Reflections on week 1

Reflections on week 1

This has already been a learning experience. I knew (being a digital immigrant) coming into this course that it would be hard to grasp a good understanding of ICT's though I knew that studying to become a teacher would be hard as well! So from the beginning I knew this class would need my full concentration but I enjoy a challenge. After the first lecture and subsequent tutorial I am overwhelmed. Although I am determined to pass the course and learn as much as I can while doing so I do feel incompetent. Being one of the students who could not set up their Blog in the tute I believe I have now succeeded at home after a few hours of exploration and trial and error. I have to say after the tute I realise that technology is one of those tools if not properly understood (with a lot of patience) can be a nightmare. And even when understood, it sometimes just doesn't do what you want it to do! I have a feeling that I definitely will become technologically adjusted during this course but just as Wendy had pointed out in the lecture I understand I will never know it all. That saying, I will have to seek out the tech that is relevant to me and my learners (as a pre-service teacher) and use what I can to engage the learners and to accommodate their learning styles to enhance their education.

I do not have full 'faith' in technology as a complete 'saviour' for education. I do however believe it to be a valuable tool to enhance the education of all people. After conversing with my seven and a half year old son who is a grade 2 student, he confessed that given a choice he would choose to work on computers every time than alternative ways of working. I personally have had many 'issues with our technological 'friends' having many a computer crash and other technological failures since learning to use them. Technology though has greatly enhanced my life making some things easier, so I am not entirely pessimistic about ICT haha. Aside from YouTube, PowerPoint and internet research, I have not been exposed to a lot of teachers who use ICT's. After conversations with a few teachers, there are mixed opinions on whether ICT's are a 'must' in all lessons. to be honest most teachers don't use ICT's that much aside from asking students to use their laptops.

I am interested to find programs and examples of ICT's to use in classrooms that are interesting and different but effective. And yes this course scares me!! Hahaha
Until next Blog, Shane out.