When I began this program a year ago, I considered myself a technology whiz!  I have always been knowledgeable in how to use technology, and am approached regularly for assistance.  As soon as I began my courses I realized that there is such a big difference between understanding how to use technology and incorporating technology into instructional practices. I had no idea how positively this would impact my students' learning.

The biggest change that I have seen in myself is professionally.  My students and I have become confident users of technology both in and out of the classroom. I learned how to use Google Docs, Google Groups and wikis to enhance my classroom instruction.  I began to show my students these tools, and have encouraged them to use them too.  As a class, we created a wiki, "Cooking Around The World". We were able to connect with students in other parts of the country in a way that students had never seen.  After the success of the classroom wiki, I created a wiki which allows teachers throughout my school district to share ideas for great (and not so great) children's books. The wiki is called "Bookshare-Franklin" and is just starting to get off the ground. I'm excited about the possibility of collaborating with colleagues in this way. I can now show students how easy it is to work in groups and share information.  I feel confident that next year, I can assign group projects, and expect the students to work together for a common goal.   In the past, this has not been possible, due to the size of our community, and the transportation issues that arise with working parents. Using these online programs, the students will be able to collaborate with one another, without having to meet in a central location.  This will allow me to try new things in my instruction.

In this program, I learned how to design webpages.  I have created and maintained an effective site for students in my class, and their parents.  During the design of this site, I learned a lot about effective websites. Previously, I was lacking proper navigation for my site. I was also guilty of adding a lot of information that I felt was important or "cute". I hadn't conducted a needs assessment or even asked those using my site what their needs were. After asking what families' needs were, I created this site, which I found to be much more effective. Families report that the calendar page has improved the communication and allowed them to feel much more aware of their child's school responsibilities. Communication with families this year was largely through my school's website.

One topic that was mentioned in many of my courses is the difference between "learning with" technology and "learning from" technology.  This was something that opened my eyes to the use of technology in my school.  When starting this program, I was guilty of using technology to supplement my instructional practices.  I would use the Internet for research, or I would show students PowerPoint presentations.  My students were only "learning from" technology.  The idea that technology isn't supplemental to good instruction, it is good instruction became more apparent throughout many of my courses. I created a WebQuest to guide my class's study of Mexico, and the students truly enjoyed this unit. My students learned that the Internet could be used to gather information, but that they were not simply finding answers to questions. They understood that there is a wealth of information available, and that their job was to determine what was important. There were cooperative discussions where the students debated the value of material that they were gathering. The final products were organized and gave me a true sense of what the children learned. This is one example of how I have changed the way I teach.

Now, at the end of my program, I know that using technology in schools is essential.  The students we teach are going to be adults in the age of technology.  We have the responsibility to start them early and give them the basics on which to build their future.