Thoughts on summer term...

In our "final" for 402/650 yesterday we were asked how our ideas of effective teaching have changed over this term - without writing about that same topic again, I would like to use this blog post to consider how the Ed Tech info has changed my ideas about effective teaching.

I think that technology in the classroom can be a very useful tool for the teacher and help with organization in traditional ways (i.e. lecture w/ powerpoint), but there are so many cool new formats available that I really wasn't aware of until this class started (blogs, podcasts, wikis). Even CTools for example is an awesome tool for students to share info (like we did for the 695 presentations), teachers to deliver assignments and "pass back papers", and to distribute upcoming materials (articles) for class reading. I know that our 695 presentation group made extensive use of our wiki as a way to share info and organize our parts of the presentation. It seems to me that use of technology can improve teaching effectiveness if it is well planned and integrated.

It was very exciting talking to Marcie Hull the other week about how many technology tools are being used on a regular basis at the SLA in Philadelphia. I am curious to see how much technology is used / available in Wayne-Westland district and in particular to see how much is used by my mentor. I am thinking that he may not use much since he is a 34 year veteran teacher - but maybe I'll be surprised!

I think that the upcoming fall workshops and internships will offer a lot of practical, hands-on opportunity to try out some of the ideas that we have been learning about and see what really works in a classroom. I hope to find a workshop / internship that can blend science / middle school and video or podcasting so that I can get experience in all of these areas. Jeff and I will meet later today to discuss this...

I was really impressed with the 695 project where the Implementing Instruction group used the video of "real kids" to set the stage for their presentation. I hope to be able to use our new cameras and I-Movie editing to produce a similar video that will compliment the content of one of my upcoming lessons. I was alot of fun filming our short clip last week, hopefully we can make good use of our time this week to edit and come up with a good final movie clip to share with the 504 class.

Bye for now! After this class - school's out and we are havin' a drink at Brianna's!