Blog Post #16 (My Final Reflection)

My name is Katlyn Lusker, and I am a elementary education student at the University of South Alabama. At the beginning of the semester, I wasn't too sure what to expect from EDM310. I had received an email from Dr. Strange before school had even started, that explained some of the things required for this class. I felt overwhelmed before the very first day! However, I feel much more confident in my teaching ability now that I have taken this course. I have gained many new skills, and I have learned so much in just one semester.

For our first blog post assignment we were required to imagine what our future classroom would be like when we start teaching. We were also required to list and discuss the methods and tools we would use to teach our students. In response to this assignment I said, "I would use Smart boards, overheads, chalkboards, and dry erase boards." I even said, "I believe technology in the classroom is important." While I may have thought technology was important in the beginning of the semester, I now have a deeper understanding of why technology really IS so important. I have gained and learned many new skills that I wasn't aware of before this course. Like I stated in my first blog post, I still do want my students to be excited about learning new things. I have always wanted my students to be able to do hands-on, project-based learning activities. I think the best way to learn is to actually put your learning into practice. Through the help of this class, I have gained a deeper knowledge of project-based learning, and we have been able to watch videos of students actually putting their learning into practice and seeing the positive outcomes it has on student learning.

I would not change very much of what I stated in my first blog post, but I definitely would add more methods and tools now that this semester of EDM310 is coming to a close. I have learned so much in this one semester, in this one class, than I probably ever have in an entire school year. In EDM310, I have learned how to make imovies, ibooks, work a mac computer, make a podcast, make and maintain a blog, communicate with students and teachers around the world, use Smart boards effectively, leave appropriate comments, work collaboratively, and work and act in a professional manner. In my first blog post I said, "My students will participate in the learning process by answering questions when called on, reading aloud, completing assignments in group activities, and by doing projects." I still agree with that statement however, I will now be focusing more on project based learning activities, and I will definitely use technology more than I thought I would at the beginning of the semester.