Reflection

The learning theory that I most identify with is the Constructivist learning theory that connects previous knowledge with newly gained knowledge. I still feel that this learning theory best descrives the way taht I feel most people learn.

With this theory in mind, I'll be able to adjust my instructional practices to ensure that I help my students to make connections between what they've learned and are currently learning. During guided reading groups I often ask my students to make connections between themselves and the text. The text and the world or the text and other books that they have read. I think that this practice can be easily applied to all learning areas in the classroom.

Two technology tools that I've learned during this course that I'd like to use in my classroom are Voice Threads and Concept Maps. I have already used the Concept Map that I created with my class and am planning to create a Concept Map with them on dinosaurs. I think that using Concept Maps is an excellent tech tool for my students. It's user friendly and something that they, with practice, can use on their own. Voice Threads are another user friendly tool that my students will be able to create, access, and give each other feedback through. I plan to have them respond to each other's Power Point presentations using Voice Threads in February.

Two long term goals that I have are to share the tools I've learned with my staff members and to continue to use these tools and others throughout the years. For my first goal, I've already set up tech in ten sessions during our staff meetings where I will share a different tech tool with my staff each meeting. My principal is very encouraging of this and I believe that my staff will be very receptive. For my second goal, I plan to revamp the units that I teach to ensure that each unit includes the tech tools that I have learned throughout my masters. By revamping my unit plans, I will be able to keep myself on track to include technology in all of them.