Reflective Synopsis

Growing up in a tech world from a young age I didn’t know what to expect when I signed up to this course. Entering the classroom for the first time, embarrassingly late, and beginning the course work I thought this was going to be easy as pie. We began by accessing the iPads and carried out work on them for the remainder of the lesson. We looked at simple things such as opening settings, using the web browser and so on. My belief that this course would be ‘easy’ still stayed true. As the weeks went on, however, and the topics got more diverse my thinking drastically changed. We began looking at a numerous amounts of technologies that I’d never even heard of before. Ranging from digital tools for presentations, to programs that create mind-maps, and applications that allow you to create music, the list continued to grow with each week. My position in the digital world was challenged. And whilst being shaken I wasn’t deterred. Throughout the term, and during analysing each new technology, there were a few common aspects that acted as a platform for us to flaunt our new tools. These factors will be discussed shortly. Just like the technology itself I believe this experience has taught me the importance of continual learning, developing and sharing with others!

One of the most prominent aspects, and probably most important as a future teacher, we focussed on was safety features of the applications that we were discussing. Accessing these programs in a future classroom as a practicing teacher I need to ensure they are safe for students. They also need to be used in an ethical and legal manner. Making us focus on this same topic each week has almost engraved into our heads the importance of safe cyber world use. Intuitively it has also highlighted the major risks that could be involved. An example of this could be of a student using a program that’s online based. When using a digital technology like this we need to make sure we protect student identity, it is a safe learning environment, and who can access the information. On a lighter note these technologies also promote creativity.

During the process of analysing these programs a facet of learning I enjoyed most was creative thinking. From the most basic of digital technologies to far more complex ones almost all include an element of creativity. This term alone I used several in a matter of weeks. Ranging from iMovie to make movies obviously trailers and short films, to Wikispaces which allows you to design online spaces for several people to use at once, and even Didlr – a digital tool that lets you draw ‘didls’ (art with your fingers). I’ve grown to appreciate this course because not only has it kept me motivated but it’s allowed me (in some way or another) to do something I love. It’s allowed me to be artistic and creative, and question my choices which only makes me improve. Creating is also high on the Bloom’s Taxonomy which happens to be another continuing aspect of the term.

Throughout the term the Bloom’s Taxonomy scale was a continuing trend whilst analysing our new technologies. Bloom’s is a scale that is used to rank activities and programs as to what level of thinking they promote. This is usually classed as low level or higher order thinking. Thankfully digital technologies are all quite creatively driven – an aspect that ranks highly on the scale. This made for easy discussion. Due to the way I suggested use for the digital technologies most levels of the Bloom’s scale were in use. Whilst discussing Blooms the SAMR model was also evident.

Of the duration of the course the SAMR model was probably the aspect that gave me the most grieve. The model encourages teachers to use technologies in ways that have previously not been done so before. It also promotes educators to further their own thinking… extend themselves. SAMR stands for Substitution; Augmentation; Modification; and Redefinition. With the latter two being the most difficult. Although this hasn’t been my most favourite aspect of the term I think it has been the one that’s taught me the most. And as well as extending my thinking it has also given me numerous ideas for when I have my own classroom. And hopefully many more to come!

I honestly can’t describe how much of a great adventure this whole thing has been. There’s been many great highs and some really bad lows but it’s all been worth it. This experience has taught me so much more than I ever thought I was capable of. I’m proud to say that I’ve almost finished the course and I’m so happy it’s been with the people sitting alongside me in class. Thank you so much Miriam I couldn’t have done it without you either. I can’t wait to continue learning more about the amazing new digital world!