Today was our last Technology and Innovation class. I thought I would sum up my reflections with a before and after.
My Views on Tech in Education
Coming into this course I really did not think of myself as a techy person. I did not think that tech lined up with my views on environmentalism. I believe that the most effective way for me personally to make a difference in regards to the climate movement is to teach the future generations to love this planet and connect with nature in meaningful ways. Before taking this class I saw the I-pad movement as dangerous and taking away from much needed skills. I still believe that screen time needs to be limited for young children, but I has also seen how tech can be used purposefully in education. This course has shown me how to look at tech differently; not just as a distraction but as an important tool that can enhance education. Both nature based learning and technology can not only co-exist but they can compliment each other. I still don’t know if I would call myself a techy person but I do have a new found appreciation for it.
My Digital Literacy
In my first reflection I mentioned being excited to see my digital literacy skills grow. I was really starting from ground zero so I knew there was no where to go but up. Over this course I have learned so many new skills. My favorite skill I’ve learned might surprise you. It is being able to put links directly into text. Doesn’t this link to my favorite ASL translation site look so much better then just a random URL through in with a bunch of text. I know this is a small thing but it is something I never thought to do before. I also learned how to edit videos, edit images on power point, and use tools to make lessons more engaging.
Running a Website
I never really thought about having a website. Some of my teachers had websites growing up but it was a new thing and it wasn’t well utilized while I was in school. I recently checked out the website of a teacher with my friend who recently enrolled her child in Kindergarten. I was AMAZED at all the wonderful information about Kindergarten available to parents before they show up at school. This included social stories with actual pictures of the school and the teachers. It had information on all the specialists at the school that would be working in the class. IT even had a welcome to Kindergarten video that was specific for their school. This is the kind of website I want to eventually create for my class. Without this experience running this website I don’t think that would be achievable for me.
