Course Reflection

After completing the course studies, I feel that all of what I wrote in my Personal Learning Theory still rings true. I still feel it is important to teach to the abilities and intelligence strengths of all of the students rather than teaching in a way comfortable for the teacher. However, I would like to start changing the way I use technology in my classroom. For the most part, I use technology as a teaching tool (a way for me to present information). While that is a good strategy, it is not the most effective way to use the available technology. I would like to phase in more lesson plans that use technology as a learning tool (a way for students to get hands on use of the technology).

An immediate adjustment I would like to make is the use of group work. Nearly all of my projects are individual at this point. I would also like to get more of my technology into the students’ hands. One lesson idea I have been planning as a result of this course will put both of those adjustments into action. Very soon I would like to assign a research assignment based on styles of art. This project idea was addressed in a previous paper. Students are put into groups and each group assigned a style of art. In the group, they create a power point presentation that they will use to teach the rest of the class about their style. The assignment is essentially a jigsaw activity where the students use technology to both research and present their information.

One long term plan I have set for myself is to expand the art related technology that is available to me. I have looked into a program called Frames which is a way to make stop motion claymation movies. Another piece of technology I would like to expand is access to digital cameras. Our school has one very old camera. I would like to organize a fundraiser that will help me buy some of the updated technology that I’d like. As a second long term goal, I would like to give my students more ownership of their learning and more choices in their projects. I have a set curriculum of terms (I.e. Color families or elements of art) but not a set way to teach these items. In order to put this goal into action, I need to work on creating many more lesson plans. This way, I can give my students a choice of 2 or more projects for each element of the curriculum I am trying to teach. By giving my students these choices, they are more likely to find a project that will appeal to the strongest intelligence of each student.