Just
as the title implies, the impetus of this course is learning “with”
technology versus learning “from” technology. The distinction here
in implementing technology as a tool to enhance learning totally
makes sense to me. I frequently see teachers using technology as
a reward or just plugging it into lessons they’ve done for years
and getting similar results to what they’ve always gotten. While
learning “from” technology may initially be motivating, that alone
will not change student performance, and if that's the only way
the technology is utilized, the motivational factor will fade.
Just “using” the technology cannot be our end goal. This course
helped me see how I can facilitate this shift in thinking with
teachers I train.
Reconsidering a past teaching experience through the self assessment activity and reflecting on which technologies could have been used to enhance
learning in that particular situation emphasized how I can scaffold
teachers in relevant technology integration by helping them review
their own lesson plans. When I completed a product review, this course also opened my eyes to MicroWorlds as software that potentially
enables student exploration, discovery, and problem solving.
Since my classroom teaching experience has been at the elementary
level, developing the Collaborative Writing Concept Map for high school literature also helped me examine how I can aid upper level
teachers with integrating technology into their curriculum. I
was also excited to be provided a new resource in the form of
the KITE database. The exploration involved in completing my KITE Matrix, Case Report, and Technology Usage Assessment highlighted what a valuable resource this will be as a possible lesson resource
or as a training tool where teachers can assess stage of technology
use in lessons as meeting literacy, adaptive, or transforming
levels.
The
push for more technology in every classroom requires teachers
to decide how/if it will be used. My fear is that many districts
may prematurely decide that technology is not worth the cost
if they don't see improved student results. This course has underscored
for me once again that that will only happen when students are
engaged in higher level thinking learning situations that are
transformed when the role technology plays enhances the experience
in ways not possible without it.
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