Reflection on EDU6710

Ah, how times flies- EDUC6710 has almost come to a close.  Through this course, I have improved my understanding of the use of podcasts, blogs, wikis, and online collaboration with students to create a more student centered classroom.   I created my first official podcast for this class and am encouraged by the results.  I think that I will implement podcasting this year as a project later on.

As classmates have alluded to, it is difficult to give up the "control" of teaching because it has been the dominant practice taught - teacher as dispenser of knowledge.  With the explosion of information accessible to all, this old paradigm has changed to almost equal access to information.  Watching student centered lessons has changed my perspective of what a well run classroom looks like.  The idea of students following a set curriculum is no longer valid.  A differentiated classroom much more possible with students defining their learning trajectory.

I hope to continue to expand my knowledge of learning, teaching, and leading with technology thought professional networks, independent study, and working with students who are willing to take a leadership role in using technologies in the classroom.  I will continue to reflect upon lessons that incorporate new technologies to do new things rather than only doing things differently.

Within two years, my goal is to have a classroom set of computers or other personal device that will allow students to collaborate, access information, and create projects.  A second long-term goal is to have the class be differentiated by ability and structured as a series of parallel learners all contributing to each other's educational journey.  I want students teaching each other and my role to be facilitator or coach to enable students to go farther than they thought possible in learning biological concepts.

I will have to overcome school board budgetary constraints and change thought of a well run classroom from teacher centered to student centered.  I may have to demonstrate this through increasing scores on standardized tests that already exist.  Convincing administration that access to information via the internet makes textbooks less valuable will be a challenge, but with colleagues' and students' help, I think that we stand a chance to accomplish these goals.

Partnership for 21st Century Skills

My first reaction to the site was a positive reaction to the mission of the partnership, its goals, and the graphic they use to represent their outcomes and support systems.  After reading on in the FAQs, I became wary of the long list of commercial entities that are involved in this partnership.  I reacted more strongly to this long list, which surprised me.  I am always questioning the use of technology for its own sake and it dawned on me how powerful a group such as this partnership could be in pushing their own agenda in emphasizing the use of technology in developing 21st century skills.  

There wasn't much information on the site that surprised me.  Looking at the states that have been featured in the state initiatives section, it was surprising to see only 11 states on the list.  

The only section of the website that I did not agree with was a part of their mission statement describing the following skill set:

"Financial, economic and business literacy, and developing entrepreneurial skills to enhance workplace productivity and career options"  -Mission of Partnership for 21st Century Skills

I'm not in agreement that students should become literate in business and entrepreneurial skills in schools.  Especially not with the goal of enhancing workplace productivity.  I don't believe that students need to be trained in business thought and workplace productivity.  There are many sets of skills that need to be taught to allow students a wide diversity of career options.

Implications include professional development opportunities for myself, a new direction in creating curriculum designed around the mission articulated by the partnership, and a focus on developing critical information literacy skills.  For my students, it represents a change in focus for their high school careers.  They need to be using technology to access, interpret, evaluate, create, and participate in the learning community created by the new paradigm of information availability.

Blogging in the Biology Classroom

I have used blogs in courses I have taught before.  I used it as a location for students to interact while writing about prompts I gave.  The purpose was to get them talking with each other about biological concepts.  The blog would enhance the lesson by allowing communication outside of the classroom and allow longer time to process the writing prompts.  I teach 9-10 graders in biology.  I believe blogging will allow students to think deeper about the course content and interact with students other than those they regularly do in class.