Module 8 EDU 776: Looking Back Looking Ahead

 My views on technology in education have changed in subtle ways working on my technology certificate at Dominican University. EDU 776 is my third course out of four thus far. Although I still feel like I need help, I am less intimidated by learning and incorporating technology in my classroom. My initial gif was my favorite fictional character, Princess Leia from "Star Wars: A New Hope" asking for assistance from Obi One Kenobi.

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Often times technology can seem like more of a burden than a blessing, but I have 'hope' that I'll be able to take what I learn in this course and directly apply it to my everyday practice. I really liked discovering Participate as a way to house resources and links that I find and that colleagues share. I have already shared the platform with my department. I'm also looking forward to sharing my professional web presence portfolio as a way to share information with parents and students. 

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If I had to choose another gif at the end of this course, it would be from one of my new favorite shows Ted Lasso on Apple TV. In it the main character, Ted Lasso, steps into his new team's locker room and states "Smells like potential," as he begins his new journey. I feel the same way at the end of this course, I am stepping into some new resources and tips that have potential to make my classroom a better experience for myself and my students. 

I still feel that students need a break from too much technology due to remote learning last year, but using tech tools appropriately can be a blessing. I think it's important to ask students what they prefer and how they want to learn, especially Gen Z and eventually Gen Alpha. Using more technology research like we did in this class to make informed decisions about lesson planning and student choice is another powerful lesson that I would like to continue to use in the future and engage with colleagues on at my school.