Technology+Facilitator+Standard+V

= Productivity and Professional Practice =

__Reflection__
I can honestly say that almost everything that I learned in my coursework found its way into one or more of my classes this past year. The application of online course frameworks like Schoology.com, and Web 2.0 tools like Wikis, Microsoft Photo Story, and Google Docs have dramatically changed the way I communicated with my students and the way they connected with one another. The Digital Media course, I taught was an ideal testing ground for much of the content I learned in my coursework. One example that stands out was the use of Microsoft Photo Story. The students absolutely loved this project. I began by showing the example that I created in my course, along with the reference links and allowed the students to let their creativity run wild. (TF-V.C.2, TF-V.D.1) Toward the end of the school year, I had a student come back and show me how she used the Photo Story software instead of PowerPoint for a social sciences project on conditions in Africa. I have learned that I cannot try a technology tool once and decide that it works or does not work, there must be a continual process of evaluation and research, because tool are being enhanced and replaced constantly.(TF-V.B.1, TF-V.D.2)

I cannot say enough about how much I love the Schoology.com framework. It is a complete online course framework for free! Out of all of the tools that I have experimented with Schoology.com has had the most profound effect on not only the way I teach, but the way fellow instructors have given their final exams this past May.(TF-V.C.2 & 4)

In regard to professional development I have found the ISTE text on Web 2.0 new tools, new schools, continues to serve as a jump off point for self inspired professional development. (TF-V.A.1) there are so many websites, references, and resources that are completely free I have not come close to covering them all. As a technology teacher, I am required to attend a certain amount of professional development, this past semester I attended training on Adobe Photoshop, and transitioning from Microsoft Office 2003 to Office 2007. Of course, I count my Lamar coursework as professional development because every thing has a direct application in my work.