Assignment 4B: Reflection

There is so much that I have been able to take away from this course. Dr. G introduced us to a plethora of technology tools and resources that would be extremely valuable in the classroom for both educators and their students. Most of these resources were new to me, making me realize that I should really make more of an effort to expose myself to new tools that could be useful.

I feel that I was exposed to newer thoughts and ideas rather than having previous thoughts and ideas confirmed. The first that stood out to me was the concepts presented by Mark Prensky. Before, I saw technology as too much of a crutch for our students. I considered their preference of technology over print and lecture to be an indication of laziness and lack of intellect. Prensky made me realize, however, that I should understand that today's younger students were born into a technology-rich world that they are now accustomed to. It is what it is, and I have to learn the effective ways to adapt and to apply this to my teaching practice.

Google offers plenty of applications that I would love to incorporate into my own teaching. Google Docs and Google Slides would be of great use for different assignments. Google Hangouts would be an excellent collaborative tool for group assignments. I also really enjoyed exploring Google Earth. I was thrilled to find “Hemingway’s Hangouts,” in which I was able to virtually tour author Hemingway’s favorite restaurants, bars, and cafes to visit in various locations from Paris to New Orleans. I would like to expose my students to work by Hemingway, mainly because of his particular writing style. I could assign a project in which students work in groups to research the author.

I enjoyed this course very much. While we were presented with a wide range of material each week, the assignments never felt overwhelming. The collaborate sessions were very helpful and Dr. G was quick to respond to any questions or concerns. She also provided detailed feedback for each assignment, which I very much appreciated.