From+My+Heart

Dr. Stocker,

Throughout this semester, I learned a great deal about myself in regards to technology. I realized that I’m not as electronically challenged as I thought I was. Although each assignment required a great deal of effort, I was amazed that I could not only do them but do them well. I learned that preparation is one of the main responsibilities of a good teacher. Writing the unit made me recognize the importance in creating engaging and relevant lesson plans. I also learned that teachers have a multitude of resources at their fingertips for the 21st century student. I’m very proud that I was able to utilize different forms of technology throughout the lesson plans. I find it amazing how many free tools are available for the classroom. Now that I am familiar with some of these tools, the next time that I write a unit, I will have a better idea for what lessons properly coincide with different types of technology. However, I am concerned about student’s reactions to the forms of technology I use for my lessons. I want to make sure that every technology tool that I use is easy to do, accessible, and relevant. I want my students to be engaged and interested in the technology I use. Hence, I plan on getting feedback on most of the technology I use in the classroom. I want to know what worked and what did not work for them and encourage them to make suggestions. Moreover, I am concerned about classroom management or lack thereof. I want my students to be active participants in their learning instead of texting or talking the entire class period. With that being said, I know I will have to remain in control of my classroom and make sure that my students follow policies and procedures. Overall, I am extremely excited to see what kind of technology I can use for my own lessons. I want to see what presentations or assignments hold students attention and interest them in the subject matter. I look forward to creating an interactive classroom. As a teacher, I want to be a positive influence on my students and make a difference in their life. I want my students to enjoy learning and I’m excited to be able to provide the appropriate learning environment to do so. The “appropriate” environment must fit the 21st century student or else they will never want to learn any of the material. Consequently, technology will be integrated into everything I teach in some way, shape, or form. We as teachers must adjust to the changing times and so must our curriculum and methods of teaching if we want to truly educate our students.

Thank you for making me a better teacher!

Ashley