After comparing the 7th Standard of the Professional Standards for Michigan Teacher with the objectives for EDU 590 I was very excited to find that this course is facilitating all 7 of the technology operations and concepts. This section of EDU 590 illustrates how we as teachers can use the Michigan Standards as a guide to design our lessons.
Every objective has some part of the standard woven into it. The web-based presentation which encompasses the class objectives 1-4, is very much aligned with the Michigan Standards d-g. It is encouraging that one, well thought out lesson can combine so many of the Standards. It can be overwhelming for a new teacher to look at the Michigan Standards and know that you are responsible to cover all of them in the course of a year; especially when you are teaching at a private school where the curriculum has not been aligned to the standards but you are still responsible for covering all of the standards.
The same holds true with the course objectives 5-10. The end-of course paper meets the state standards a-c and several of the other standards as well. Doing an in-depth study of our districts technology plan and curriculum, evaluating software and websites, and then writing a paper on our findings is a great way to drive home these standards and have them make a lasting impression on us.
I thought the on-line survey at the beginning of the course was a great indicator that the course objectives and the state objectives would be aligned. Before the class even got started we were already exposed to Standard 7f – facilitating a variety of effective assessment and evaluation strategies! I am confident that I will walk away from this course well on my way to a more in-depth knowledge of the “technological tools, operations, and concepts needed to enhance student learning”(7th Standard, Professional Standards for Michigan Teachers).
I agree that it is great to see that our class is aligned to the Michigan Standards, but it is also a little discouraging to know that I, personally, have so much to learn so that I can teach these standards. I hate being one day a head of the students or learning as I go, or worse yet, worried that I start teaching students a method of using technology and stumble over the steps and the students end up teaching me how to use the technology instead. Granted, learning together as we go can be beneficial for all so students see that teachers too make mistakes and do not know everything, but I know I personally have a large amount of learning to do.
ReplyDeleteThe survey at the beginning of this class was indicator of what we would be learning in the class but also a good tool to use to evaluate ourselves. At the end of the class, I can look at where I was with technology and then compare it to where I am now. I am excited to see my own growth and all the new ideas I can implement into my classroom.