Final+Course+Reflections+for+EDLD+5364


 * 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? **

This is my second course at Lamar University and during the first course; we touched on Web 2.0 tools. At the end of the first course, they requested us to purchase two books and from there I envisioned outcomes. I knew that the course would provide us with good instructional strategies for the classroom that utilized Web 2.0 tools for technology integration. We received great information on offering differentiated instruction to address the needs of all students. This information came from the CAST site on Universal Design for Learning (UDL). It allowed us to create lessons and rubrics that will address the needs of students with disabilities all the way up to those students, which are gifted and talented. The course allows us to work in groups, which was what I was hoping to do. In working with a group, we developed good collaborative and analytical skills when we worked on the class project. In creating the final product, we learned concepts on lesson planning and creating rubrics for assessment to address the diverse needs of the student population that what addressed in the project scenario. The course helped substantially in learning how to use these concepts and incorporating all the available tools to address good technology classroom skills.


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

In my job as a Director of Technology, the outcomes of this course are relevant to the extent that I will be able to better comprehend the needs of my teachers. In working with my teachers I can see with more clarity their needs when they are working on lesson plans to address the needs of all their students. In my position, I am responsible for securing the network, so that it addresses the protection of all children. I know the great potential of the resources on the web-enabled tools like the Web 2.0 that we have worked with. It makes it easy to open up access to those resources and align policies and procedures for their use. It has empowered me make decisions that will best meet the needs of the students and teachers. We can purchase remote response systems, cameras, text to speech applications, and additional workstations so that students can work in groups. This class has empowered me with the learning and motivation to be more of a proactive leader to provide the needs to go to the next level of learning.


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

There were items that at first got me to question if I could achieve the intended outcomes of the course. The first item was that of the shortened week that we had to produce the final product for our project. This allowed me to look into myself and see how good my time management skills really were. I had to burn the midnight oil a couple of nights to make that the projects were on track. If you really want something, bad enough the outcomes are easily within reach. The second was open-ended nature of the project, which got me to think more than normal. This is good thing since it got the team to think outside the box and brainstorm on ideas for a good project. It got the team to think of project that was ideal in classroom settings. Nothing prevented me from achieving those goals because of the makeup of the team. I could not have asked for a better team because of collaborative nature that they invited. Even though we had a team leader he made sure that all of contributed our strengths to the project.


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

I am glad to say that there was success in completing the course assignments. In assuring the completion of the project there were a few hurdles that the team and I had to overcome. There was great collaboration between all members of the team for a successful project completion. The team successfully came to a consensus of the project that we would work on. We communicated via different tools using the different tools at our disposal as e-mail, phone, and the Web 2.0 collaboration tools like wikis, Google Docs, and the Google site. I am glad and fortunate that the team came to me for the technical expertise to assist them in implementation of the site. I have to repeat that the team makeup was vital in the ultimate completion of the project and its results. The only thing that could have prevented the completion of the project was ourselves, but because the team worked well collaboratively and diligently, we were successful.


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

I have learned so many things in this course to integrate into my District. I have learned how to prepare a lesson plan, create a rubric, and professional development to say a few. This course has allowed me to collaborate with a great group and learn many things from them. The team and the leader were awesome because they provided much insight into the project. I know that my attitude towards learning and integrating this new knowledge is positive and I will definitely incorporate it in the District to improve the arsenal of tools that teachers have to maximize the leaning potential of the students. I know that my twenty-five years is technology is good, but I have only had thirteen plus using it in an educational environment. As an administrator in the District, I have a good repertoire with the teachers in the District. They have often asked me for help in implementing these new technologies in the schools and I will make sure that with the justification that I present to upper administration this will become a reality.