My Reflection on Education Technology
“
Reflection is part of learning and thinking. We reflect in order to learn something, or we learn as
a result of reflecting, and the term 'reflective learning' emphasises the intention to learn from current or prior experience” (Moon 2!". Reflection allows us to to open ourselves to different different perspectives as well as helping us to identif# our strengths and weaknesses and how to make them $etter. Reflecting is also an empowerment tool that will help us to to grow and look at things criticall# through different lenses. %onsidering &ohn ewe#s famous )uote *We dont learn from experience. We learn learn from reflecting on experience”, + have engaged in reflecting on m# experiences in -ducational echnolog# echnolog# class, $oth in theor# and in practice. + $elieve that we are in the midst of a ma/or revolution in the technological field. 0ver the past four months, + have $een introduced to a plethora of technological aids, resources, and tools that + never suspected would exist. echnolog# echnolog# will $e a great asset a sset in m# classroom, as a motivational aid and a teaching tool to help students succeed. he realms of technolog# in the classroom have expanded far $e#ond mere word processing and $asic presentations with images. echnolog# is now a prime wa# to motivate students. he first da# + went to -ducation echnolog# echnolog# class + was as a $lank slate. + was not technologicall# inclined furthermore, + was /ust an immigrant. + felt hopeless and wa nted to give up. a#s after da#s, classes after classes + started to feel much $etter. 1owever, it was the first time doing an online course *choolog#”. + thought the use of an online medium such as choolog# was great3 it was m# first time experiencing a virtual learning tool in a classroom. + liked the discussion forums we held in choolog# and the fact that we had access to information and course work through that medium.
4s the da#s and months go $# + started to feel a sense of $elonging in -ducation echnolog# echnolog# class. M# lecturer, Mrs. 5. 6earde 6earde made ever# effort to ensure we understood the concepts that were $eing taught. he would allow us to do small group presentations in class that catered to our multiple intelligences. his was good at all times $ecau se we grasp and learnt the concepts more. he lecturer created a safe and ps#cho7social environment where we cou ld feel relax to voice our opinions and participated willingl# in discussions. his was achieve through her charismatic personalit#, she was a$le to $uild a relationship with the class this facilitated the opening of a door for us to learn, making us receptive to what was said and to $e done3 this gave us the confidence con fidence to contri$ute as well. 8urthermore, in class we explore the theories of -ducation echnolog#. hese theories include constructivism, social constructivism, $ehaviourism, transformative, activit# theor#, theor#, transactional distance theor#, theor#, cognitive theor# of multimedia learning, social cognition, 9iagetian theor#, situated cognition, distri$uted cognition and sociall#7shared cognition, transactional d istance theor#, transformative transformative learning theor# and connectivism. hrough these theories we were a$le to see a reflection in a real attempt at $ridging theor# and practice to gain a deeper understanding of the nature of theor# as it applies to educational technolog# as a learning tool in the classroom. We were also engaged in practical work such as creating our own :oki :oki and the other we$ 2. tools. +ndeed we have learnt how to infuse high ec technolog# in teaching instead of using the low ec ec technolog# such as chalk$oard and television. We are in the twent#7first centur# and we must cater to these students as well to $e educated on technolog#. hus, with the course -ducational echnolog# + am now $etter a$le to plan for m# students using appropriate technologies to match m# students needs which will enhance the teaching and learning experience in the classroom.
4s + reflect on the course + remem$er + started off as a digital immigrant $ut now + am proud to sa# the -ducation echnolog# echnolog# course has done a lot for me. + am now almost a proud digital native. + have grown, accomplished and achieved man# skills through the technolog# -ducation course. + am now a$le a$ le to create m# own :oki :oki which + can use as in as introductor# activit# when teaching a lesson. + can also make m# own video $# using windows movie maker. 4s a Religious -ducation teacher, if m# students cannot go on certain fieldtrips + can use the internet and get pictures and create m# own digital stor# where m# students can go g o on a virtual tour. + am now a$le to create m# own we$site and we$)uest where + can set work online on line for m# students and also have online classes. c lasses. +snt this great; rowth and
logging on to retrieve information and post comments on the class. hrough that tool, $oth lecturer and the students were evaluating and assessing the learning process. he lecturer demonstrated fluenc# and knowledge of her content and it was clearl# handed down to the students. We colla$orated as students to get some of our o ur assignment done with the assistance from our lecturer. he promotion and modeling of digital eti)uette and responsi$le social interactions related to the use of technolog# was evident throughout the class exercises. he lecturer exhi$ited leadership $# demonstrating the infusion of technolog# while we participated in shared decision making. he +- 5- standards were evident in the wa# the lecturer planned and executed her lesson. + am motivated to impact m# students with the use of technolog# in the classroom and to also use the +- 5- standards with the wa # + plan for m# students. he -ducation echnolog# echnolog# course overall was great. + will implore m# lecturer to continue to $e an effective lecturer.
