EDLD+5364+Reflections

Week 5:
"Can assessment be authentic and simultaneously prepare students to succeed in the standardized testing that they will face? Absolutely!" Solomon & Schrum (2007) This quote will be irrelevant one day... at least it should be. If research shows that students need authentic assessment then why standardize? Are we in the business of educating students or in a race to see which country can produce the highest maximum scores on a test first? I asked myself many questions like this as I read this section but the quote is the answer to them all. If students are truly learning the material, they should be able to reference that knowledge in a testing situation no matter the format of the test. This section of the book also brought out a social software, Elgg, that I am very curious about and as soon as I have a free minute on the Internet I will be researching this further. Any tool that allows students to display their knowledge could make a positive impact on student performance and growth. This directly relates to Pitler's information on reinforcing effort to build self-esteem. This information has probably made the most impact on me and will effect my teaching immediately. Of all the strategies, tools, and research-based information this is the most logical and hopefully will prove useful to myself but more importantly my students. I want my 8th graders to go to high school next year knowing that they have the ability to learn if they just try!

===Week 4: The McREL reading (Pitler, 2005) opened the topic of professional development with a research-based model promoting modular training of teachers in 12 areas (two of the original modules were dropped during the study as they were no longer necessary). The modules included not only how to teach technology but also how to manage students using technology and ways to use the technology effectively for planning, preparation, and assessment of lessons. The strategies suggested and supported by this research could be useful for many districts that currently have no real program for professional development. The Solomon and Schrum (2009) reading adds the Web 2.0 tools to the mix of necessary information for teachers to gain through professional development activities. Readings from Pitler et. al. (2007) and the UDL site provide insight into the advantages of using cooperative learning activities in conjunction with technology to create classrooms that are more accommodating for all students. ===

Week 3:
This weeks readings were very helpful in creating the lessons for our unit. The Cast readings highlighted creating student centered activities in the classroom to increase learning for all levels of student. The Web 2.0 tools introduced this week introduced new ways to communicate in the classroom. This opens the door for our technology minded students to contribute their knowledge in the way the are accustomed. And finally, Pitler et. al., further outline the planning process with four guiding questions to make sure lessons include technology appropriately.

**Week 2:**
I think we have been given a good bit of information to think about this week. From the readings on goal setting and the role of technology in this process as presented by Pitler et. al. (15-31) to the studies analyzing the impact of technology on student performance we were encouraged to embrace and advance the use of technology in all aspects of the learning process. However this is often not as easy as it seems. Years of practice have made many teachers highly efficient without technology and unwilling to change as well. The same studies show that the technology without effective teaching methods is not the answer. So what needs to happen? In my opinion as I stated in the course blog, teachers need to be trained using these new methods so that they are learning in the same way they should be teaching. One possible method presented by Rose & Meyer (2002) is the UDL framework which promotes flexibility throughout the education process. This might be difficult for many experienced teachers to embrace so higher education must begin the process of promoting methods such as this with up-coming educators.

Week 1:
Wow! The Cyborg theory as presented in the video by Kevin Warwick was extremely thought provoking. It is easy to see both positive and negative aspects of making changes to the human body. I am intrigued by the thought of a "Matrix-style" brain where a human simply plugs in to the computer to learn about a new subject. There are things about life the way I know it that makes think twice about changing. I would not want to give up vacations just because I could experience them online. The most distressing is that teaching might not be necessary and therefore I would lose my career!