Module+4+Reflection

**Module 4 Reflection Prompt** Reflect on your thinking surrounding your developing a philosophy of Instructional Technology use for learning and your understanding of 21st Century Teaching and Learning

__Description:__ Write a short paper which will be a synthesis of the information in this course on the technology standards, TPACK, ethics, 21st century skills and my philosophy of educational technology. 

__Impact:__ I put off writing this paper for as long as I could, finding any excuse - lesson plans, report cards, OGT week, I got sick, my kids, the kitchen floor needed to be washed (still does by the way). I dreaded putting it all together, the information seemed too vast. At first it was all very overwhelming, but as I re-read assigned materials it lead me to a new understanding of the "Big Picture". When an article is first assigned in the class it seems that I was struggling to just get an understanding of what was being discussed; But as I looked back over the textbooks and additional material I found I really did learn a lot. Now I found myself reading and taking in new dimensions of the material - I got what they were saying!

What was most rewarding to me was to see that I have a progressive philosophy on technology in schools. I struggle to express how important this is to me personally. As a young girl I always wanted to be a teacher but life took me down a different path only to surprise me 20 years later by dropping teaching into my lap. Now I am a teacher - a first year teacher in my early 40's and I know that I am a good teacher. I know this because of what my students say, my boss, my co-workers and I just know it in my heart. But I think if I had become a teacher in my early 20's would I be as good as a teacher with those extra 20 years experience? I don't think so - not that someone who has that experience can't - I just don't think I would have. I am too stubborn and set in my ways!

My life experiences are what make me a unique teacher, lessons that just aren't taught in school. Working in industry, being a scientist, being married to a scientist, having a "special needs" child combined with getting a teaching license through an intense program that really focused on what a future educator needs to be. All this with the timing of the 21st century instead of 1985 (when computers were not even a household item - now I sit with 3 laptops on the table and a desktop in the next room). What does all this have to do with the assignment you ask - well above all else that I learned (or I should say re-learned) that I am a Constructivist and while I don't have all the skills to apply TPCK I know that it is going to be a focus in my future and all this makes me very excited about teaching!

__Intent:__ Besides taking this knowledge and applying it to my teaching, trying to find that "sweet spot" in the TPCK model, I hope to extend my excitement to my co-workers. I found as my first year progressed some of my enthusiasm waned as I got bogged down in the paperwork of teaching. But I realize that I must be a leader and forge through the technology and show my co-workers how well constructivist lessons teach. Other young teachers will enter the profession and have many of these skills and ambition - but their words and preaching may fall flat - they will be the youngsters coming in. Regardless of being a new teacher, when another teacher looks at me they don't see a new teacher they see a middle-aged woman - new lessons come easier when from someone older. Just as I do for my students I will lead by example to solicit curiosity, then feed them crumbs of information (just as I do with my monthly tech e-mails) until they start to try more & more.