Module+6

==// **Reflection Prompt 6: How did understanding the standards and the pre-comp verification help you design your FE plan? How can your use your ePortfolio to help others understand how to integrate technology more effectively in the classroom? ** //==



 * Description: The standards had to be used in order to complete the p-cv. Then again, the standards were used to design the FE plan. Everything in the ePortfolio is an assignment based upon the standards. The standards are the foundation of all technology assignments for these technology classes as well as our plans to design classroom assignments and other artifacts for our ePortfolios. **
 * Impact: Had I not thoroughly read on my own and discussed these standards in class, I would not have been able to complete the assignments for this field experience class. The standards really made me reflect upon which technologies I have used in the past that meet the criteria in the standards and which areas still need work. Ultimately, the standards help us become more well rounded. Too often we specialize in one area and ignore others. For instance, we are either highly focused on a global community, or we aren’t. For some educators, it is natural to be considerate of other cultures because of the diversity within the classrooms. Other educators rarely think about this because the student population is not diverse. Similarly, it is easy to keep all student assignments confined to interacting only with the other students in our self contained classrooms as opposed to reaching out through the Internet to others in different parts of the world. I was surprised at how easily some standards were for me to provide examples of work I had completed where as others were a real struggle. Technology is so encompassing that it doesn’t mean the same thing to every educator. **
 * I am excited to complete the ePortfolio. It will allow me (and others) to see the wide variety of tasks that can be enhanced by technology for teachers. As individuals, it will allow us to see our growth as we explore and master new technologies. Sometimes we become proficient and comfortable in the classroom so we stop searching for innovative ways of presenting the same material to the next generation. But society and students are changing as rapidly as technology, so we as educators need to not only stay abreast of the latest technologies, we need to incorporate them into our lives . This allows us to model what the students will encounter in the real world. **
 * The ePortfolio will provide a simple way for me to showcase my talents for future employers . **
 * Intent: I plan to continue to develop some of the areas available to me through our tech department at school. For instance, I have an online class that I need to update for our new websites that each of the teachers were provided. We have recently been given access to Google Apps. Everyday I am discovering something new that I can incorporate into my lessons. I also will spend part of my summer designing some SmartBoard lessons since I now have a board in my room. Outside of teaching, I have recently begun doing web design for a local business. This has been a real stretch for me since I have never had a web design class. All of my skills are self taught. **