Week 5 Reflection

• What outcomes had you envisioned for this course? Did you achieve those outcomes? Did the actual course outcomes align with those that you envisioned?


Upon orieneting myself with the premis of this course I was expecting a course in applying and using institutional technology. Perhaps some troubleshooting and understanding a variety of operating systems was what I envisioned. Consequently, my computer suffered a major downfall, and I was left trying to figure it out. After hours of technical support and running scans, and trying this and trying that, I actually did learn a bit about trouble shooting a computer. Just from listening and paying attention to what was being done by the technician I became a bit more advanced in my understanding of the Windows XP operating system.

Many of the things I have noticed with technology integration in public schools is the number of attainable grants available and the money that is being dedicated to assist in this endeavor. However, with this massive financial commitment to make schools more technologically up to date, there has not been a deliberate and obvious training program to facilitate its integration into the classroom. What the content of this course made apparent to me is that the need for technology integration is present and necessary. However, many issues arise with the technology among them being adequate training, infrastructure, and security.

• 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? I believe it to be very relevant. I use hardware and applications everyday in my classroom. Among the many considerations I have when planning are, How can this be done, and What are the limitations.

• What outcomes did you not achieve? What prevented you from achieving them?

Well I don’t believe I was able to address the requirements on the discussion board as I had hoped. The number of articles was high, and what was asked of us was very time intensive and with the computer problems I experienced, I fell behind and wasn’t able to interact as I had hoped. Just to get the opinions of others in the same situation.

• Were you successful in carrying out the course assignments? If not, what prevented or discouraged you? As far as the assignments, yes I believe that I was able to get the needed materials and analyze them and make some decisions as to the alignment of our district with regards to the vision the state has for technology. With regards to the articles and discussion boards. No I feel as if I neglected those to a great extent because of the problems mentioned previoulsy.

• What did you learn from this course…about yourself, your technology and leadership skills, and your attitudes?

I learned that a solid foundation with the platforms on which you are working are necessary and vital. I became aware of the vision the State of Texas has for the integration of technology in the public classroom. While plannign the staff development It became apparent to me that I share the same vision that the State does with regards to technology. That shared vision really enabled me to be a valid organizor of the development opportunity. With a passion for the contnet and understanding of the relvance it wa more than a task, it became a crucial part of the educational atmosphere.

• What is the educational value of blogs and blogging to the 21st century learner?

I believe it provides an opportunity to make instructors, and reflection more accessable. When a learning moment occurs blogs make it possible to publish a discovery and offer an opportunity to relfect upon the process. In addition students and professors are no longer limited to the classroom for interacton. Blogs also make it possible for instructors to get feedback from their students.



• What are the concerns of blogs and blogging in education?

Because of the openness of the media security and protecting against innappropriate material is a real concern. Another concern is protection of ideas. It would be very possible for an idea to be taken and used for another benefit.

• How can you use blogging to communicate with school stakeholders?

Blogging would give many a voice and their thoughts and ideas are not fleeting. They are posted on the blog for as long as the moderator would like for them to be. I think this would really give not only active stakeholders but those in the community an opportunity to make their voices heard, in open and honest manner.