REFLECTION ON THE COURSE EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY AND THE VARIOUS TOOLS CREATED USING THE ISTE NETS STANDARDS
Education technology can be defined has any tool or concept that facilitates learning by the means of technological resources. The Educational Technology course is designed to prepare student teachers for all different grade levels with skills, concepts and understanding to integrate technology in their lessons to enhance learning as well as to make learning more effective. The first time I heard of this course, the first thing that came to my mind was that I was going gain new knowledge and skills about technology and how I would apply what I have learnt in an interesting and effective way within the classroom. Throughout the course I was exposed to the different materials which pointed out the importance of integrating technology within the classroom and to go about doing such activity. The course has also familiarized me about the learning theories such as constructivism theory, cognitive theory, behaviorism theory and distributive theory which my group and I presented on. It also gave me insights on Dale’s Cone of Experience and the instructional design models such as ASSURE model and ADDIE model which guided us on how to write a lesson plan.
The lecturer of the course Ms. Harrison has provided me with the opportunity to manipulate many technological devices by allowing me to create my own tools. She also gave input to inform me weather the pieces that were created were done properly and corrected me throughout the journey when necessary, because of this it allowed me to showcase what I have learnt. However, upon the completion of this course it was rather fascinating because I was learning new information on how to allure students learning through the use of technology but at times the course would become very challenging given the fact that some of these tools where somewhat new to me making it very difficult, but with determination and preservation I was able to complete the tools. The course has given me more knowledge on the various tools that I wasn’t aware of by giving me the chance to create a website/blog, a webcast, a podcast, a wiki and an interactive PowerPoint among others. These tools that were created will allow the classroom to become more student friendly, fun and also interesting which will engage students as a result of them becoming trilled in taking part in their own learning.
As I continue to reflect, I have come to realized that this course has allowed me to observed, learned about and implement numerous technological devices created using the ISTE NETS standards within my lessons. This was created for both student and teacher to ensure that the best practices through the use of technology. These standards are for teaching and learning which is very necessary in this age. The ISTE’s NETS for students are the standards for evaluating the skill students need to learn effectively seeing that the world is changing because of technology’s impact upon education today, whereas the ISTE’S NETS FOR teachers are the standards for evaluating the skills educators need to teach and work in this growing tech savvy society. Therefore, with the help of Ms. Harrison and more experience I can say that I will in the future be using technological devices to step up my classroom. She has showed me that technology is very positive and useful in the classroom when used the proper way. It brings advantages to both educator and learners by improving the standards of the teaching and learning process.