CEdO525 Summary

This has been one of the most interesting classes so far the the program.  We did not spend so much time on learning new technological tools, but really on how to apply the tools we have learned about so far.  The most useful exercise was the final project where we had to take and existing class plan and re-work it to incorporate some of the websites and applications that we have used in class.

As we have gone through the class I have often had ideas of how to use technologies in my work, but because the focus was on getting to know the tools themselves I never really had time to take those tools and try to implement my ideas.  We were busy completing the assignments that gave us a background in technology, and gave us practice with the tools and technologies.  As with many things you need to understand the tool and how to use it before it really starts adding value.  We are now to the stage where we are beginning to use the tools to improve our results, in this case the classes we teach.

The key lessons that we received in this class (which were also brought out in previous classes) are that technology is only good if it reinforces learning principles.  The technology should make the class more collaborative, not individual.  It should allow the class to help each other learn, not isolate the individual members.  It should allow multiple ways of presenting and processing data, including images, video, and other visual media.  It should put the students in charge of producing the output, so they are actively using the learning.  It should be fun, as positive emotions will also help retention.

For my final project I tried bringing the nine strategies from the class, along with the principles above, to a class that I had previously taught on Technology in Insurance.  The class was previously very much "Set and Get", meaning lecture with few pictures.  With the help of these principles I have made the class much more interactive.  I am looking forward to the next time I can teach it so I can try out these new principles. I will also use the 9 Strategies that we have discussed to modify other classes in the future.