Learning Journal 12: Final Thoughts

First let me say, I have learned how to ask open-ended questions to elicit deeper critical thinking and thought from students! Will be used in my classroom....
(1) what you have learned about integrating technology into the classroom;
(2) what you still want to know about using technology for teaching and learning; and
(3) what advice do you have for students taking this class in the future.

The main lesson I have learned is that educators should adapt, integrate and use technology tools in their curriculum (that their students already use on a daily basis) in order to foster and promote further collaboration, critical thinking skills, a broader sense of community and open doors to knowledge that educators never really thought possible before. Teachers can use technology to enhance their students learning experience, assess their students progress, free up valuable time, communicate and collaborate with students, faculty and parents. Teachers also need to continually learn, stay current, adapt and run new ideas past other peers from all over the country or the globe to continually learn and improve as educators, technology now allows for this. The world, as we all know, is changing rapidly and I am of the opinion that the educational system is woefully behind.

I would like to know a little bit more about how teachers, students and schools come up with, adopt and sign documentation for ethical use and treatment in the virtual learning environments. (e.g. class websites, e-mail, conferencing, class wiki's) Also, how may these be monitored and enforced? What offenses receive what kinds of disciplinary actions? I'm sure they are similar to what would happen in a live classroom. However, students really need to know that their learning environments in Web 2.0 medium are not "social sites" like they may be used to (Facebook, Myspace, etc.) so they need to really be on guard with good behavior. Some more on how to interact with students in a virtual space, maybe parents as well. I know the ladies in class recently gave an example of how teachers could interface with students in a different way than I had really seen before. I thought it was really cool, but for some reason it's slipping my mind what is was. It would be a good tool or artifact as an option or choice to include in a lesson plan for future classes. I will go back this week and check it out and save it on my Delicious.com account. Oh, I you (CDS) could compile a list of all the tools and little extra's or goodies mention during the semester it would be greatly appreciated. There were a lot of them I didn't have an opportunity to try out and see if I could incorporate them in my learning environment. If its delayed past the end of the semester and posted to the wiki, just shoot me out an email!

My advice to future students would be to have fun with the class and sieze the opportunity to pick Professor Sessums brain. There is some work but if you stay up on it the pain is relatively mild:) This class has been a blast and is a huge tool for you as a potential future educator, extremely applicable to your future as a teacher. If you just do your work, good grade. If you put in a little extra effort and engage in class, great grade. Don't do some of the work, well, that's on you! Do not worry if you feel like you have been tossed into the deep-end, like if you have never done a lesson plan. Professor Sessums understands, and you will improve over the course, his feedback is great and if you have to re-work something there is no penalty. This class is all about learning and applying knowledge, no "rote" memorization. You need to learn and "hassle" or fight with some of this technology stuff so you can learn it, and you will before your assignments are do! Biggest advice, here it comes, do your work to the best of your ability and available time! Do not beat yourself up because you just learned "Voicethread" and if you only had more time you could do so much better or more with it! You will have the time, when your a teacher! Kevin Rowley signing off for the last time :(