First Podcast

http://podcastmachine.com/podcasts/13592

My podcast includes interviewing my two cousins who are currently in the second and fourth grade. They were introduced to technology at a young age and use it everyday.

A Glance at my Learning

Natalie Laverne Shirley

Reflection Paper

Course 4

Professor: Theresa Pepe

06/12/2012

            Developing skills of the 21^st Century is a necessity for teachers in the classroom today. Throughout the past eight weeks I have learned of the implementation and need for technology integrated lessons for our students. While many people still feel driven to the methodological ways of teaching I have seen the changes that teachers must incorporate to the classroom for our students to become functional in society.

            Teaching is a difficult, yet passionate profession to delve. The more hands-on activities that we involve our students with deepen their knowledge of understanding. I have learned that with technology implemented into our lessons our students will be able to learn on a level at which they have never dreamed

            Technology and collaboration are two of the greatest changes we can implement with our children. Blogs, wikis, and podcasts are all forms of technology that I have never used before entering into this course at Walden. Furthermore, I see the advantages of such technology and the collaboration aspects that they have for our students. Skills of the 21^st Century must be met within the classroom no matter the difficulty it puts upon teachers theses are a few ways for this to happen.

            Thornburg stated in last weeks’ video, ”We must now move from a director position in the classroom to becoming the facilitator.” Since the beginning of this fourth course I have tried to take less control over the classroom. I have given my students assignments in which they must collaborate and use technology to find the answers. In this process I have made myself walk around the classroom and answer the needs of the students instead of teaching the material to the students. I have a better understanding of the importance of this change due to the videos and readings I this course.

            Students’ achievement should be the greatest goal for our teachers. I have found that not only do I want my students to learn, I want them to grow and grasp the concepts. Furthermore, I have found that creating a classroom that involves technology and collaboration fits the needs of the students and can be met on a daily basis. If we create an environment that prepares out students for the society of today and the future our students will continue to flourish outside of the classroom. I plan to implement blogs, wikis, and podcasts in my classroom to create an environment that my students’ needs. The desire for myself to keep learning of the wonderful things happening in other classrooms will allow me to stay active on my current blog and possibly join several which implement technology.

My first goal that I hope to accomplish in the next two years is to have a set aside computer time for my students each day for at least forty-five minutes. This will allow my students to become well acquainted with blog, wikis, and podcasts. They will learn of the importance of collaboration. I plan to get this task started earlier rather than later with permission from the administration at my school. I will show my administrators my reasons for wanting to complete tasks in the computer lab and what we will be working on each week.

 My second goal is to setup a classroom wiki in which students and I as the teacher work together to solve problems and share what we know. This project will allow me as the teacher to become more of a facilitator instead of a director. I will participate in this Wiki to help students when they are confused and to monitor the site in which the wiki is found. I plan to accomplish this goal by setting aside classroom computer and cell phone time to incorporate all students.

        I have learned an immense amount of knowledge about the technology that can be utilized in the classrooms. Eight weeks ago I could have never imagined myself using a blog or even setting up a wiki. I am so grateful to have learned the new strategies for the classroom that teach students new ways of learning and engaging them in the process.