EDLD+5364+Final+Reflection+and+Assessment


 * 1. What outcomes had you envisioned for this course? Did you achieve those outcomes? Did the actual course outcomes align with those that you envisioned?**

The outcomes I envisioned for the course involved the challenges of classroom technology integration and the research base, technical issues, and personnel issues associated with integration. The beginning of the course provided the research basis for technology in the classroom. One principle of the constructivist theory states- “knowledge is constructed in multiple ways, through a variety of tools, resources, experiences, and contexts” (Southwest Educational Development Laboratory, 1999). Technology can provide those tools. Solomon and Schrum described the New Tech High Model where collaborative and project based learning is the primary focus with the technology used as a support. As a technology leader my job is to put the appropriate technology tools in the hands of teachers and students to achieve desired learner outcomes for all students. I achieved the outcomes of learning and understanding the research behind technology integration. The actual course outcomes did not align with my vision of learning more about technical and personnel issues.

Solomon, G., & Schrum, L. (2007). //Web 2.0: New tools, New schools.// Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education, 7-44. Southwest Educational Development Laboratory, (1999). //Learning as a personal event: A brief introduction to constructivism.// Retrieved on December 16, 2009 from []


 * 2. To the extent that you achived the outcomes, are they still relevant to the work that you do in your school? Why or why not?**

As a technology leader for my district, I am expected to make decisions that will have a direct impact on the teachers and students. With this responsibility in mind I believe that the course prepared me for the challenges and rewards of technology integration. The readings from //Web 2.0: New Tools, New Schools// in particular provided me with actual classroom examples of technology integration. Integration using the New Tech High School Model of balancing pedagogy and technology is a set of ideals that classroom teachers in my district will be interested in studying (Solomon & Schrum, 2007). The UDL readings supported my beliefs that technology can be the answer for many curriculum differentiation challenges. The UDL lesson builder and book builder are specific sites that I can utilize for future staff development programs. The course is especially helpful in showing technology leaders the difficulties and challenges faced in modifiying lessons and teaching in a digital world.

Solomon, G., & Schrum, L. (2007). //Web 2.0: New tools, New schools.// Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education, 78-79.


 * 3. What outcomes did you not achieve? What prevented you from achieving them?**

The outcomes that I did not achieve were in the areas of personnel and technical management. I would like to have more instruction and a greater knowledge base in these areas. As I gain experience in my leadership position some of my deficiencies will be rectified. However, I would like to have more background knowledge. Managing the personnel needed to integrate technology is a key component of my daily job duties for my district. I need to be schooled in the most effective uses of technology professionals to aid the students and teachers. Managing the technical issues that arise is another part of my duties. I desire the skills needed to handle problems with servers, educational technology professional development, software and hardware decisions, and proper equipment uses. In this course the area in which I am still deficient is the process of changing the traditional classroom to a digital classroom. The reason these outcomes were not achieved is the length of this course. If the course was longer or some desired outcomes were covered in other courses then most of my defiencies would be met.


 * 4. Were you successful in completing the course assignments? If not, what prevented or discouraged you?**

I successfully completed all of the assignments. The Google Docs and Google Site were new learning for me. I did have some issues when submitting the Google Docs to the course coach. If you do not open the document for viewing then the coach cannot see the document without logging in on the Google Docs site. I also had some technical problems when using copy/paste from MS Word to a Google document. The Google document did not read the MS Word tables properly. I had to readjust many of the lines for the tables in my UDL lesson plan and Teacher Learning Activity. The UDL site also presented some problems. When the site experienced a high volume of traffic it would not allow pages to load properly. This problem was especially frustrating during the Week 3 assignments. Lastly, even though I successfully completed the assignments week five was shortened by two days. Since this master’s program is designed for working teaching professionals I complete the majority of my school work on the weekends. This adjustment of the class calendar caused me to scramble to complete all of the Week 5 assignments.


 * 5. What did you learn from this course: about yourself, your technology and leadership skills, and your attitudes?**

When the course began my group was formed with three classmates who have collaborated with me for assignments in previous courses. Our leader volunteered her services. She organized the Google Docs and the Google Site for our group. While I would have been comfortable in a leadership position, I was willing to let another classmate assume the leadership role. As the assignments progressed I realized that you do not have to possess the title of leader to be one. I was fully involved in all major decisions for our group including technical and content issues. My attitude toward the group assignment was to ensure that all the team members worked as a unit and shouldered the burdens of the coursework equally. We did submit one assignment late because of a failure on the part of one of the team members. However, in summation I am proud of the group project and look forward to working with my team in future courses.