For one of my masters classes, we've been asked to write a reflection on our learning throughout the course. To say that I've enjoyed this class would be an understatement. It got to the very heart of what I love. Using technology in the classroom.
While I still am not completely comfortable with wikis, I feel that is what I learned the most about in this class. Even though we only spent a short time working with wikis, I was extremely unfamiliar with them to begin with, but now, I feel a little more at ease. I am in the process of trying to develop a simple way to use a wiki with my fifth graders. I want to start with something simplistic as they are learning to use the tool, but I also want it to be purposeful so that they see value in the process and product.
The idea of using technology as a purposeful tool is what had helped to deepen my understanding of the teaching and learning processes. It is so easy just to use technology as just a different way of doing the same thing. Dr. David Thornburg brought this to light in one of our very first media segments for this class. There is a difference between doing different things and doing the same things differently. A PowerPoint presentation is no different than a poster presentation. However, it can be different if we think outside the box. Make it interactive, incorporate audio, video, etc. Students have to be allowed and encouraged to do things differently! If our goal when assigning a student project is to assess students on what they know and can do, does it matter what vehicle they use? No! Technology gives innumerable opportunities for students to show us what they know and can do. As teachers, we need to get out of their way and let them show us.
This leads directly into the shift from teacher-centered classrooms to student-centered classrooms. In order for technology to be used at its full potential, it is imperative for this shift to take place. Teachers can no longer stand in the front of the classroom and expect students to open up their minds and have a transfer of knowledge just happen. As a former biology teacher of mine used to say to his students, "The learning process does not happen by osmosis. You can sleep with your biology book under your pillow and pray for the knowledge to transfer, but you'll never learn anything unless you get off your duff and do something." He was quite the character, but there is a nugget of truth to his statement. As teacher's we must adopt that mantra as well. We can't expect learning to take place if we just try to transfer our own knowledge over to students. Until they act, and until teachers encourage and coach them to act, learning will be come stagnant.
As I look forward toward expanding my knowledge to help increase student achievement, I will continue to use blogs as a resource for instructional tools and ideas. I want to search for resources to help me improve my usage of wikis and blogs in my fifth grade classroom.
The first goal I would like to set for myself and my fifth grade classroom. I would like to incorporate wikis into two of the four units I teach in reading/language arts. I would also like to start a wiki for fifth grade math. I'm not entirely sure how I will do this, but it is something that I would like to look at over the summer and hopefully begin implementation in the fall of next school year.
The second goal is to help our elementary go 1:1. Right now most classrooms are around 2:1, but with a mixture of tools. For example, in my room we have 8 macbooks, 3 iPads, and to iMacs. I'd like to see each student in grades 4-6 have a macbook and in K-3 have iPads. I will work with our Technology coordinator to see if there is a grant that I could assist in writing to help aid with the purchase. Also, I would like to offer myself to help lead professional development in the uses of technology in the elementary classroom.
When I look back to my checklist from week one, I feel that I have moved from "sometimes" to "often" in a couple categories. The first two go together. I feel I have done a better job of modeling reflective practices and also enabling student to take responsibility of their own learning. In the past eight weeks, I have really encouraged my students to look at their work and their effort. I've been better about offering the rubric for grading as they are working so that they have a clear understanding of the expectation, and I can say that the quality of work that I am seeing from them has improved! Then next category in which I've made some gains is seeking out other professionals to further my professional growth. I have greatly enjoyed and gained insight from searching out and following blogs, as well as the discussions I have had with my colleagues within our discussion forums.
This has been an incredibly informative and transformative class for myself and I am excited to continue to further my education.
