Reflection
Filed Under (Uncategorized) by Sarah Stere on 20-04-2010
This class took me out of my comfort zone, but I also learned a lot. I learned how to identify an emerging technology, explored various emerging technologies and developed a game plan of how I could implement an emerging technology in my classroom. I now have a better understanding of many emerging technologies and feel better equipped to utilize and advocate for them in my classroom and my school.
In learning the difference between emerged and emerging technologies from three different perspectives, I had to determine which definition worked best for me. Ultimately, I had to go with Soloway’s perspective. When a technology is emerged, it is cheaper, it is heavily advertised and talked about, and is essential in our lives (Laureate Education, 2009). It was fascinating to think about the evolution of technologies over the years and which technologies have walked the path of emerging to emerged to obsolete. It is fascinating to think about what new technologies could arise in the future that will make our current technologies obsolete.
Learning about the different leadership styles helped me to reflect upon my own leadership style and determine my strengths and weaknesses in this area. Knowing what each style has to offer, both positively and negatively, I can reassess some of the situations I have been in with others and how I could have handled it differently. Not only did I learn about change through leadership, but I also learned about change agents that can transform technology in education. Technology should allow for democratization of knowledge, participatory learning, authentic learning and multimodal learning (Lemke, C., & Coughlin, E., 2009). Knowing how a technology supports these change agents allows us to advocate for its adoption.
The next several weeks I encountered the unknown (or maybe little known) when learning about course management software and online learning, MUVEs and digital gaming. I have not had much experience with these technologies other than our master’s program). I had not thought about how these technologies could be used in my classroom or with my students prior to this course. I have been able to determine the many benefits to using each of these technologies with my students. I also now feel much better equipped to share these benefits with and advocate for adoption of any or all of these technologies with my administration. As discussed in our discussion posts, I believe it is beneficial to start with training the teachers and helping them to feel comfortable before moving to integrate it into the classrooms. Teachers who feel more comfortable and confident with these new technologies are more likely to use them and get students interested in using them.
The “Changing the Game at Your School” assignment allowed me to put all of the pieces we have learned about throughout the course together. I decided to use digital gaming, and more specifically Leapsters, to help the students in my classroom. Leapsters offer games and activities across the curriculum areas and it is on a level that most students can be independently successful with it. I believe the Leapster offers built-in differentiation because it can help with remediation and students can also extend their learning by trying more difficult games on their own. I feel confident that I can explain the benefits of this technology with my administrators in order to try to influence their adoption in our school. Researching grants has also allowed me to learn about what avenues are available to help acquire technology during these tough economic times.
Learning about the Horizon Report has brought an important resource to my attention that will allow me to stay abreast of the latest technologies that are available. I am still by no means an expert on any of the emerging technologies we learned about throughout this course. I do, however, feel that I have acquired a strong arsenal of knowledge and skills that will allow me to be a strong change agent. References:
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009a). Emerging vs. Emerged Technologies [Motion picture]. New and emerging technologies. Baltimore: Soloway, E.
Lemke, C., & Coughlin, E. (2009, September). The change agents. Educational Leadership, 67(1), 54-59. Reproduced with permission of Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development in the format electronic usage via Copyright Clearance Cente.r.