EDLD+5364

EDLD 5364

I am so excited and relieved to be taking this course about technology integration and using technology that works with educational theory about how students learn best at this point in my degree track! I think that this course will help me bring a lot of pieces together and serve as a very beneficial review / tool in my quest to differentiate instruction for my students as well as to integrate technology in my curriculum standards in a meaningful way. I can't wait to delve into "Using Techology with Classroom Instruction that Works" by Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn and Malenoski. After reading the overview and scanning the chapters, I know that this book will provide a lot of hands on and meaningful information that I can use with my students immediately. It will also serve to further develop my initial understandings about meaningful technology integration, differentiating instruction using technology as a tool, and development of my own theory and practice regarding classroom instruction.

I really connected with the article "If I Teach this way, am I Doing my Job? Constructivism in the Classroom," by Debra Sprague and Christopher Dede. I was taught in traditional classrooms, and even in college, I was taught to "receive" information from an instructor, memorize that information, and do well on a test. I did that very well, however, I did not retain what I needed in order to perform in real life situations. In college, I majored in finance. I aced courses in accounting, commercial banking, corporate finance, economics, etc. My transcript looked exceptional! Unfortunately, I was hired right out of college by a commerical bank to be a credit analyst and corporate lender. I did not really have a clue what that meant in real world terms! It was an eye opening (and totally miserable) experience for me, and I ultimately went back to school to become a teacher. The hands on courses as well as the student teaching requirement were a dream come true for me in terms of ultimate success in the education field! This shaped my views and commitment to the way I wanted to teach my own students, and I am committed to constructivism in my classroom. I often feel that I am missing the mark in terms of planning and utilization of engaging technology that promotes higher level thinking with my students, but I am committed none the less to giving it 100% of my effort. I am really looking forward to this course as a means of helping me along my "constructivism quest."