Introduction to Technology in Schools

Course Description

Here's where you start your journey to a Master's degree focusing on Technology in Schools. You will explore basic instructional design processes and strategies for integrating technology you're your teaching and your students' learning. We also provide an overview of the EdTech field, a survey of emerging trends, and a framework for thinking about learning enabled by technology. (1)

Reflection

As someone who has worked in the field of Educational Technology for the last seven years, I had wondered what I was going to encounter in this class. As my experience has been nearly completely on the technical side of things, I had a lot of room for growth in the educational use of technology. It was in this area especially that I feel this class has been most helpful for me.

My current job focuses mainly on Web Development, one-on-one support, and general workshops. It was therefore extremely helpful to be able to put together the Technology Integration Learning Plan. I hadn't ever put together a lesson plan of any kind from beginning to end, and this plan brought together many things that I expect will be very helpful tools in the future. I learned about the NETS for students and teachers, the ADDIE development model, and the different learning perspectives. I especially like the constructivist learning perspective as it is reflective of my general epistemology. By creating lessons that enable student to gain new knowledge based on current knowledge combined with new experiences, a greater impact on that student is created.

As a lifelong technophile, it has been natural for me to keep up on the latest technology trends. I subscribe to several different blogs and technology news services along these lines. In the realm of technology, I attend an annual regional educational technology conference, where I give a presentation (usually about something web related), and also attend different presentations. I have a strong interest in the field of using video games for educational purposes, so I am always on the lookout for new research in this field. Working in a University School of Education is also very helpful for gaining exposure to the latest news and techniques in the field. This multi-pronged approach has worked very well, and I hope to continue to expand it by being able to attend more conferences in the future.

Artifacts

Footnotes
  1. From the SISLT Course List