Module+1+Reflection

Reflection Prompt:
===How has your knowledge of technology standards changed after this module? Reflect on your own use of technology standards in your classroom and personal use. ===

//Description: //

Before this class I didn't have any knowledge of the technology standards that were available. To be honest, once I started reading about them I began to wonder if I was in the right program as it seems that so much is directed towards k-12. I teach at the post-secondary level so while I'm not "held" to the same standards I think learning the standards that are expected in k-12 will help me at the post-secondary level. Now that we are embarking on the "digital age" it's important for every educator to understand and use the technologies that are available to our students. One of the things in the booklet that we read really stood out, "Today's teachers must be responsible for providing a learning environment that takes students beyond the walls of their classrooms and into a world of endless opportunities through effective infusion of relevant content with up-to-date and emerging tools and resources" (National Education Technology Standards for Teachers, 2nd Ed., p. 4).

//Impact//:

After reading about the technology standards I learned that it is our responsibility, as educators, to ensure that we stay one step ahead of our students in global learning. There are several reasons for this. First, we must facilitate and inspire learning and creativity through the use of technology. I feel that the use of Microsoft PowerPoint has become "boring" to students. At one time, this was the emerging technology in the classroom but really it has become a "high-tech" form of the overhead projector. In order to engage the students in the digital age we have to continuously bring new technologies into the classroom. Second, we must design digital -age learning experiences and assessments. Again, this is only going to ensure that we are engaging our students in the way that interests them. And lastly, we must promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility. We need to inform our students of the right and wrong way to use technology. Anyone can post things on the Internet and students need to know if a website or information that they've found is valid as well as legal.

//Intent//:

What I will do now that I know the technology standards is to try to implement them into my courses. I may not be held to the k-12 standards but the students that are going to be coming through my classroom have left high school where these standards were implemented. I feel that it is my responsibility to continue with these standards so that the students do not feel that they are going backward when they hit my class!