EDUC 6711 Course Reflection

Course Reflection

            The personal learning theory that I developed in week one of this course was that students learn best when they can refer to their prior knowledge to help them store new information.  Whether it is making comparisons to similar experiences students have encountered or turning learned words into mnemonic devices to help them learn new material a great deal.  After being in this course, I have realized that not only should I draw on past experience and prior knowledge but I should incorporate my instructional strategies with technology tools to help create new experiences with new knowledge.  I have learned about many different educational tools to incorporate into my lessons to create learning activities that give diverse learners the opportunity to learn in ways that help them understand mathematical concepts.  Even though I knew about things like forums, blogs, wikis, videos and graphic organizers I never knew how it would affect students’ success in learning or how I would incorporate these things into the classroom.  Knowing how technology tools aide students’ learning, it will help me target student learning goals more accurately and precisely. 

An immediate technology tool that I will use is an electronic gradebook that will help my students review their progress by being able to access their grades online.  Students will be able to view the homework assignments they have done, haven’t done, and view their grades of assignments or exams.  Access to homework assignments and additional links to resources on an online resource that students can view regularly will keep them informed about how they can do better in the course.  Another piece of technology that I’d like to incorporate is the use of electronic clickers in daily assessment.  Students can answer questions with immediate visual feedback about the question to clear up errors or mistakes made.  Using clickers can help engage every student in the classroom compared to just asking a few students to post solutions onto a chalkboard.  In terms of instructional strategies, I’d also like to incorporate differentiated groups to work on problem based learning (PBL) activities through the technology tools learned from this course.  Using PBL activities in the classroom will immerse my students in the mathematical concepts they are learning because of the experiences they will create for themselves with the technology they are familiar with. 

One long-term goal that I’d like to make in my instructional practice regarding technology integration in the classroom is to use current applications that many of students are using for educational purposes.  To turn Twitter, Instagram, or Memes into educational tools will help reinforce new material or remind students about assignments.  Staying up to date on current software, applications and technology will be a constant learning experience that I’d like to take as a hobby.  Another long-term goal that I’d like to make in my instructional practice on technology integration would be to change the physical environment to the school’s computer lab to access resources that can help students in PBL activities.  Giving students the opportunities to research and apply mathematical concepts to their activity will help create experiences that will reinforce new knowledge.  Visiting the computer lab is something I would like to take my students to at least once a month.  Integrating technology into my classroom is something that I’d do for the rest of teaching career.