EDLD+5364+-+Week+2+Reflection

EDLD 5364 - Week 2 Reflection This week has again been a heavy dose of information with readings, videos and collaborative discussions. Much of the readings centered on what current research has discovered about the impact technology has made on students in the classroom. The research was not a surprise to me because I can easily see how technology can create flexible curricula that can be customized to the particular needs of diverse learners. The research and additional readings this week have helped to crystallize my thoughts about the need to ensure that each diverse student reaches his highest level of achievement by having a variety of learning opportunities in the classroom.

Being a practical person, however, my favorite reading is our textbook, __Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works__ by Howard Pitler, Elizabeth Hubbell, Matt Kuhn, and Kim Malenoski. The charts and matrices provided in the book are going to be invaluable tools for me. I am so glad to have an organized way to locate researched information on what instructional strategies work best with what category of technology (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn & Malenoski, 2007, p.13). I am not a classroom teacher, and I welcome all the information in this book about what works well. I have re-read the first and second chapters several times, and I am sure I will do the same with the rest of the book.

This week my team has gone above and beyond what is required of them. Several of us have been sick, but there was never a lull in the action. I have to say Angela Mahl has been the best team leader I have ever seen. She has kept me not only on task, but ahead of task, which is very hard to do. Because of hers, Cortney’s, and Liz’s conscientiousness, we are already beginning the assignment for Week 3. As I complete Week 2 and begin Week 3, I am a little intimidated. I have never planned a lesson like this for 30 second grade students. I am the unseasoned member of the group. Although I home-schooled my seven children, and we were very successful, there was never 30 of them!

Pitler,H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.