Reflective Blog

My expectation for EDT 610 was to gain an in-depth understanding on the use of technology and how it can create effective and informative communication with my class. EDT 610 illustrated how technology can lead to more effective communication between the teacher and student. Through design and creativity, material can be introduced in an organized, fun, and efficient manner. In addition to obtaining a greater understanding of technology, I have been exposed to creating lesson plans and understand the time and detail needed to create an effective unit plan. The unit plan covers all of the detail in the unit.

It is extremely important to choose an essential question that will create interest for the student. The unit questions need to relate to the objectives and allow you to create a unit summary that is descriptive and concise. The unit summary should cover the topic, along with student activities that will be performed, and the unit summary should explain what the students will create. Before creating the procedures, it is crucial to research the state standards and benchmarks so you can create objectives that meet state requirements; it is also important to review Bloom's taxonomy and make sure at least one objective is created to serve each of the various knowledge levels.

After creating the objectives, it seems logical to construct the procedures. The procedures are important because they identify the timeline and the details for accomplishing the objectives; it describes how the information will be delivered and how students will be reviewed. The procedures allow you to determine if the lesson will accomplish student-centered learning instead of teacher-centered learning. The procedures can be organized by dates or by projects. The details in the procedures also let you know what the students will create and how the students will be assessed.

After creating the state standards and objectives, we learned how to use Microsoft PowerPoint and Publisher. I really enjoyed learning how to work with color, text, animation, and sound. In addition to having fun, I saw the importance of using creative means to reach students. Technology definitely enhances the material being taught. I also enjoyed working from the perspective of the student. As a future teacher, placing myself in the student role allowed me to think more like a child which allowed me to be more creative when delivering the student PowerPoint; the creativity learned through the student assignment carried over when creating the teacher support material. By being more creative, the teacher has a greater chance of getting the students attention and enhancing their academic experience.

In conclusion, the class exceeded my expectations. Coming from a business background created apprehension when setting the objectives and standards; however, after going through the stages of the technology portfolio, the objectives and standards would be easier to create next time. Creating the teacher introduction, the student web, the student newsletter, and the student support gave substantial insight into the field of teaching. I look forward to using my new technology skills in the future.