Reflection: Final Blog Posting for EDUC 6711

I do not believe I have modified my personal theory of learning during this course as much as I have refined it further. I would say that I was doing a good job achieving the social constructionism that I sought for my classroom. The new applications that I was introduced to in this class will enhance this collaborative learning environment I seek.

I would like to introduce my students to both concept mapping (Bubbl.us) and online collaboration (Voice Threads). Both of these tools allow students to construct an image of their learning as they see it. For so many years I have told my students that they needed to ask more questions because I couldn't see what they were thinking. With these applications I can start to "see" what they are thinking. This makes guiding learning and correcting misconceptions more possible.

My two long-term goal changes both involve time and patience. The first is to make sure that I am using technology as a learning tool in my classroom at least once a week. I am afraid I have been guilty of using it as an instructional tool to perform old tasks in new ways instead of looking for new tasks. The second is to challenge students to bring what they discover in their collaborations back to the classroom once a week for a debriefing of some kind. (This could be a good old fashioned discussion or a blog posting. There are many options available.) I think by setting my goals as once a week for both of these I will get students involved and comfortable with both soon after the year begins. I would like technology to be the way we learn in class by the end of the year, not the new thing that students want to play with.