Final Reflection
During this capstone course I learned a lot through inquiry, group discussions, research articles, and investigating instructional technologies. At the beginning of the course, I become more familiar with the needs of 21st century learners. Teaching and learning now is vastly different then it was even ten years ago. Classrooms have changed from teacher-centered to student-centered. There is more learning through inquiry and problem based learning. Students are engaging in technology in schools in deeper, more meaningful ways. I learned more about the NETS and P21 standards. Students are no longer just in school to learn basic skills but to become better prepared for life outside of the school building. Teaching technology skills, critical thinking and global citizenship are among the many skills that prepare students for a global world. When teaching students it is necessary to not only look at the state standards and curriculum, but to look at the standards and frameworks of NETS and P21.
One problem is that many teachers have lost touch with their students by not changing with the times. Students need to be communicated to in ways that they find interesting and engaging. This usually means that technology needs to be a big part of the school day. When teachers don't adapt, students suffer. It is important to make sure that students needs are being met in every way possible.
Once I began my inquiry project I learned a lot about how to become a better educator. I investigated many new instructional technologies and become more efficient in old ones. One new instructional technology that I investigated in depth was the use of blogging in the classroom. I was able to create one and look around the site to become more efficient in its uses. This new skill will impact me in the classroom because I will be able to successfully implement it. I will be able to help students become proficient in this technology so that they become confident using it. This will allow blogging to be as helpful as possible in increasing students academic achievement. Students will be able to collaborate with their classmates and teacher while at home or at school. This new skill will also help me personally because blogging is becoming more and more popular and I will be able to successfully participate in it.
Two other new resources that I have become very familiar with are epals.com and theglobalreadaloud.com. These two resources are a great way for my class to communicate and collaborate with students all over the world. This will help them become more culturally aware and better prepared for a global world. These resources are a great way to teach some of the NETS and P21 standards. This will impact our classroom by allowing students to collaborate with students of other cultures using technology. This is a skill that they will use for the rest of their lives both in their career and in their personal lives. This new skill will impact me personally by allowing me to also communicate with other teachers or people around the world. This collaboration will help me to grow both as an educator and a global citizen by getting fresh perspectives and new ideas.
There are several other technologies that are not new but I have become even more proficient in through this inquiry. These include google documents, google forms, google drive, weebly, prezi, screencast-o-matic and YouTube. These improvements will help me to use these technologies in the classroom in an even more meaningful way than before. I am able to understand and use more capabilities, became more efficient in my preparations, and will be able to better help my students. These technologies will also come in handy in my personal life because they are resources that can be used in a multitude of ways including better online communication.
I learned several concepts through my research during my inquiry. Some of these concepts include 21st century student learning needs, problem based learning, project based learning, using literature to teach cultural awareness, asking higher order questions, class discussions, the use of pen pals to increase cooperative learning and the benefits of using instructional technology.
This research will impact my teaching practice because I will be able to successfully and authentically incorporate technology into the classroom. I also better understand the needs of my students in regards to 21st century teaching and learning. Several instructional strategies that I came across in my research will help me to make sure my classroom is student-centered, engaging and effective in teaching 21st century skills. A lot of my research revolved around creating more global awareness in my students and helping them understand different cultures. I feel confident in my ability to help them reach these goals by helping them communicate and collaborate with students all over the world or right in their back yard. I also came across a lot of research about using literature to teach concepts and critical thinking skills. I will be able to use this technique even more throughout my teaching career.
The benefits of these concepts and strategies for me and my students include an increased proficiency in instructional technologies. As I am becoming even more confident in these technologies I can help students become more confident in them as well. As a result of using these techniques in the classroom, student learning outcomes will increase. Students will become more engaged during lessons because they prefer the use of technology to other instructional strategies. These outcomes will also improve because the students will be a part of a student-centered environment that allows for inquiry learning, problem based learning, and student choice just to name a few. These strategies allow students to take control of their own learning and as a result they are more likely to become lifelong learners.
One problem is that many teachers have lost touch with their students by not changing with the times. Students need to be communicated to in ways that they find interesting and engaging. This usually means that technology needs to be a big part of the school day. When teachers don't adapt, students suffer. It is important to make sure that students needs are being met in every way possible.
Once I began my inquiry project I learned a lot about how to become a better educator. I investigated many new instructional technologies and become more efficient in old ones. One new instructional technology that I investigated in depth was the use of blogging in the classroom. I was able to create one and look around the site to become more efficient in its uses. This new skill will impact me in the classroom because I will be able to successfully implement it. I will be able to help students become proficient in this technology so that they become confident using it. This will allow blogging to be as helpful as possible in increasing students academic achievement. Students will be able to collaborate with their classmates and teacher while at home or at school. This new skill will also help me personally because blogging is becoming more and more popular and I will be able to successfully participate in it.
Two other new resources that I have become very familiar with are epals.com and theglobalreadaloud.com. These two resources are a great way for my class to communicate and collaborate with students all over the world. This will help them become more culturally aware and better prepared for a global world. These resources are a great way to teach some of the NETS and P21 standards. This will impact our classroom by allowing students to collaborate with students of other cultures using technology. This is a skill that they will use for the rest of their lives both in their career and in their personal lives. This new skill will impact me personally by allowing me to also communicate with other teachers or people around the world. This collaboration will help me to grow both as an educator and a global citizen by getting fresh perspectives and new ideas.
There are several other technologies that are not new but I have become even more proficient in through this inquiry. These include google documents, google forms, google drive, weebly, prezi, screencast-o-matic and YouTube. These improvements will help me to use these technologies in the classroom in an even more meaningful way than before. I am able to understand and use more capabilities, became more efficient in my preparations, and will be able to better help my students. These technologies will also come in handy in my personal life because they are resources that can be used in a multitude of ways including better online communication.
I learned several concepts through my research during my inquiry. Some of these concepts include 21st century student learning needs, problem based learning, project based learning, using literature to teach cultural awareness, asking higher order questions, class discussions, the use of pen pals to increase cooperative learning and the benefits of using instructional technology.
This research will impact my teaching practice because I will be able to successfully and authentically incorporate technology into the classroom. I also better understand the needs of my students in regards to 21st century teaching and learning. Several instructional strategies that I came across in my research will help me to make sure my classroom is student-centered, engaging and effective in teaching 21st century skills. A lot of my research revolved around creating more global awareness in my students and helping them understand different cultures. I feel confident in my ability to help them reach these goals by helping them communicate and collaborate with students all over the world or right in their back yard. I also came across a lot of research about using literature to teach concepts and critical thinking skills. I will be able to use this technique even more throughout my teaching career.
The benefits of these concepts and strategies for me and my students include an increased proficiency in instructional technologies. As I am becoming even more confident in these technologies I can help students become more confident in them as well. As a result of using these techniques in the classroom, student learning outcomes will increase. Students will become more engaged during lessons because they prefer the use of technology to other instructional strategies. These outcomes will also improve because the students will be a part of a student-centered environment that allows for inquiry learning, problem based learning, and student choice just to name a few. These strategies allow students to take control of their own learning and as a result they are more likely to become lifelong learners.