Final Presentation

Table of Contents

1. Welcome Video
2. Three Lesson Plans 
3. Growth Plan
4. Troubleshooting Chart
5. Weekly App Practicals
6. Reflection 
7. Conclusion

Reflection: 

Before taking this course, much of the tech that I used in my classroom fell in the "substitution" and "augmentation" areas of the SAMR model. I have since seen the benefit of using tech to move towards a "modification" and ultimately a "redefinition". I am excited to someday implement my third lesson plan for the "Biomes around the World" unit that addresses students as Global Communicators and redefines the limits of education in the high school classroom. 

I have been able to implement some of the strategies outlined in the November text such as "students as scribes" and "students as researchers" and I can already see the difference it is beginning to make in creating a collaborative classroom culture. My philosophy of education has always been one of partnership between the teacher and her students, with all members of the classroom contributing equal work. When I began teaching, I quickly realized that the current model of education places a lot more work on the teacher and the students take the role of a passive learner. The technology that I have learned in this class has certainly benefitted me in redefining the student and teacher roles in my classroom though we are still no where near where I would like to be some day. Unfortunately, truly getting to the point of "redefining" education with technology is going to need to take a lot of movement from the upper administration which I hope to help move someday. 

For now, the best I can do is take the steps to make room 2057 a space where students know that they have just as much responsibility for their learning as I do and with that responsibility, a say in how they do that. I remind my students everyday that they have just as much to teach me as I have to teacher them. Alas, it will still take time to undo what eight years of traditional education has taught them. 

I would like to end this final EDU 614 blog post by reposting the video we watched a few weeks ago in class. This video has reminded me why I wanted to teach in the first place and has inspired me to continue pushing for change and not settle into "the way its always been done".