Final ED483 Blog

 Before taking ED483, I had a general understanding of computer usage; I took CIS110 my freshman year of college, so I had the foundations, but I just never expanded on them. I had the ability to run a computer and get by with the basics, but I didn’t realize just how valuable technology could be in the area of education. Because of ED483, I now feel like I can be a leader for my students not only in my areas of study, but also in the world of technology.

I think my biggest current technological asset is my e-portfolio. Before ED483, I had no idea that online applications were the norm, or that e-portfolios even existed. Now that I have learned how to put together an e-portfolio, and have been shown the basics of how to put one together, I have the groundwork for having a really great e-portfolio - it may help me get a job someday, because it shows that I am technologically advanced and willing to go the distance in order to constantly grow professionally.

One of the artifacts that I think best displays my ability to integrate technology and education is the flipped lesson plan that I created. A flipped classroom is a form of blended learning which encompasses any use of Internet technology to leverage the learning in a classroom, so a teacher can spend more time interacting with students instead of lecturing. The flipped lesson meets NETS-T Standards 2 (Design and Develop Digital Age Learning Experiences and Assessments) and 3 (Model Digital Age Work and Learning) because it shows that I have the ability to create presentations and videos, while integrating that technology into the classroom, through the form of a flipped lesson. In an ever-increasingly technology reliant world, my knowledge of flipped classrooms will prove invaluable.

I also think my ability to use Google docs, forms, and other various online programs make me a technological asset. In several of my artifacts, I integrated Google docs and forms into my lesson plans. That, along with my basic knowledge of how to create a lesson plan in Moodle, could set me apart from the crowd.

Another important technological asset that I now have is the knowledge of grants and the ability to write up a grant proposal, along with creating a budget spreadsheet. A lot of schools are struggling financially, so to be able to pull in some money for educational opportunities on my own would be a huge positive feature to many schools.

Overall, with my e-portfolio and many artifacts, I think I have many of the technological skills which school districts are looking for. I have shown that I can meet NETS-T Standards as well as Michigan Standard 7.