Course Reaction Blog

The past fifteen weeks in EDT 610 – Computer-Based Instructional Technology have been a very fulfilling time for me. The first two assignments (word processing and gradebook) were easy and utilized software that I was already very comfortable with. The ease with which I completed those assignments allowed me to build some confidence before we tackled the real core of the course which is working on the Unit Plan and using MS Publisher and PowerPoint. For me, using a new software is somewhat intuitive but identifying objectives, creating the actual assignments and evaluation rubrics and then completing the actual project while learning and using the various features of the software was the challenge. I am aware that my perspective as a student in this class is similar to the perspective my own students will have when I stand in front of them and make an assignment that requires technical knowledge as well as subject matter knowledge.
As this course progressed, the Unit Plan became clearer and in the end I was much more aware of what changes I needed to make so that the objectives worked well with the Alabama Standards and unit questions. The procedures came together fairly easily after having completed the 3 technology projects, the 2 student support artifacts and the teacher support artifact. The actual timing of how long it will take to accomplish these tasks and assignments in a real class setting is somewhat of an unknown for me. I am more concerned than ever that my first year of teaching will be trial and adjustment as I try to meet all the Alabama Standards while creating my unit plans for the first time. I can picture weeks when I, the teacher, must speed up the pace and others when I must slow down the pace or add to the assignments so that I can stay on task with meeting objectives for the year.
Using Bloom’s Taxonomy was a great resource in creating objectives for my Unit Plan. Creating objectives that touched on the various learning domains (knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation) will keep the learning activities from being so one dimensional. For example, instead of simply testing students’ recall, memorization and recognition, allowing the students to explain, discuss and report or to create, design and formulate will engage them at an entirely different level. The more fun the learning activities are, the more students will engage and the more they will take away from a unit of study. And, I believe, the knowledge gained will stay with the student because the knowledge was gained through an experience and not just through a classroom lecture or exam. The Intel CD will also be a useful resource as I develop my own portfolio of unit plans as a beginning teacher. I plan to hang on to it!
I know that to use software to its fullest and most efficient, one must use it often. It is my hope that I will use technology in my classroom to teach as well as a means for students to express themselves creatively and to learn.