Module 3 Reflection:

Where do you fall on the Technology Integration Matrix?

Technology Integration Matrix

Where would you rate yourself in each area?

In my current role, I do not have my own classroom so I reflected on the teachers/classes that I worked with during the past school year.  After looking through Technology Integration Matrix, I discovered that I that I am spending most of my time in the Adaptation stage of Technology Integration while I tend to roam through Constructive, Authentic, or Goal Directed learning environments, depending on the grade level. I am currently working with elementary classes where the students (and often the teachers) need to learn the technology before they can begin to use it. The students are eager to begin and are willing to take risks and explore. The teachers frequently feel overwhelmed when asked to integrate technology into their lessons. They fear student learning may suffer and are hesitant to give up control that technology sometimes requires. The students attitude and eagerness however, frequently energizes the teacher to want to use more technology.  

Where do you think you could reasonably be by the end of the year?

As teachers become more comfortable with technology they will need to identify learning goals for their students and explore how technology can help achieve those goals.   Rather than have a piece of technology and wonder how to make it work in the class.  I think it is reasonable the different goals will require teachers to be flexible and move in and out of different levels/environments of the Matrix.

What steps will you need to take in order to make the growth happen?

I think the TIM (Technology Integration Matrix) will be a powerful tool that can be shared with teachers to help them identify their own level of integration and help them to move forward.   It will also help teachers to identify what meaningful technology integration looks like.  I also think teachers working collaboratively will be crucial. 

Moving Mindsets Reflection

How could you adapt or change one of your current class/course policies to reflect a moving mindset? Is this a change you are willing to make? Why or Why not?

In my position I do not have a class, however, I frequently run training workshops which  can have a traditional class feel.  I would like to develop a flipped classroom approach for these workshops.  I envision creating videos that would develop background knowledge or guide teachers through new learning to develop their skill set prior to coming to the workshop.  These videos would remain available after the workshop so they could be reviewed as needed.  The workshop time could then be used as more of a work session with on site help available.  I see this leading to more independence and collaboration between teachers.  Rather than receiving all the new information and then trying to integrate and use it on their own, teachers could come with questions and ideas to share.  A greater pool of knowledge would result and teachers would feel more empowered and successful. 

I am very interested in trying this change.  I believe it would engage our teachers in their professional learning and it would also allow them to try the flipped classroom model.  I would hope that once they had experienced the flipped model they would be willing to try it with their own students.

Blended & On-line Learning Reflection

 Discussion Rubric
 Where am I?

Examination and analysis of relevant course concepts	Evolving/Effective
Use of evidence, examples, and personal experience	Evolving/ Effective
Presentation of ideas	Effective
Collaboration with fellow learners	Effective

What qualities of your entries were exceptional or effective?
      I enjoy sharing ideas and entering into discussion with other participants.  I need to be careful to remember to go back and view discussions even though I have completed that strand.

Which qualities are still evolving or emerging?
      As  I am no longer in the classroom, it may be difficult to provide in-class examples while sharing my experiences. I have learned quite a lot in my role as a tech coach and know I have a lot more to learn.

Hello All, I'm Susan, a K-12 Technology Coach. I currently work with teachers who have a wide range of technology skill levels. My primary goal is to help teachers learn new skills and technologies within an adult learning environment by offering them abundant amounts of informal, highly customized support. A secondary goal is to assist teachers when introducing new technology or skills to their students.  I am hoping to come away from this Blended Online Learning class with resources and ideas that will be useful for my teachers at a variety of skill levels.