Final Reflection Blog for CEP811

I have learned so much in this class about technology, teaching and about myself. I have learned that I have strong technology skills and that I can adapt easily to the various programs and applications. I have learned many different pedagogical strategies that I never knew existed. Since I do not have the foundation of teacher education, I felt quite isolated in the course and at a disadvantage not understanding pedagogy or having the experience of being in a classroom. Despite this "differentness", it was good to be exposed to so many teachers and their methods in the classroom. Hearing about the current challenges in classrooms helps me to create solutions to some of the teaching challenges that exist today.

I learned that something called "WebQuests" exist and provide a wonderful tool for group learning. WebQuests seem like engaging, fun-filled tasks that teachers can turn to in order to engage their students in effective and productive learning. I also found that web 2.0 technologies can be integrated into a simple power point presentation in order to make it engaging and much more effective as a learning tool. Before this course, I had no clue what "web 2.0" meant and now I am using it effectively to enhance the learning of the students I advise and the employees in my office. I hope to continue to add to the web site I've created in order to create an online training resource for the student workers in my office.

My goals for this class were to learn more about technology and how it is used in classrooms. Though I am familiar with many different technologies and I am able to learn new technologies quickly, there are a vast number of teaching technologies that I do not know anything about. It is my goal to stay on top of the newest technologies that can be easily applied in classrooms and training environments. In this course, I was able to find out about these new technologies and actually use them in my own setting. It was quite challenging at times to adapt group classroom applications to a training environment in an office, and it was good for me to be stretched in that manner.

Taking this class has also helped me to refine my long term goals. The more I am exposed to new experiences, the more I can decide what interests me and what does not interest me. I can now imagine myself in the role of a technology trainer for adult learners. I really enjoy the one-on-one training and teaching environment and I especially enjoy working with adult learners. The tools I learned in this class (WebQuests, STAIRS, and wikis) could easily be used to create training modules for adult learners. I am hopeful that I will be able to apply my new skills in my current environment and in future positions.