EDLD+5364+-+Week+5+-+Final+Assessment+-+Course+Reflection

** [[image:ist2_9260132-elementary-school-computer-class.jpg width="342" height="227" align="left" caption="Photo courtesy of iStockphoto.com"]]Final Reflection **
The outcomes I had envisioned for this course were to get a more in depth knowledge of what it meant to integrate technology into the classroom. I was looking forward to using new Web 2.0 tools and I had many opportunities to do so. For the class project, we used Google docs and the Google site. In comparing these resources with the Wikispaces site that was created in our first course, I felt that the Google site was much more user friendly. I was the team lead for the project and was completely out of my comfort zone. I feel that not only I now have new and valuable information that I can use to help my coworkers integrate technology into their own curriculum but also I developed a new set of skills as a leader that I did not have before. 

During these past five weeks, we learned about using Web 2.0 tools and about group collaboration and dynamics. We also learned about the importance of reflective thinking, and providing ongoing feedback and assessment. The insights I gained from working in a group will better prepare me to assist my students in developing their collaboration skills. T his course is one of the most relevant to the work I do now. I am a Bilingual teacher currently but I do everything I can to encourage other teachers on my campus to use technology in their classrooms.

Time is always something that we want more of – more time to learn how to use the tools, more time to work collaboratively with the team – but as adult students, time is a luxury we do not have. The textbooks we used are excellent resource tools and I will spend more time using some of the ideas that I found in them. Working with the group enhanced the learning process and as I stated above I learned more from them than I would have learned from a textbook – possibly because I am a tactile learner.

Being able to communicate with my group via email, Google chats, the Google site allowed me to remain in touch with my team members during the day, and we were able to complete the project last night. I was not aware of the fact that the due date for the final reflection was tonight. Therefore, I had to rush to complete them – NOT my favorite thing, especially since it was mentioned during one of the web conferences that we would be allowed to submit until Sunday, December 20.  I learned of the importance and value of developing strong reflective thinking and group collaboration skills. Creating learning communities and having to work collaboratively in a group has made me change my way of thinking about working in groups. What I learned about my technology skills is that I am not afraid of using new technology tools and am willing to assist others in using tools that are unfamiliar to them. Something I learned about my leadership skills is that I can take on a leadership role and be successful. I approached the project with a negative attitude due to its magnitude but by being in a situation where I had to depend on others and not feeling "in control" of the outcome made it better. I actually enjoyed the group interaction and collaboration.