Foundations of Educational Technology
The Foundations of Educational Technology (Summer 2017) course has helped me to understand the implications of using technology in education today. This course also opened my mind and my vision toward the use of technology. I understand now that technology is more than a mechanical tool for students to interact with. Technology is a path for students to explore innovation, to become critical thinkers and solve problems. The more significant insights I gained from the Foundations of Educational Technology course are: the importance of the web collaborative technology tools, technology frameworks and models and the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) standards.
First, the Foundations of Education in Technology course has increased my awareness of the importance of incorporating web collaborative technology tools in my instruction. After taking this course, I learned that the collaborative web technology tools are digital resources that encourage students collaboratively to learn in a team work setting through technology. They also support a learning environment in which students are able to focus on tasks, connect and engage in their own learning while they are getting prepared with skills and knowledge to succeed in the real socio-economic world of the 21st Century. Therefore, I am taking away that we, as teachers, should use the web collaborative technology tools as medium to strengthen the development of strategic abilities that will last a lifetime in our students.
Second, something new that I have learned through this course is the frameworks and models behind the technology in education. Specifically, the Technology Pedagogy and Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework, the Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, Redefinition (SA MR), the Replacement, Amplification, Transformation (RAT) and the Bloom Digital Taxonomy models. These models and frameworks help me to understand the importance of integrating technology in my teaching as an essential component in helping my students not only build knowledge but be strategic thinkers. Moreover, these models and frameworks help me reflect on how I effectively use technology skills in my instruction with the aim of fostering a creative and critical thinking learning environment. In short, I learned that the frameworks and models helped me comprehend technology’s role in in the educational process and the effectiveness of integrating technology learning experiences in meaningful ways.
Third, the introduction of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) standards is an additional resource that I found very valuable for my growth as a teacher. These seven student’s standards serve me as guidelines to plan, instruct, assess and transform the inclusion of web educational technology tools in my instruction. For instance, the Digital Citizen standard is essential and must be present at all times when it comes to working with technology not only in the classrooms but outside as well. This standard encourages students’ learning through the development of technology skills in a positive, ethical, safe and legal environment. Therefore, teachers and students must be aware of our responsibility in using the digital world to enhance our opportunities to create and innovate knowledge. I would like to add that the ISTE standards for teachers is something that I am looking forward to exploring deeply soon.
In conclusion, the three major insights I acquired with the Foundations of Educational Technology course were the importance of the web collaborative technology tools, technology frameworks and models, and the ISTE student’s standards. The web collaborative technology tools reassure student’s learning skills for the 21st century requirements. The technology frameworks and models helps us comprehend the research behind the incorporating web technology tools in our instruction. The ISTE student’s standards outline the guidelines in the use of the web technology resources in a safe, ethical and legal atmosphere. In general, I would say that the Foundations of Educational Technology course has increased my knowledge in many ways but the most learning I am taking away is that this course taught me how to help my students to make the most of the technological resources in their education process.
First, the Foundations of Education in Technology course has increased my awareness of the importance of incorporating web collaborative technology tools in my instruction. After taking this course, I learned that the collaborative web technology tools are digital resources that encourage students collaboratively to learn in a team work setting through technology. They also support a learning environment in which students are able to focus on tasks, connect and engage in their own learning while they are getting prepared with skills and knowledge to succeed in the real socio-economic world of the 21st Century. Therefore, I am taking away that we, as teachers, should use the web collaborative technology tools as medium to strengthen the development of strategic abilities that will last a lifetime in our students.
Second, something new that I have learned through this course is the frameworks and models behind the technology in education. Specifically, the Technology Pedagogy and Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework, the Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, Redefinition (SA MR), the Replacement, Amplification, Transformation (RAT) and the Bloom Digital Taxonomy models. These models and frameworks help me to understand the importance of integrating technology in my teaching as an essential component in helping my students not only build knowledge but be strategic thinkers. Moreover, these models and frameworks help me reflect on how I effectively use technology skills in my instruction with the aim of fostering a creative and critical thinking learning environment. In short, I learned that the frameworks and models helped me comprehend technology’s role in in the educational process and the effectiveness of integrating technology learning experiences in meaningful ways.
Third, the introduction of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) standards is an additional resource that I found very valuable for my growth as a teacher. These seven student’s standards serve me as guidelines to plan, instruct, assess and transform the inclusion of web educational technology tools in my instruction. For instance, the Digital Citizen standard is essential and must be present at all times when it comes to working with technology not only in the classrooms but outside as well. This standard encourages students’ learning through the development of technology skills in a positive, ethical, safe and legal environment. Therefore, teachers and students must be aware of our responsibility in using the digital world to enhance our opportunities to create and innovate knowledge. I would like to add that the ISTE standards for teachers is something that I am looking forward to exploring deeply soon.
In conclusion, the three major insights I acquired with the Foundations of Educational Technology course were the importance of the web collaborative technology tools, technology frameworks and models, and the ISTE student’s standards. The web collaborative technology tools reassure student’s learning skills for the 21st century requirements. The technology frameworks and models helps us comprehend the research behind the incorporating web technology tools in our instruction. The ISTE student’s standards outline the guidelines in the use of the web technology resources in a safe, ethical and legal atmosphere. In general, I would say that the Foundations of Educational Technology course has increased my knowledge in many ways but the most learning I am taking away is that this course taught me how to help my students to make the most of the technological resources in their education process.
Thanks for the idea!! I have reflected on the implementation of the technology integration frameworks, but dropped the the ball with using the ISTE standards. Yes Digital Citizenship is very important. Many students use technology to share negative ideas and concepts. Just last year, several students at my school got in trouble for cyber bullying. If we stress the importance of this standard, maybe students will think twice about the ways they use technology.
ReplyDeleteLike Meredith stated, I too think I dropped the ball on using the ISTE standards. I've always known that digital citizenship was important but I guess I assumed that because my students had computer class those concerns were addressed and being covered by the computer teacher. Even though they are being covered by her, I feel it is still my responsibility to review and enforce those standards within the classroom setting. The only way students will understand the importance of digital citizenship is with constant reminders.
ReplyDeleteI too completely forgot to mention the ISTE standards in my blog, but like you I think it is a valuable resource in planning, instruction and assessment. I did however mention students as digital citizens and how we must teach our students to be safe online, as well as ethical users of digital information. Before this class I never really thought about how important digital citizenship is. We think students are so good with technology because they know how to use social networks but digital citizen goes way beyond that.
ReplyDelete"Technology is a path for students to explore innovation, to become critical thinkers and solve problems." This is an excellent quote that shows your growth throughout this course. Nice job!
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