Final Blog Post

     This course has helped introduce me to new forms of technology that I can successfully use in my classroom. It has allowed me to become more confident with introducing new types of technology to my students since I know the value of using them and how they can be successful in a classroom if they are integrated correctly into a lesson topic. I have deepened my knowledge of the teaching and learning process to the point where I know that technology is creating a shift to teachers becoming facilitators of the technology and the students becoming self-directed learners. After learning about the shift from teacher-centered to learner-centered, it definitely shifted my thought process when I do lesson planning and how I incorporate the use of technology into the lessons. I plan to continue to attend professional development programs that focus on integrating technology in the classroom. I also have a working relationship with my CITT for my department and she offers a lot of new ideas of ways I can use technology with the topics I teach.

     My first main long-term goal is for me to be successful in incorporating the use of iPads into my curriculum so that other middle and high school teachers can begin using them in their classrooms. I have definitely faced some negative comments about allowing middle school students to use iPads. Many teachers have told me they would never allow certain students to use them. I hope to change that attitude when other teachers hear the positive comments from students. My second long-term goal is to get positive articles about Family & Consumer Sciences into the school division newsletter and local newspaper so more people will become aware of the life skills we try to teach students. In my school division there are 6 middle schools, but only 2 have FACS classes. I would like to increase awareness about the importance of these classes so we can have it back in all middle schools.

     I don't think any of my answers changed from my week 1 checklist. I think that after taking this course I definitely have a greater appreciation for the shift that technology brings to the classroom and I have a great understanding of the best way to incorporate that technology so it is most effective for the students.