Reflections on Learning: EDTECH 501

EDTECH 501 was a well-rounded introduction course for technology in education.  For an educator who once felt like they were on the cutting edge of technology in the classroom to a stay-at-home mom looking to figure out the world of technology before I re-enter the work place, I believe I learned a lot in this particular course.  I taught an online high school history course this past year and saw the benefits of online teaching, but still felt like there was something missing that I was used to in the traditional classroom.  So when I was accepted into Boise State's EDTECH program I was unsure how to feel about a strictly online learning environment.  With my busy schedule and family, I found that in this stage of life an online school was beneficial.  I appreciate the challenge I encountered and the feedback I received from both my instructor and fellow classmates.

Using Google+ was a great way to communicate with other educators in this course.  I have also never "blogged" before and found it to be a useful tool.  It was easy to setup and and edit and was a great way to share my assignments with the whole class.  I found it beneficial to catch up on my reading of professional articles about education and technology.  Since the world of technology changes at an increased rate then before, it was a good to get the overall picture of where things are going.

Lastly, I look forward to using what I have learned in this course in my classroom.  The projects I had to complete opened up what I can do in my curriculum to enhance my student's learning.  My favorite tool that I would like to use is the VoiceThread program that allowed a teacher to create an interactive presentation.  The versatility of the program allows it to be used in a variety of ways.  I look forward to my futures courses and hearing the perspectives of other teachers around the world.