This reflection discusses the course outcomes and what was learned from the class about instructional technologies. The author realized their district has many technologies but is not using them to their full potential for differentiated instruction. As an instructional leader, the author would focus on professional development to help teachers implement the technologies already available more effectively. Blogging was discussed as an underutilized but valuable tool for communication and providing students with real-world skills, though security and educational concerns need addressing.

1. Week 5 Reflection First of all, when I signed up for this course, I had no idea the course was going to be mainly about technologies in instruction and education. I thought the class’s focus was going to be leadership within classroom instruction. After reading the syllabus, I realized what the class was going to focus on and I was thrilled. I love anything to do with technology so, honestly, I thought the class wasn’t going to be that difficult. Much to my surprise, I learned more than I had ever hoped for. This class was challenging and enlightening. In the paragraphs below I will reflect on my course outcomes, what I achieved, what I learned and how I will use them as an instructional leader. As stated above, I feel I am one of the more technologically advanced employees on my campus. I’m usually the one the other teachers come to for help with technology, whether it is a technical issue or needing help implementing technology into a lesson. I have even had several opportunities to conduct staff development in several areas concerning technology over the years. I also think my district is quite advanced with the technologies we house. After taking this course, I’ve come to realize that our district is fortunate enough to have many technologies, but I don’t feel we are utilizing them to their fullest potential. For example, teachers have at least four student computers in their classrooms, but students are not using them as much as they should be. Teachers could be using these computers for differentiated instruction for students to have opportunities to produce an alternate product other than pencil paper. I sense teachers think that letting students produce their work through technology is too much work for them to prepare, so they don’t even bother. In past years, I’ve taught language arts, but for the past two years I’ve taught science in a lab setting for grades two through five. So, in other words, I don’t have a regular classroom setting. I see every student in the school on a weekly basis. I use technology with almost every lesson, but I don’t have the opportunities to create lessons that are project based and centered on technology. My class periods are forty five minutes in length and the lessons are always hands-on activities centered on what students are learning in science in their classrooms. On the other hand though, if I were a regular classroom teacher, I am sure I would be creating more project based lessons that would involve a tremendous amount of technology. My campus is advanced in some areas of technology, but we are behind in terms of where the students are with technology. As a future leader of instruction, I think before I would invest in anymore technologies for this campus, I would spend more time implementing professional development plan so we could utilize the technologies that we currently have. Show teachers all the different ways technology can be used in the classroom. A mentor program could also enhance the effectiveness of implementing technology into the curriculum. Blogs, in my opinion, are a very beneficial and useful in education, but unfortunately, it isn’t utilized nearly enough. I started blogging about a year and a half ago, and it is a great tool to use to communicate to so many different people in different places that you would not otherwise have the opportunity to communicate with. Blogging has an enormous amount of educational value, but unfortunately, teachers can’t quite see this vision yet. In today’s world, students in our society always want immediate gratification with everything they do. How better to provide them with this than letting them blog in school. Teachers could use blogging to allow students to communicate with other students their age all over the world. Instead of pen pal letters that takes forever to get back, blogging is instant. When students get into the work place, they will be expected to do communicate with all types of people through blogs. So, if we have the responsibility of producing students who can function in this type of work setting, then we as educators have the responsibility of creating 21st century learners. I realize there are some real concerns for teachers, students, parents and administrators in regards to students’ blogging. Some apprehensions are security issues for students. For example, how will teachers know who students are talking to? We don’t want our students in danger while they are blogging at school or anywhere. I feel it is very important to educate PK-12 students every year of the dangers of the Internet and how to stay safe. It should never be assumed that students know what to do and what not to do on the Internet. We as educators should take on the responsibility of communicating this information to students on a yearly basis. Blogging is also beneficial in communicating with other teachers around the world, parents of your students, and with the teachers and administrators on your campus. Haven’t we said for years that the best resource a teacher has in other teachers? Well, if teachers are blogging with teachers from all over, then look at all the resources the teacher will have at his/her finger tips. Blogging is also a good tool for teachers on the same campus. Teachers can post effective practices they’ve used in their classroom. This is a good window for an administrator to look through too. The administrator can see what is happening in the classrooms of his/her campus. Parents can also be informed of what is going on in their child’s classroom through the use of blogs. There are endless ways to use blogging effectively for teachers, parents, administrators, and students. Technology is the future and the educational world has to keep up with and implement it into the curriculum if we are going to be effective educators and leaders of the 21st century learner. It is our responsibility to provide our students the skills so they will be prepared to work and live in the 21st century.