Module+2

Module 2 Reflections

 * How the artifacts in your pre-comptencies verification relflect your technology use as an educator?

Description** Since I have computers in my classroom and the classroom next door, I try to create assignments using these computers. The bare minimum technology usage for most assignments includes using the word processing features and Internet for research. (Standard 1 Who Am I example) Though not included in the PACV examples, I also have students use presentation software, such as PowerPoint.

With our district recently giving the students access to Google Apps, more technology will be readily available to the students for teachers to expect the students to use. Sharing documents, email, and the calendar are new to the students.

Designing the online course (Standard 5 example) opened up a whole new world to me. I had never had any introduction to a webpage designing program. Because of my website and the pilot program at school, I was able to learn both DreamWeaver and FrontPage. I had minimal instruction from a colleague and discovered how to use many of the features on my own. I designed the online Mystery Unit to engage the students in independent and cooperative work on the computer. Usually, interacting with the computer is more entertaining for the students than listening to a lecture. I plan to have my district use this online course in the near future as a course offering if approved.

Many of my technology skills have been self taught. In addition to the above webpage designing, I have learned many software features because I am the editor for our high school's parent newsletter (Standard 3). I have programs available to me that other teachers do not. For instance, I have the Adobe Acrobat Professional and Publisher installed on my PC and laptop.

Our district providing us with laptops also increased my technology knowledge. We had to pass competency tests on various programs (Word processing, Data Spreadsheet, presentation software, email programs, gradebook programs, etc.) or take training until we could prove ourselves competent.

I am always eager to learn more about technology. I particularly enjoy finding out how to do new things with old programs. Many software programs are so deluxe, yet we utilize so few of their features! I am proud to teach others something new within the old familiar software programs. I also like playing with new programs. Learning a little from others and exploring for myself keeps me busy. Technology tends to spark my curiousity. Similarly, I enjoy the creative aspect of many programs. Colors and pictures add life to boring text. Making documents look fancy and professional when they are simple to design is pleasureable too.
 * Impact**

I plan to continue to explore available technology used in the classroom. Since I have just acquired a SMART board, I plan to create lessons using its features very soon. I have been trained, I just need to find the time. I also plan to revamp my online webcourse over the summer so it can be up and running for next year's classes.
 * Intent**

I think I am weakest on ethical issues dealing with multicultural considerations in my content and classroom presentations. Last semester, I took a class that opened my eyes. I think part of the reason I give other cultures little thought is because I have so few students that the diversity has less of an impact. Most of my students are from middle to lower class families. Every year my classes are fifty percent white and fifty percent African-American. Most of my students are Christian, Catholic, or Jewish. In the last ten years, there have been very few students that expressed any strong connection to a different ethnicity. Our English textbooks already contain a variety of cultural diversity so I haven't had to give extra thought in this area. I work with a very small portion of the high school population, approximately 2%. I never realized this might be an area where I was lacking. Hence, I need to work on Standard 4 with promoting and modeling digital citizenship with a real-world outlook on ethical issues that result from a lack of multiculturalism in the classroom.
 * In light of your learning about TPACK, identify areas of improvement needed.**