Different song snippets keep popping into my head, like Frank Sinatra singing, “And now the end is near…”, or “We’ve only just begun...” by the Carpenters. While the class is ending, I am just beginning to bring more technology tools to my students. After completing EDU 776, I definitely feel more prepared using technology to teach students. All semester long, I have tried new things, with varying degrees of success. It was helpful to learn in class from the instructor and from my classmates who researched and presented various topics about just some of the countless apps and websites available.
When you visit my professional website or read previous blog posts, you can see examples of some of the work that my students did this semester. From making word clouds into Thanksgiving cards, to learning about the government from a Thinglink, to making iMovie book trailers, technology provided a fun learning tool. I learned all about Khan Academy and presented it. My students enjoyed using it, but I also learned that Zearn is an app that ties closer than Khan Academy to our Engage New York-based curriculum. One of the highlights for me, was doing a live tweet with two classes, one from Florida and one from Alaska. We played a game of Kahoot about the Global Read Aloud book, Pax. I never would have met those teachers, or introduced my class to other classes in other states, had it not been for Twitter.
Making the iMovie was quite an accomplishment for me. It took a long time to plan and execute, but the final result was worth it. It also made me realize that I could teach kids how to use the iMovie trailer as well as the iMovie. Working on the webquest with a fellow teacher and classmate was fun and educational. Now that I have tried various apps and programs, I feel more comfortable using technology. There are always some frustrating moments, when I can’t figure out something, or when something doesn’t work like I think it should. On the flip side, I like the creativity it offers to someone like me who does not draw, but likes to be creative using pictures, words and now video. Technology is a tool that allows me to do more than I could without it. Its origin is comprised of words that mean art, craft, and systematic treatment, which makes sense, when you think about the endless possibilities it offers.
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So while I began the course with a technological base, it was on larger IBM systems, that bear little or no resemblance to the MacBook Air that I use for school. One similarity is that my Mac probably has as much storage as the giant machines that I used to install. Technology is making a huge difference in how kids learn, and I am glad that I can use my new knowledge of it to help them succeed.
