A Look Back to My Future:

A Reflection Essay
EDTC 670-9040
Dr. Timothy Green
Fall 2015
Sharon Berry Brown

Technologically-challenged
That is a phrase that would have described my abilities two years ago in this
world of ever-evolving technology. I was a proud member of the Old School with
nostalgic visions of overhead projectors and filmstrip presentations etched in my
mind. Education was a field I had taken an interest in especially Special Education
and soon realized what a beneficial role technology plays. Being a parent to a
child with severe global delays and disabilities gave me insight into the world of
Special Education and the adaptive technology that is used to help these students
learn. This thirst for knowledge propelled me into this Masters Program. It is that
thirst that has sustained my studies since 2013 and has brought me to this
Capstone Project.
It has not been an easy journey for a single mom in her 40s who has three
children with two Individual Education Plans between them. In order to successfully
complete my Masters course work, my ideals and attitude toward an ever-changing
and evolving digital world had to adapt. My mindset in regard to all things
technology had to be challenged and I had to be motivated. In order to be an
effective educator, according to the International Society for Technology Standards,
I would have to demonstrate the achievement of various objectives to solidify my
role as a facilitator of appropriate teaching and learning in this digital age (2015).
The standards state that all teachers should meet the following standards and
performance indicators:
1.

Facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity

2. Design and develop digital age learning experiences and assessments

3. Model digital age work and learning
Through the creation and design of proposals, projects, essays, plans, activities,
interviews, and assessments in this M.Ed program, I have developed an undeniable
respect and hardy understanding of what it means to teach in a technology age as
well implement technology into teaching.
The coursework has prepared me to meet these standards and has given me the
insight to be both effective and creative. In many cases, creating lessons using
technology elevated my own practical thinking and reasoning skills. I could envision
my classroom of the future taking advantage of the latest technology of that time
even the ability to secure the funding for it. The project in Grant Proposals provided
guidance for securing such financing endeavors for schools. I proposed a plan to
the Adobe Company that would free up monies to fund computers and software to
expand creative young minds.
Program Description from My Grant Proposal to Adobe

My personal growth can be seen through the websites I have created on this
journey to my Masters. Both my Weebly sites and my classroom Wiki were ongoing projects that allowed for collaboration and instruction. From them sprouted
unlimited potential, encouraging both students and teachers to interact, engage,
and contribute. Activities I designed such as Internet Treasure Hunts gave students
the opportunity to learn and explore technology. PowerPoint Presentations, Ted
Talks, and Vokis were frequently used tools featured on said websites, thus
increasing the students interactions with technology and encouraging them to
think, plan, and problem solve. Lumpkins (2015) study suggests that student
perceptions are valuable in assessing technology-based strategies because
students decisions to attend class and actively participate are inevitably linked to
the use of these technologies (p.132).
Main Page of Weebly 1

http://msberrys6thgradescience.weebly.com/

The Wiki was designed as an interactive and collaborative tool. Within it was a
DTTP with provisions for a Professional Development workshop. The workshop was
designed to encourage the use of iPad technology in the classroom. Technology can
take on several roles in education, such as role of resources, role of delivery system,
or productivity. Computer programs were found to be most effective in supporting
student centered learning if the programs can provide scaffolds for students with
special needs, support factual knowledge acquisition, and emphasize the capacity
of technology in creating new learning experiences for students, according to Lee
(2013). The iPad and its applications could be formatted for both Special Needs and
typical students. Educators were encouraged to have consideration for this
technology and conjure ways to use it in their subject matter and objectives. They
were expected to participate and give feedback, which is essential at measuring
achievement and success. The Wiki proved to be an asset beyond the DTTP, as it
houses the potential to be beneficial to my future classroom its applications

My Wiki

My DTTP

In terms of my future classroom, the Tech Plan I created allowed me to consider

the real-world needs of students and teachers. Availability and access are two
components of technology in education that are paramount in teaching and
learning. The Tech Plan addresses what needs to be in place for the maximum
benefit of the classroom technology.

My Classroom Tech Plan

No matter how fluent I become in all things technology, tech support is a must to
keep the teaching and learning efficient and updated. The Interview with the IT
expert shed valuable light on their role in the assuring we as educators can meet

our goals set forth by our curriculum and the ISTE. If teaching does not pan out as a
career for me, an IT Specialist would be a rewarding, if not unexpected option. IT
support is literal. The interview revealed just how vital that role is in the education
and technology marriage.

The IT Interview

The Country Study and Classroom Module Project offered unique collaboration
opportunities. While exploring the technology effort of a school system on the other
side of the world, I made a true collaborative connection. The person I interviewed
will actually be in town for a Tech Convention next fall. Meeting him in person would
bring our collaborative experience full circle.

The Aussie Interview

Global Module Collaborative Project

Each Reflective Essay

One unexpected exercise led me to the most intriguing and dynamic aspect of
graduating from this M.Ed course. Writing Reflective Essays at the end of the
courses turned out to be was especially successful at my finding ways to introduce,

implement and maintain tech-aptitude. Taking the time at the end of each semester
to put into words the effects and outcomes of each objective set forth gave me
insight into my own progress and growth. As I look over the content, I can see
where my strengths and weaknesses lie and what it is that I can improve upon as I
prepare for my own classroom.
Sometimes I wonder if having previous teaching experience would have made
this program easier for me. Coming in as a blank slate and having no bias or
preference could have actually been a good thing. Sometimes what we do not know
can actually help us. I look forward to discovering my signature teaching style with
technology playing a role in how I educate my students and how they ultimately
learn.
Or maybe Ill be a Tech Specialist. I wonder if saving-the-day involves wearing a
cape.

References:

http://www.iste.org/standards 2015 International Society for Technology in

Education

Lee, Y., Waxman, H., Wu, J., Michko, G., & Lin, G. (2013). Revisit the effect of teaching and learning with
technology.Journal Of Educational Technology & Society, 16(1), 133-146.

Lumpkin, A., Achen, R. M., & Dodd, R. K. (2015). Using Technology-Nested Instructional Strategies to Enhance
Student Learning. Insight: A Journal Of Scholarly Teaching, 10114-125.