunities, talk to my principal, and talk to the technology specialist for our district.
This course has opened my eyes to the possibilities of technology. I will continue to seek out ways to incorporate technology into my classroom. I will encourage my students to create artifacts with technology. This is just the beginning!
References
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2008). Social Learning Theories. Baltimore: Author.
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2008). Technology: Instructional Tool vs. Learning Tool. Baltimore: Author.
Pitler H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
