Now & Later
Now
First things first, my first professional exposure to edTech was this course. Even when I took undergrad classes in 2015, edTech was not a large focus. With that being said, I have been able to find a new and creative way to create and share content with my students through technology. Not only have I been able to discover the multidimensionality of what technology can bring to the classroom, it has allowed me to reshape my philosophy with teaching and continue to challenge me to become a better teacher.
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As you may have read in earlier posts of mine, the school I have the longest history of teaching at had an 'intentionally low-tech' policy. This was with the intent of using the teachers as vessels of information to make the learning experience more personable and engaging. There are some parts of this mission that can be admired, like wanting a high face-to-face engagement between teachers and students. However, there is so much more to our student's learning experience than just what another human (the teacher) can offer; like individual research online and outputting information by means of apps/technology. This class has allowed and pushed me to explore the many ways to present information to students and have students present information back to me.
Later
Through this course, I was able to explore many forms of technology that can be used and/or belongs in the classroom. Some great apps I have found are Paper, Wakelet, and Canva. Both Paper and Canva are great creative tools to let students create content in a way that makes sense to them; or teachers can use it as a resource to make infographics, pamphlets, and other visual aids for students/the classroom. Wakelet is a great way to have students explore a (teacher created/approved) collection of a specific topic. All of these are apps that I will be including in future lessons because of their versatility and room for creativity.
Another large takeaway for me has been how to make technology accessible to all students. Not only is it embedded in the makeup of the technologies (Chromebooks, iPads, etc), but there are also many apps. websites, and tools that allow for accessibility to learning like Live Caption, Bookshare, and Bluetooth keyboards. Lessons like this allowed me to think beyond my typically-developing students and recognize that although my students are hitting the right benchmarks and keeping up with the rhythm of the class, there is still room for growth that can allow all students to be learning in the most accessible, safe, and helpful environment.
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As I look back to the first week of class and the GIF that resonated with the start of my journey, I cannot say I have come too far past it. This GIF represented my balancing act of exploring something new while still keeping my roots of teaching that have worked so well for me. Since this class has been just the beginning for me, I continue to be in the first phase of what edTech means to me and my classroom. I have grown a lot through this class but am confident that there is much more for me to learn and bring into my practice and lives of my students.
References
ESPN. "Michael Jordan Lol GIF" [Digital Image]. (2020). Retrieved from https://media.giphy.com/media/VIVWFx6c91AAwWLwWB/giphy.gif.
Guille. "Balance GIF" [Digital Image]. (2016). Retrieved from https://giphy.com/gifs/animation-2d-mountain-l0MYzdZxoUPybfJPW.
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