Course Reflection

The ‘Bridging Learning Theory, Instruction, and Technology’ course provided a critical connection that I was neglecting in my work as a district educational technologist. While I have been extremely successful at promoting the use of a wide variety of technology resources by educators and students, I was missing the critical link between educational theory and instructional methods. Intuitively I understood that actively engaging students in problem based learning was effective for getting them to think critically, solve problems, collaborate and be creative. What I was failing to do was to effectively communicate the theory behind the methods I was advocating to educators. I know now that by researching and discussing the theoretical basis for the educational techniques and technology integration I am advocating that I will become a much more effective staff developer. Next school year, I will provide a philosophical and/or theoretical basis for any technology or instructional method that I am advocating that educators utilize.

Another adjustment that I will make in my daily work is the general method I have been utilizing to evaluate technology integration in my district. Up to now, I have primarily focused on end products that teachers and students provide as evidence for student learning. From now on, I will spend more time and effort determining the actual instructional value that utilizing the technology provided students instead of primarily looking at final products. I will ask educators and students to share how the projects contributed to increased learning. Process is definitely more important than the product which is something that I have lost sight of over the years. In an attempt to get more funding for technology, I have been overly focused on sharing impressive final technology products instead of emphasizing how the projects improved student learning. This is definitely an area I will improve in next school year.

I am excited about emphasizing the district wide use of concept mapping tools next year. My district purchased licenses for both Kidspiration and Inspiration and I am committed to making sure these tools are used to effectively improve student learning in grade K-12 next year. In my own work with video production students, I am looking forward to using VoiceThreads and collaborative documents next school year.

This course really helped me connect learning theory with instructional techniques and the integration of technology. I had many of the pieces to the educational puzzle but they were all scattered on the table. This course has helped me to start to put these pieces together so that they can mutually benefit one another and help me create learning activities that truly benefit and promote highest achievement for each individual student.