Teaching+with+Tech+Final+Assessment

1. What outcomes had you envisioned for this course? Did you achieve those outcomes? Did the actual course outcomes align with those that you envisioned?

Integrating technology in the classroom poses many challenges, as I began this course I had several ideas on how to bring technology into the classroom. But, I was still looking for ways to integrate and assess the learning of all kind of students with the help of technology. I figure that this course was design to help technology leaders meet those challenges. As I began exploring and working on the assignments I discovered many different ways to integrate technology, not only during planning and delivery of instruction, but during assessments. The edutopia videos gave me the perspective of educational leaders and reformers on the area of assessing students with new technologies. The Cast website gave me an insight of what effective UDL is, and how to integrate it into all aspects of education. When I look back at the last five weeks I think this course provided me with the knowledge I needed to keep my technology leadership role moving forward. The challenges are still ahead, but the skills and tools are part of my formation. Now is the time to implement. 

2. To the extent that you achived the outcomes, are they still relevant to the work that you do in your school? Why or why not?

In these days, any aspect that relates to technology and education must be used in our day to day interactions in our schools. Every skill and piece of knowledge we gain in this field, we are ready to apply to our professional practices. I have always integrated technology into my lesson delivery and planning. Now, my integration goes to assessment and collaboration. By learning about the three networks of brain, how constructivism and connectivism, I feel that my role as a leader in technology has moved to the next level, not only that I have practiced and used technology in many different ways, but I have the background knowledge to support and adapt those changes to curriculum at all levels. When it comes down to technology in education we must act quick and implement the changes and integrate technology, so we are ready to face the new changes that are coming. 

3. What outcomes did you not achieve? What prevented you from achieving them?

If there is an outcome that I did not use to its fullest potential was designing lessons with the UDL lesson builder. As I completed that assignment It was hard to break from my previous lesson planning style. However, I have always taken into consideration UDL ideas of integrating technology and deliver instruction to a diverse group, but just having to rethink the way to plan was a bit difficult for me. As I worked on designing the lesson I kept comparing with the way I currently plan, I did find benefits from redesigning a lesson under UDL framework, but I has been hard for me to use LessonBuilder to actually plan my lesson, I am still suing many of the ideas presented in the UDL design, but not actually using the application itself, maybe as I feel the need to collaborate and model for other this will become my favorite tool. 

4. Were you successful in completing the course assignments? If not, what prevented or discouraged you?

After a slow start finding a group for the group project, most of the assignments were very self explanatory and very useful to reinforce the weekly skills. The individual assignments provided the reflective skill needed to assimilate the new learning, the only part that might have been a bit confusing was that I was not sure for some of the assignment which link I was suppose to send with the assignments. Working with several places (wiki, Google site, and LessonBuilder / Bookbuilder) was a challenge for me, trying to keep track of what I was supposed to send. On the other hand, the group project provided that collaboration that is critical for 21st Century teachers. Once you get used to the website interface and tools, it almost becomes second nature to upload, and edit content to the team website. I feel that I completed my assignments to my fullest potential. 

5. What did you learn from this course: about yourself, your technology and leadership skills, and your attitudes?

As educators we need to reflect constantly, we need to see how we can improve to become better at educating students. When I start a new course I always ask myself how can integrate and merge the new skills with my experience and knowledge to actually make a difference in the quality of my instruction. I discovered that I can adapt technology into my instruction very easy, I am always finding ways to expand my technology skills so I can integrate them in my classroom, and my school. There is still some work that I need to do to bring more of my leadership skills into my campus, but I am always advocating for the use of technology at all levels, I am always modeling the use of technology, I am always sharing important ideas and tendencies in the how technology must be part of our daily activities. I am a firm believer that technology and education are one in nature, the complement each other, and as far as I can see, technology will always be part of how we educate our students.