Throughout this course we have worked on building both theoretical and practical knowledge and skills in order to effectively implement technology into the classroom. My biggest takeaway in this course has been the importance of bridging the gap between UDL and technology for all students. Technology is one of the most adaptable features within a classroom and can be used for so many endless projects and learning styles that not taking advantage of these opportunities is a loss for all.
What I've learned about myself throughout this course has been that I am curious and excited about new technology and extensions offered online. Technology is ever changing and new options are available almost daily. While there is often a learning curb for teachers, becoming familiar with new technology is always beneficial. A strength of mine with technology is that I am willing and eager to learn and will actively seek out people or websites, videos and resources that are able to explain new tools to me. I do however find that some tech that crosses into robotics/coding is often beyond my understanding and much assistance is required in order to gain a small understanding.
How I plan to use technology in my own practice includes tools for organization, comprehension and engagement. I really enjoyed learning about apps that are available to aid both students and teachers to organize their thoughts such as brainstorming apps, as well as apps that keeps track of dates and timelines such as Agenda, available for both IOS and Android. Comprehension is also an area that I hope to address with technology by adding new depth and methods to how students can access information and make connections to texts and their own schemas. Finally I hope to increase engagement in my classroom though technology via games, interactive lessons and greater voice and choice for students in how they present their own learning.
Personally and professionally I hope to use what I've learned to continue working on creating a classroom that reflects the 21st century. By allowing for greater voice and choice, students are able to work with the materials in ways that best suit both their strengths as well as their interests. I hope to continue engaging with discourse on technology and participate in both professional development days as well as my own reading and engagement to continue learning.
What I hope to share with my colleagues, parents of students and any others is that technology is not the enemy. So often technology in classroom is seen as a distraction from learning or as a 'shortcut' for students to avoid doing the 'real work'. I hope to share that technology is a new layer to learning, not a blanket over it. technology helps us easily and efficiently individualize education and allow endless choices on how to interpret information as well as creating a product to show understanding.
Some of the tools that I have learned about that I will most likely implement include voice to text and text to speech tools as well as tools that aid with organization. What I really liked about these tools was how easily they can be integrated into day to day activities and teachings and that nearly all students can use them to some degree. I think that these styles of tools will be the first that I implement and use as stepping stones into expanding into other technology that I will implement later on in class.
The digital learning tools that have the potential to make a difference in my own world is text to speech tools. I am an avid podcast and audiobook listener and would love this option of learning with my own school materials as I continue within the VIU program for Inclusive Education. I find that while I would love to be able to sit down and read the materials myself, I often have too much to do either around town or around the house between errands and keeping up with daily tasks and having materials that could move with me wherever I go would be the best option for my own learning.
An 'aha' moment that I had during this program was during the first module where we went over the 3 methods to increase engagement. I find that many of my students need a soft start to the beginning of class whereas others arrive ready to go. finding a way to increase engagement, especially at the beginnings of class would be greatly beneficial. below is a quick summary of the 3 ways to increase engagement:
1. recruiting interest:
- optimize individual choice and authority - optimize relevance, value and authenticity - minimize threats and distractions
2. Sustaining effort and persistence
- heighten salience of goals and objectives - vary demand and resources to optimize challenge - foster collaboration and communication - increase mastery oriented feedback
3. Provide options for self-regulation
- promote expectations and beliefs that optimize motivations - facilitate personal comping skills and strengths - develop self-assessment and reflection
Finally, a goal that I have for using technology for either myself or for learners is to find methods to help alleviate daily stresses about timelines, due dates and test stress. I hope to use technology as a tool for organization and assistance for all students as well as myself.