A final thought...

As the semester comes to an end, I've found some time to reflect upon this course. I've enjoyed coming to class on Tuesday nights and learning new and exciting ways to teach students. This course has given me numerous new skills to add to my teacher "toolbox." Skills such as podcasts, effective use of an iPad, and how to incorporate Facebook effectively into an educational setting to name a few. 

I found that the utilization of social media in this class, especially Facebook has been critical it this classes success. The posting of relevant articles connected with educational technology is a great way to concert with other classmates. Facebook provided an opportunity for voices to be heard that aren't so vocal in the classroom. Additionally, the use of blogs provided people with a voice. Blogs were a great way to voice ones opinion on something, rather they liked it or disliked...etc. However, I found attempting to view each of my classmates blogs rather cumbersome due to many factors, time being the most overarching. 

Overall, I enjoyed this class and think that all teachers graduating from any college rather undergrad and grad should take a course that is similar. I feel that the skills being taught in here can translate to any age and any subject, even any language. The effective use of technology in the classroom, I feel will be growing as the years progress. 

An idea in DC

Recently, I went on a class trip to the Baltimore/DC area with 100 seniors. Both myself and the studens had a great time on the trip. We experienced a lot of fun and interesting places both as a group and individually. We stayed in Baltimore near the inner harbor but we traveled to DC to spend the day. 

On this day we let the senior roam the National Mall. I admit, I was a tad skeptical of this plan set forth by the tour guide but went with it anyways. Students were required to check in with their chaperone every so often through texting. Now, DC more so than Baltimore is full of awesome museums and monuments. As I roam about DC with my fellow chaperones, an idea occurred to me. 

Since I cannot be at the various monuments and museums throughout the National Mall giving a guided tour to these 100 seniors ( nor do I think they would want to hear my voice yammering on and on). Instead, my idea would be to creat a podcast of the various museums and monuments. The creation of a podcast would have been valuable for the students. Students could access the podcast using their smartphones, which in most cases they are already on. If they simply don't want to listen to me yammering, they can simply turn it off. 

Podcasts are very versatile and can be utilized numerous different ways both inside the classroom and outside the classroom. Now I'm sure podcasts exist for the DC idea, but if they don't someone needs to create one! Also, this idea just shows that no opportunity is too small nor too big to take it as learning opportunity. 

Classroom websites

The value of a classroom website is often over looked. In an age where people are constantly on the internet, it only makes sense to make and maintain a classroom website. The key is to maintain and update the site. Time after time, I see websites that go neglected. 

In my humble opinion, utilizing a website makes life a little easier. It's a great way to post homework, announcements and other items that may be of value to both students and parents. Also, by utilizing a website and posting class work on there, can help foster independence amoung your students. Instead of a student asking for another copy of a worksheet, they can go to the website and print their own.

Websites, can also be very valuable for parents to stay up to date with their students class work. Knowing what's due and when can help parents stay active in their students school work. Also,  a website is an easy way for parents to be aware of their students class work and answer their own questions before emailing a teacher.