Technology Learning and Change

Webinar - Infrastructure, Financing and Evaluating Results (http://event.on24.com/event/34/29/74/rt/1/documents/slidepdf/presentation1up.pdf)

A variety of articles and webinars exist to research the "Digital Learning Environments" that are being discussed and implemented for transforming the classrooms of yesterday to accommodate the needs for the "21st Century Student Learner".  Many debates have covered the pros and cons for implementing Digital Technology Tools and providing the teachers with resources for effective classroom learning and engagement. I viewed the Webinar "Infrastructure, Financing and Evaluating Results" that brought to light the intricacy of implementing the WEB 2.0 Tools that students will be utilizing.
 The most important topic covered and viewed that was determined by a poll of teachers and administrators is the importance of the Infrastructure. The Infrastructure design supports which product and program goals are determined to ensure the consistency which is the backbone of the technology being implemented. There are decisions involving the pre-planning, assessment, monitoring, and re-evaluation when determining which devices and functionality of the technology you want to implement into the classroom. This process must identify the vision and goals necessary for implementing a successful but complex technology system. Mentioned within the webinar is the fact that schools are in a "technology implementation crisis" when the technology infrastructure does meet the needs and goals of both the students and teachers.
Project Red 2010 discusses the value of how important it is to both the teacher and student the need for implementing online collaboration with the right technology. Online collaboration increases learning productivity and student engagement which is essential to the learning growth required for today's classrooms. When the right technology tools and digital devices are put in the hands of both the teacher and student that addresses the effectiveness and efficiency of the curriculum goals, improvement in collaboration and engagement should be attained. However, without identifying the students needs as well as the teachers with the right technology tools and supporting them with safety and trust, you end up with expensive and heavy paper weights. Curriculum drives technology that must meet the goals established by the school district and properly funded with measurable and attainable results.
Also discussed within the webinar that is just as important is the financing and evaluation of results of the technology implementation for the school districts. I hope that when my time comes to utilizing the WEB 2.0 Tools, which will continually be upgrading, in my classroom all of the financing and evaluation result issues will be resolved and allow me to reap the benefits that the students, teachers, administrators, parents, and community leaders had to endure to get the technology tools in place to have a successful classroom today!

Where I Stand Today with "Learn through Technology"

As I started out on my journey for a MED at SNHU, the subject “Learning through Technology” was the first class recommended to start out on this new endeavor. The class sounded intriguing and presented an opportunity to get back into the classroom and dust off the cobwebs of my educational enrichment.  When I entered the classroom, I was not sure what to expect or what skills would be required to make this a successful transition from my undergraduate studies, which happened many years earlier in my life, to post graduate studies.  

The course syllabus revealed that I was to learn something called “digital technology” via WEB 2.0 Tools that encompasses understanding subjects known as Blogging, Diigo, and ultimately finishing up with Webquest. With each class assignment, my confidence grew and started to transition from an “immigrant” technology novice to becoming on the edge of a “native” digital technology user. As my oldest son stated, “you need to learn today’s technologies to stay with the flow of learning skills required to be successful”.

I have been introduced to a new generation of learning tools to meet the needs of the 21^st Century Student.  The word “engagement” seems to be the common theme throughout the videos and documents that we’ve reviewed for our assignments as the new learning skill for the students of tomorrow with the assistance of the WEB 2.0 Tools. I have seen how these new tools can get an individual engaged due to the fact I’ve relied on my classmates to assist me in accomplishing the assignments. However, the 21^st Century Teacher must also be receptive to this new teaching style that is required to facilitate the classroom. Both positive and negative views have been presented regarding how to ensure a safe environment with the Internet in which the WEB 2.0 Tools reside. My belief is that the delegation of responsibility on “Digital Citizenship”, a focus of having the Internet safely being utilized, falls on both the parents and teachers with the students committing to the requirements of the guidelines that should be enforced by the school district.

The technology tool that I’ve seemed to have grasped with less puzzlement and frustration is Blogging. Once I grasped the technique of how to “Link” corresponding articles, videos, or documents to an idea presented, it has made Blogging somewhat enjoyable and at points rewarding. The “Link” also allows the reader of the Blog to research some of the corresponding documentation that relates to the topic mentioned as well. The jury is still out on the benefits of what Diigo brings to technology learning for me, but with all new tools that I encounter, I usually start out with some resistance and hesitancy but then start to grasp and warm-up to the new concept.

As I continue on my quest in this class and future classes to both grow and develop my learning skills, I must continue to accept and be willing to embrace with confidence the benefits on utilization of both the social media tools and digital technology tools to become a successful teacher someday.  Being a member of the 21stCentury Teacher society at some point in my career will allow me to help with the development of our future students. The challenges that lie ahead are unpredictable but as we prepare our children for tomorrow with all of the digital technology tools and skills, the future looks very promising.