I feel that working in an elementary setting puts me at an advantage in some ways and a disadvantage in others. In third grade, the students are interested in learning new things, and they are willing to give anything a try. However, they don’t have technology at their fingertips, in the way of a smartphone or tablet, to the same degree that older students do. Also, the majority of things that I’ve learned in this course is completely unfamiliar to third graders, so we truly have to start at the very beginning, whereas older students are usually familiar with the basics. I’m hoping to make a difference in that area, at least for the students I teach, and, hopefully, I can influence the teachers as well.
I look forward to using the tools I’ve learned in this course, in my classroom, as well as in some professional learning environments. I believe that these are the ways that classrooms will move forward, and I look forward to being a part of that change!
It’s hard to believe that this time, just six months ago, I was barely familiar with the terms “wiki,” “Edmodo,” and “screencast!” I don’t even know where to begin in a discussion about what I’ve learned in this course. There are so many tools that I have never considered using that I am now using or planning to use on a regular basis. Probably the biggest lesson I’ve learned is that, if I want to do something, I should just try it. The web 2.0 tools are so user-friendly, that I am no longer scared to give them a try.