One setting that I believe I would enjoy is my current path. I love working in a public school setting. I am very passionate about making a difference in the lives of students. I miss working with my own classroom on some days. But the sense of professional accomplishment I receive from conducting a staff training or modeling new technology in the classroom helps me through those times. Though at times I feel a frustration with the philosophy that technology should drive instruction. My goal with my degree is to change this concept. The needs of the student and the curriculum demands need to be the driving force. Even if it means having to spend money or educate the tech support staff. For example, not allowing students/staff to use USB thumb drives out of fear of viruses. This memory saving device is too vital to not find a workable solution. I hope my degree will empower me to find workable solutions to issues such as these--where the fear of the unknown does not cause the process to become stagnant and cumbersome.
However, having taken this course one of my other goals has resurfaced with a bang. I started working in an elementary school as an assistant and have traveled from there to the county office, middle school, and high school--as my educational levels have increased. But one of my hidden desires was to work on the college level. I find myself looking these past few weeks into switching from a MAEd to a MS degree. I could take the 6 courses for the add on certification and do the MS degree so that I can continue with my job as tech faciltator but also have the opportunity to explore a part time job on the college level. Before all is said and done--I really want to work in higher education. I feel that I would be using my knowledge to educate others and also enjoy the fact that I am challenging myself. I would have my own "class of students" but also working with adults. Distance education would be an excellent starting point for me.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Monday, November 3, 2008
The instructional media that interest me range from the old to the cutting edge. Some of the older technology, in my situation, needs to be revisited for a new perspective, as well as the newer types.
LCD with a variety of software and hardware. I use the LCD as a tool with basic software. For example an interactive whiteboard, PowerPoint. I now need to use it for higher level skills with the software. For example, the highlight tool in PowerPoint or a document camera with the interactive whiteboard. This tech is for lecturing, modeling for students, and then students using the media themselves as small/group projects.
Pod casts/Webcams—utilizing it more but finding out more about Internet Safety with this tool. I have videoconferenced with another class in my school. However, because of so many safety issues and AUP’s , I have been hesitant to expand outside of my school. For example, the other class saying or doing something inappropriate—either sexual or aggressive. Methods are class discussion and modeling.
Blogging—I have done it within a class but I want to explore collaborating outside of the school—perhaps with a buddy class in another geographical setting. Part of this hesitance is a lack of knowledge of my local and state mandates. There have been times in the past when DPI has sent out acceptable sister schools—limiting your ability to decide who to contact. But I really want to educate myself on these issues this year. I would like to use this tool as a means to discuss literature. The methods are discussion, modeling, facilitating, and group/individual projects.
Skyping with professionals with high school students as a form of modeling with them. It is similar to a virtual field trip or virtual guest speaker. I think it is so important for students to see a profession in action for them to understand the importance of the subject matter and skills being taught in school. For example, the importance of being on time and present in class everyday. By having a chance to speak to others in the "real world" means so much more to them than hearing it from a teacher.
Distance Learning—I want to become certified in this area. I know Blackboard but I want to learn about Moodle. With Moodling, I see the chance to empower students as independent learners—more real life activities. With Moodling it is class discussion, group/independent projects/ and lecture notes. Also, it has excellent evaluation pieces.
Performance Technology is an exciting new area for me. I firmly believe in working towards a self-reflection/improvement process. In my previous job, teaching computer skills in a high school, I used a wide variety of resources. But, I concentrated on ways to teach the students how to use the media—not using the media to teach them. For example, teaching them how to use a digital video camera. However, I never used the video option to record my steps for them to replay, at their computer, when they had a question about how to accomplish a task.
LCD with a variety of software and hardware. I use the LCD as a tool with basic software. For example an interactive whiteboard, PowerPoint. I now need to use it for higher level skills with the software. For example, the highlight tool in PowerPoint or a document camera with the interactive whiteboard. This tech is for lecturing, modeling for students, and then students using the media themselves as small/group projects.
Pod casts/Webcams—utilizing it more but finding out more about Internet Safety with this tool. I have videoconferenced with another class in my school. However, because of so many safety issues and AUP’s , I have been hesitant to expand outside of my school. For example, the other class saying or doing something inappropriate—either sexual or aggressive. Methods are class discussion and modeling.
Blogging—I have done it within a class but I want to explore collaborating outside of the school—perhaps with a buddy class in another geographical setting. Part of this hesitance is a lack of knowledge of my local and state mandates. There have been times in the past when DPI has sent out acceptable sister schools—limiting your ability to decide who to contact. But I really want to educate myself on these issues this year. I would like to use this tool as a means to discuss literature. The methods are discussion, modeling, facilitating, and group/individual projects.
Skyping with professionals with high school students as a form of modeling with them. It is similar to a virtual field trip or virtual guest speaker. I think it is so important for students to see a profession in action for them to understand the importance of the subject matter and skills being taught in school. For example, the importance of being on time and present in class everyday. By having a chance to speak to others in the "real world" means so much more to them than hearing it from a teacher.
Distance Learning—I want to become certified in this area. I know Blackboard but I want to learn about Moodle. With Moodling, I see the chance to empower students as independent learners—more real life activities. With Moodling it is class discussion, group/independent projects/ and lecture notes. Also, it has excellent evaluation pieces.
Performance Technology is an exciting new area for me. I firmly believe in working towards a self-reflection/improvement process. In my previous job, teaching computer skills in a high school, I used a wide variety of resources. But, I concentrated on ways to teach the students how to use the media—not using the media to teach them. For example, teaching them how to use a digital video camera. However, I never used the video option to record my steps for them to replay, at their computer, when they had a question about how to accomplish a task.
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