The 411 on 810/811...My Personal Learing Reflection X's 2

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The last 8 weeks in CEP810 and CEP811 have flown by...I can't believe that these classes are coming to an end. These past 8 weeks have been a roller coaster ride academically, emotionally, and physically. I would have never believed that so much could happen in such a short period of time! As winter is slowly melting into what I am sure we all hope to be a beautiful and warm spring, I want to take a moment to reflect on my time in these classes before heading back down this road I am on. Over the past 8 weeks I have taken both CEP810 and CEP811 together. I honestly did not know what to expect when I chose to begin my coursework in Educational Technology. Yes, I know and understand the terms education and technology. Yes, I had a general understanding of how the two fit together and what I believed to be educational technology. But, I was not sure where the professors would lead us and what areas they would focus on. In retrospect, these classes have been alot like driving down a country highway. At times, you can fly down a country highway, driving as fast as the road will allow you to go. At other times, you need to slow down for obstacles, to get your bearings, to visit with folks, and to just enjoy your surroundings. I have always enjoyed traveling country roads and this journey was no different.

Looking back over the coursework, I am reminded at how much we covered and how diversified the subject matter was. We did not just study technology tools or lesson plans that we could plug technology in to or resources on the internet. Instead, we learned about each aspect of educational technology and how they are intertwined. I always believed in differentiated instruction and blending new technology with proven teaching techniques. I never realized how much more was out there though. Two tools that I will take with me when designing my lessons are Instructional Design Plans and UDL. Both of these tools made me stop and truly focus on the goals and objectives of my lessons, assuring that they completed the task I had in mind and that they were effective lessons for all of my students. These tools will be invaluable to me in the future.

Another lesson that I have learned throughout my educational career is not to reinvent the wheel. If someone has designed the lesson I have in mind, use it. In learning about WebQuest's and in discovering MERLOT I have found two resources that will allow me to find well designed lessons that can be plugged straight in to my classrooms. These sites are filled with great tools and lessons for teachers that will make our lives easier and our instructional methods stronger for our students. I will also continue to be active with MACUL and utilize the resources found on their site and in the postings.

The biggest thing I have always believed when it comes to Educational Technology is that integrating technology into education just to do it is often times more damaging than never using technology at all. These classes have only intensified that belief. When I find a new tool or resource, my first thought is to incorporate it into everything. However, I have learned to step back and evaluate each item, looking for where it best fits into my instructional style and where it will give both me and my students the "biggest bang for our buck." A few of my favorite things that I am taking from these courses that I can't wait to implement in class are Web2.0 tools such as my RSS page, my Blog, my Wiki, my Delicious account, and my Twitter page (which my 16 yr old niece is using to fill up my inbox on my phone...LOL). I also can't wait to implement StAIR's and my new found ability to create my own webpage! The fact that I now have a webpage is pretty cool for me I must say...LOL.

The result from these classes is that I have accomplished many of the goals that I had set for myself. I have learned how to evaluate technology and effectively implement it in to my teaching. I have found new tools that will benefit me both professionally and academically. I have grown my Personal Learning Network. And, I have built upon my prior knowledge. The biggest thing that I leave with however is a reassurance that we must all be life-long learners. For everything that I learned in these classes, I realized that there is an infinite amount of knowledge out there waiting to be discovered. And with technology it is changing at an astronomical rate. My number one goal is to not stop seeking knowledge. I will continue to learn new methods and discover new tools. By continuing on in my Master's coursework and hopefully completing my Doctorate one day, I will continue to grow academically. By maintaining and growing my Personal Learning Network I will continue to find new and exciting ways to utilize technology in the classroom and create effective and engaging lessons for my students. And, I will continue to use and grow the tools that I currently have. I look forward to seeing what the next 8 weeks, 8 months, and 8 years has in store!