Mike+C

Mike C EDUC 536 Reflection

Reflection: Thoughts and Perspective on EDUC 536  Throughout the progression of this course, I feel that I have not only developed my knowledge of educational technologies but improved my abilities as an educator. The beneficial aspects of this course have been exponential and each week has left me with an actionable tenet that I could apply to my students’ learning experience. One of the greatest components of this course was its breadth and scope. We learned about specific assistive technologies for individualized students to whole school technology integrations strategies.  As educators, or future educators, each of us tries to provide our students with not only authentic and engaging learning opportunities but instructional pathways that lead to learner independence. The technologies learned in this class allow us to give our students the opportunity for growth and independence. Another important component of the technologies presented to us was the cost factor. “If it’s free, it’s for me!” Being cost effective and reachable really does allow us to reach more students. Further, the conversations around digital citizenship and cyberbullying are both relevant and vital topics that students in today’s environment are exposed to on a regular basis.  Moreover, I thoroughly enjoyed the positivity, openness, and collaboration that was shared amongst this class. Perhaps it is because I teach in an urban district where negative conversations can sprout quickly because of misconstrued perspectives, but I can honestly say I enjoyed walking into class on Tuesdays (even though I had a rough time being able to arrive on time, my apologies). The discussions and ideas presented, coupled with the optimism and ease of use, inspired me to try new ideas in my classroom. The realistic and fluid nature of this course provided relevant perspective afforded me the opportunity to explore and create with my students on various levels.  Overall, this course was a transformative experience for me both as a learner and as an educator. This course grants my underprivileged students the opportunity to not only compete with their suburban counterparts but also expand their school-based provisional normalcy. I also enjoy the continuity of 21st century learning opportunities and their constant evolution. This course was, overall, one of the best learning experiences I have had at St. Joseph College (University of Saint Joseph).