First Post! Personal Learning Goals for EDUC 3326 003

Technology today is the most important tool our society has been relying on since the start of the pandemic. It is a big change to adjust to everyday lives for students and adults that must go to school, work, or both. It has become part of society to limit human interactions in order to stop the spread of the virus. It has been a difficult change to the process for some, adjustments and normality is still not here yet. During this course, I am not only hoping to expand my skills on the computer but also explore how the use of technology will have to change in future classes overtime. How it will affect younger students and their ability to learn.

Planning for Learning 

There are very few lessons I have planned this far into my life as a teacher candidate where I incorporated technology. When I did it was only to show a couple youtube videos that the students could watch and react to in a class discussion. My goal is to learn how to use SMART board technologies, understand my own laptop better and find an academic organizer that works best for me so I am able to keep track of due dates, assignments, lesson plans, etc. on my laptop.

Facilitate Learning 

Throughout this course, I hope to learn about the different teaching strategies that can be incorporated into different technological resources. My goal is to figure out different ways to engage different types of learners that can help each student's unique learning style. Understanding what technological resources work best with younger students especially, can impact their learning in a successful way as it will give them some responsibility in their learning and puts trust in students not to take advantage of the technology around them.

Assessment 

My understanding of assessment is to guide the teaching and learning in a classroom. Students are able to set learning goals and receive feedback just as well as teachers can assess their own teaching and find out what works and doesn't for their classroom. My goal is to develop a deeper understanding in what assessment tools work best in classrooms and how it will motivate students to do better in their future work. I know in my field experience I have seen how students can be easily discouraged in their work and learning because of how they were given feedback or getting back a grade in a project. 

Classroom Environment

I know for my future classroom, as well as other teacher candidates, all want an inclusive and safe space for students to learn. An environment that allows students to have no fears in their learning and around their peers. An environment that makes sure students have equal access to technology and tools so they are provided with equal learning opportunities in the classroom. My goal is to start thinking about how the little posters and little items found in classrooms and what those would look like in my future classroom. This also includes technology, what will it look like in the environment? how often would it be used by students and the teacher? how much computer time is too much or even too little? These are the kinds of questions I want to be asking myself and hopefully answering by the end of this course.

Professional Responsibilities 

For this course as well as my future practicum I hope to better my networking abilities with more teachers in the school besides my mentor teacher. I know by doing this I will be able to be more involved with my future school placement as well as open my mind up to multiple different kinds of teachers and their own teaching tips and perspectives. 

Previous Technology Experience 

Overall my technology skills are not advanced. I know the basics to complete my school work and how to work my laptop for the most part. Since classes have been online I have noticed that I have become quicker in my typing and organizing my tabs and assignments for classes. I look forward to this course and I believe it will teach me more about how to navigate through my laptop and the different programs and websites to come as well as what technology will look like in my future classroom with students.

Burning Question 

I keep relating my first post to the pandemic and the situation students are facing as the new everyday normal because almost everything we have to adjust to or will have to change will affect all outcomes for anything after this pandemic is over. My burning question is after our first virtual semester will technology be used more often than before in the future classrooms? Will classrooms go back to being effective in real human interactions or will students (especially younger) now only rely on iPads and chrome books to learn?

Why is the question important to YOU?

This question is important because a big change in our world and society is among us. This pandemic is affecting everybody and it will be changing everybody. It is important to me because it is going to take a course in my future as all student teachers will have to learn both how to teach effectively in a classroom and virtually.