EDLD+5364+Final+Assessment

1. What outcomes had you envisioned for this course? Did you achieve those outcomes? Did the actual course outcomes align with those that you envisioned? The outcomes I had for a course with the title “Teaching with Technology” included learning how to implement technology or more technology in different classes and sharing this information with teachers on my campus. I wanted to know how to use technology with different students with different learning levels. These outcomes were achieved and I am looking forward to sharing with the teachers on my campus. The actual course outcomes were aligned with those I envisioned but there were also additional outcomes that I had not envisioned such as working in a collaborative learning team. Through the various readings and videos, I gained so much information and so many new strategies that I feel as if I want to share everything with my teachers immediately. I believe that the last readings about reinforcing effort and helping students realize the importance of believing in effort (Pitler, et. al, 155) will be something that when shared with my teachers and administrators will provide that “ah-ha” moment and excitement that we are on the right track on campus.  2. To the extent that you achieved the outcomes, are they still relevant to the work that you do in your school? Why or why not? Based on the extent that I achieved the outcomes of the course, they are even more relevant to the work that I do on my campus that I previously believed. Every class that I have taken toward my degree has provided me with an opportunity to share at least one thing with teachers on my campus. This course was no exception. However, I am looking forward to sharing with them the information from the readings that will enforce the way my campus does data walls in the halls and the FINO (Failure Is Not An Option) folders with each individual student. By showing students their accomplishments and achievements and the connection between effort and achievement (Pitler, et. al, 156) will result in students working harder and proving themselves and working harder. I believe this can also apply to teachers as we teach and the results reflect in our students. I also believe this will reflect in campus TPM (Texas Projection Measurement).  3. What outcomes did you not achieve? What prevented you from achieving them? There were not any of my personal outcomes above that I did not achieve. I have had to delay sharing the information I have obtained with my teachers as we have run out of time due to the Christmas holiday. However, I think this delay will be a good thing. I will be working over the holiday to get a mini-presentation together to share with them. I meet with all of my core teachers every Thursday for technology issues. Usually, I share a small bit of information with them. I think the delay will be a good thing so that I can organize everything and share with them so they might implement some of them in their classes. In this case not achieving the outcome because of a time frame will work to my benefit.  4. Were you successful in completing the course assignments? If not, what prevented or discouraged you? I was successful in completing my course assignments. With the help of one of my team members, Amanda, we were able to work together to pick up pieces when another member dropped the class. However, we accepted another student into our group with the understanding that he pick up where Julia left off. It has been very difficult and I am very sad that I indicated to him that he could work with my information on the Technology Learning Activities and help to merge my lesson one to his lesson two to Amanda’s lesson three. I had already done some connection between one and three. However, after the assignment was submitted, I was very sad to find that he had copied and pasted much of my work onto his work. This is discouraging. I am proud of the work I completed and merged with my team members and I feel the plan can be used by any teacher and I plan to share with my 8th grade science teachers.  5. What did you learn from this course: about yourself, your technology and leadership skills, and your attitudes? Through this course, I learned that I am a strong person that can overcome adversity. I also learned to step back and let someone else take a leadership position. Amanda took the lead on this project and since we have worked together, it was fun to do that. I think that is more difficult to do than being a leader (especially if you are an “A” personality and very picky about how everything is done. This project, I worked on my part, did what I was asked to do and jumped in as needed but I let someone else take the lead. I also drew from many different people information about technology. I went to teachers on campus and asked for their input and I did a lot of research. Learning about UDL was amazing and I am excited to come back to work in January and share with my academic teams as I meet with them.I feel that all of the teams will be able to benefit from what I have learned and I know that I have to share the wealth.