REFLECTION

As a digital immigrant this course, EDUC 6710: The Impact of Technology on Education Work, and Society, had made it possible for me to experience what it is to be digital native. I have experienced creating wikis, blogs and podcasts. This experience has taken me to my classroom to share the experience. It has been challenging integrating technology.

Time is often a major complaint from teachers to learn and to use technology in the classroom. Due to my exposure to the resources and assignments from this course there is a better understanding in the benefits of student learning to use technology. Authors Keengwe, Onchwari and Wachirs, (2008) mentioned that technology can play an important role in restructuring teaching and learning practices that match current needs of an informational society. But, the authors also recognized the need for teachers to be comfortable with applying technologies appropriately. Therefore, teachers need professional development that would give training to prepare them to integrate technology into their curriculum.

Participating in this course has increased my comfort with using technologies in my instruction. As a teaching tool, technology can be used to learn 21st century skills such as collaboration, research, thinking skills and problem solving skills. Presently, I am preparing to model using wiki as a collaborating tool for students to complete group projects. It is conceived that students will use also use wiki as a communication tool to discuss specific topics assigned. In class assignments students are learning to use thinking skills when appropriating technology to research and to resolve problems that they may approach when researching. They have to stretch themselves beyond textbook instructions to overcome hurdles that confront them in using technologies.

As I become more comfortable is applying technologies, within a two years expand I expect that a barrier such as time will pale away. To implement technologies in my instruction with comfort and pedagogically I expect to continue as a life-longer learner. Currently, there are opportunities to attend upcoming workshops that will be held in our school campus. I look forward to continually learn how to do things differently and how to do different things with technology as quoted by Thornburg, (2004). And, it is exciting to learn with students as I go along as well as to share and learn with colleagues who can contribute their classroom experiences in the use of technology.

Keengewe, J., Onchwari, G., & Wachira, p. (2008). The use of computer tools to support meaningful learning. AACE Journal, 16 (1), 77-92.

Thornburg, D. (2004). Technology and education: Expectations, not options. (Executive Briefing No. 401). Retrieved from http://www.tcpdpodcast.org/briefings/expectations.pdf