Final Class Reflection

When I first took this class, I was interested in knowing how exactly I could get my classroom more globally involved. I mean, I knew that I, myself, was very technologically capable and really good at picking up new technology quickly, but what can I do to (better yet, how can I) make my classroom more globally connected? That is why I really took this course. Well, that and the fact that it is required. But that is besides the point.

When we first started working in class, we began talking about technology and how it is used in today's classrooms across the world. Some use simple technologies to assist in lessons, others use technology to make connections between the classroom and the real world. I personally wanted to know how to take the lessons I already use to connect my class with that the rest of the world thinks about the topic.  How could I take my middle of nowhere class in Hillsboro-Deering to start thinking about the implications of the marketing, business concepts, and business practices they use daily in my class and how it effects the rest of the globe.  For instance, how does marketing differ in the United States and China when a company is trying to sell the same product. The two countries market two totally different ways and if I could show my students that, in the classroom, they can feel more globally connected.

Where would I start? Well, when I came into the class, I knew how to use all the basic computer systems, the soft and hardware that comes along with them, and how to access the Internet to find and utilize web 2.0 tools. This has become common knowledge due to the educational background that I had and would not be an issue in this class.

What I wanted to know is how I could connect all of this with a global agenda to better the curriculum that I already use.

What I learned? . . . ummmm . . .  Learned? . . . hmmmm. . . yeah, about that. . .  (TOTALLY KIDDING!) I learned a tremendous amount of things in this class. I would have to say that the most major thing that I learned is that there are standard other than those that we use through our curriculum that specifically relate to the use of technology in the classroom. The NET standards were something that I never had heard of before this classroom and gave me a way to assess how I was using technology in the classroom.

The second thing that I learned that will really help me this school year is how to better integrate the web 2.0 tools that I already use (and some that I just learned about) in my classroom to enhance the lesson that I am already doing. I am very fortunate to have some top of the line computers in my new classroom with access to the Internet for every student. This allows me to give my students access to these web 2.0 tools and to utilize them to enhance their lessons.

The third major thing that I learned is that our students do not understand their digital footprints. My students are always posting items to their facebook, tweeting on their twitter, uploading photos to one of their numerous online photo albums, and/or doing something on the Internet that will totally tarnish their reputation in the future. This is something that I will be working with my students all year to improve and ensure that they do not make mistakes today that will haunt them tomorrow.

With all these things in mind, I would say that I have a wonderful time this term learning about all of the opportunities to make the classroom a global atmosphere and bring my students in their little towns to the real globally connected world.