EDLD+5364+Summary

1. What outcomes had you envisioned for this course? Did you achieve those outcomes? Did the actual course outcomes align with those that you envisioned?  When I first took this course I expected it to be like many other training seminars that I have been to in which we are shown a number of tools that you can use in a classroom, but often the tools were very basic or geared toward younger audiences or even worse, we were not told how they could be implemented with the classroom. In addition because of my strong technology background I had the preconceived notion that the course would show us how to do projects that incorporated the use of computers. The course itself offered much more than what I originally expected. It allowed me to gain an understanding of why and how technology should be used as a tool, and not just as a course. Students will have to learn the tools and the how to utilize them for todays technologically advanced world that we live in. Not only will we be providing learning of core curriculum but the use of technology that will be in their daily lives.  2. To the extent that you achived the outcomes, are they still relevant to the work that you do in your school? Why or why not?  In regards to what I expected in the course, I can say that I gained much more knowledge than I ever expected. With being only into my 3rd year of teaching I am still very new at gathering information for lessons. In addition I do not have any curriculum or books that I follow in my classes. Instead I have focused on supplying my own knowledge to the students. With what I have learned I will be providing more detailed lessons that can be easily taught in multiple ways. By offering both visual and audible tools, I can broaden my lessons so they can be understood by more students. I will also work toward assisting more teachers in developing lessons utilizing technology to help broaden the learning experience of their students. Not only will this assist in helping the students, but will also assist in increasing the quality of learning the school provides.  3. What outcomes did you not achieve? What prevented you from achieving them?  It is hard to state what outcomes I did not achieve primarily because my expectations were open to what was presented. I do wish that the course could have been longer or broken into two five week sections as there was much to cover in this section. I would have liked to receive more details on game based learning and assessment through alternative methods. As a technology instructor with teachers in a computer lab it is like a drug to them. It is almost impossible to get them from finding some sort of game. We try to keep any games they can access to educational based games where logic comes into play. It is amazing that when you have them compete against each other they work much harder. I am looking for software companies that offer game based learning tools, If I could add the questions then that would be even better. I would have no problems having students take assessments in that manner for my classes.  4. Were you successful in completing the course assignments? If not, what prevented or discouraged you?  While some of the assignments were lengthy and took quite a bit of time to complete I was able to complete them in a timely manner. The assignments seemed to be more in depth, or taxing in comparison to previous classes. I liked the weekly wiki assignments as they provided a good way to recap what I had learned and help it cement itself to my memory. The group assignment was good, but I found itself at times to be hard to get everyone together and focus on the assignments. My personal schedule almost burned me out while taking the course, Besides teaching high school I also teach at a Jr. college, and there were times in which lack of sleep almost got the best of me and at times I wanted to throw the towel in and not complete some of the assignments. In the end I am glad I took this course, and will keep much of the information available when planning on pushing the envelope at our school district.  <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">5. What did you learn from this course: about yourself, your technology and leadership skills, and your attitudes? <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">This course allowed me to open up my thinking on my approach to games in class, and the approach of how I should look at assessing my students. I want to try more ways to offer students challenges by encouraging them to create and develop in order to learn. Right now we are a classroom without books, and I do not think we really need them. I do think we need more tools for the students to work with, and unfortunately that requires funding. If I could get courses to work together to come up with a cross curricular assignment, students might find ways to lead their own learning and have more of a desire to take on challenges that will lead them to learn. I can’t say I have the best leadership skills, I don’t like to be in front of others, but I do know technology and I like to put things into action. I am good at getting things started, but often find it hard to finish without help. Could there be an opportunity for me to do this in a district or as a service to help disctricts? Maybe.