6711: Final Reflection

My personal theory of learning in technology is to establish grade level skills, having every year build upon the previous one. While I establish essential skills, I continue to take great strides in encouraging exploration and developing skills beyond what I formally teach, in that respect my personal theory of learning has not changed. What has changed is a deeper understanding of different learning styles and how technology can aid in engaging all learners. “Individuals all have preferences as to how they best receive information. Each of us has a preferred sensory gateway, that is, the sense that is most effective for receiving and decoding information” (Lever-Duffy & McDonald, 2008, p. 13). When presented with a number of key theorists and their theories, an educator can select one, or pieces of some, but in the end our main focus is to provide the best possible learning environment for each student. That may sound like a monumental task, but as we get to know our students, we learn what method of delivery works best for each one of them. For me, that means incorporating text, images, movement, music, and nature into as many interpersonal and intrapersonal projects as possible, allowing students freedom within the structure of a lesson.

Expanding my repertoire, with the use of Spiderscribe.net, wikis and blogs gave my students in grades third through sixth a taste of local collaboration. It also gave me a taste of collaboration and lit, in me, a desire to take it further than just local, as I believe students will benefit from this first step into global awareness and collaboration. “To find out the skills students need, look, for example, at the work of the Partnership for 21^st Century Skills, which highlights such areas as computer and technology skills, critical thinking and problem solving, teamwork and collaboration, ethics and responsibility, and global awareness” (Prensky, 2008).  

My first long-term goal is to continue to explore, learn and teach technology-integrated lessons, and to give classroom teachers skills, building their confidence in technology integration. To accomplish this, I will be exploring Lynda.com this summer, and beyond, learning new software, such as Final Cut and Flash and brushing up my skills in a number of other applications, such as Photoshop and Dreamweaver.

My second long-term goal is to prepare students, to the best of my ability, for a future that is not yet on our radar. Though unsure of what the future may old, I can instill confidence, curiosity, skills and an understanding of the technology devices that are available now. Using that information will hopefully allow my students ease, as they continue through life surrounded by technology and the gifts and challenges that come with technology.

References

Lever-Duffy, J., & McDonald, J. (2008). Theoretical foundations (Laureate Education, Inc., custom ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Prensky, M. (2008, March). Turning on the lights. Educational Leadership, 65(6), 40–45.