REFLECTION

This experience has been so influential to me personally as a future teacher and to my students as well.  After going through this experience,  I will do whatever it takes to always integrate technology into my teaching because it is such a fun, interesting, and positive learning tool that allows all students to succeed.  The very first question out of our students' mouths before math class began was, "Do we get to use computers today?"  The students were so eager and enthusiastic about math class and using technology that they took their thinking and creativity to the next level and beyond.  I was enthusiastic and excited about trying something new with our students and our students shared that same enthusiasm and excitement because they knew they were going to partake in something very special and fun.

I could not have pulled through this project without my cooperating teacher, Katie Snyder.  Katie has not only been a role model for me, she has been my friend, my colleague, and someone who I desire to be as an educator.  We walked into this project not knowing what to expect and we were a little hesitant and nervous as to how the students were going to respond to this "new teaching idea."  I can honestly say that we are leaving this project with confidence in ourselves as teachers being able to integrate technology into lessons plans, and we have confidence in our students that they are willing to try something new and are able to exceed our highest expectations. 

Math + Technology = Success

Geometry is such a scary subject for most students and they grow up as adults fearing geometry.  Our goal was to conquer this fear of geometry by teaching it in a fun and interesting way integrating technology.  It was very rewarding to see all 27 students succeed in this unit because they were finding enjoyment out of learning and using technology.  Students who typically struggled is some areas of school were impressing us every second with their creativity on the computers.  Also, since the students were so proud of their accomplishments, we displayed their PowerPoint presentations for the parents to see at conferences.  The parents were so impressed, that we decided to give each student their own work electronically on a CD so they could share their accomplishments with the rest of their families.  Our students are fortunate to have been exposed to this project because they will take with them the memory of the fun and excitement they had during this unit.  Most importantly, they will always have a positive outlook on geometry and technology. 

What worked well:

We were very nervous about the amount of technology we were going to integrate due to the construction at the school.  However, it seemed like our geometry unit just fell into place.  Construction at the school was held back for a little while and the students had 32 laptop computers that worked and operated correctly every time we used them.  Most importantly, the students were excited and eager for math class.  Integrating technology definitely made the students  successful learners during this geometry unit.  We used technology that we were very familiar with and I think that is why this unit and the students were so successful and exceed every expectation.  The students are fortunate  because they now think positively about geometry, and they also now have the skills to use and operate technology properly.

Most shockingly, there was very limited discipline during this unit.  My original thought was that the students would be a little loud and unruly at the computer lab because it was  a different setting than our regular classroom.  However,, my thoughts were wrong.  For the first ten minutes we had a mini lesson on how to use and operate the technology properly, and then the students were free to work.  When the students began working on the computers it was absolutely silent because they were so involved in their projects.  The only talking that took place at the computer lab was the students sharing ideas with each other.  

What would you do differently:

Looking back on this project, I realized that sometimes I got caught up in the moment and focused more on the technology aspect rather than the math concept that was being taught.  We only had an hour for math, that included the switching of classrooms, and some days it seemed like we were pressed for time. I was so wrapped up in teaching the students how to use the technology, that the math concept was sometimes neglected and had to be reviewed the next day.  I would definitely either work with my own homeroom students, so we could work on this project anytime of the day, or I would set aside a larger amount of time to work.

One struggle we had with the students was the reflection slide on their  Playground Polygons PowerPoint presentations.  The students had a very hard time putting their thoughts in words that described what they learned and how they felt.  I realized how important it is to reflect on your work, not only for the teacher to see what was learned, but for the students as well to see the progress they made and what they still need to practice and review. Seeing this first hand has taught me to have my own future students reflect on their work throughout the entire year so they will have the background knowledge on how to think through their problems and successes as they go through school and life.

What I learned:

This project has taught me how to be an effective teacher while having fun at the same time.  I have gained so many positive teaching strategies and ideas to grab my students' attention so they are excited about learning.  I also learned that teaching and learning can be taken to the next level of thinking and enjoyment just by integrating technology that is at everyone's fingertips.  In the end, I learned that technology is a positive tool and is a way for all students of varying abilities and backgrounds to succeed and enjoy learning.

As a result of this experience:

In the future I will always make sure that I am familiar with how to operate the technology we are using for the day and to make sure the technology is working properly.  My objective is to learn how to fix different pieces of technology that I will utilize in the classroom.  Problems do arise when you use technology, and if I am able to fix the problem then the learning process will not be disrupted.  I am very eager and excited to learn about more technology that is available.  I welcome the idea of taking more technology courses for myself and for my future students so we can take these skills and apply and learn from them across the curriculum.

As a future educator I will integrate technology into my lessons all of the time.  I have confidence using technology, and after this project I have learned that utilizing technology in the classroom is a very successful tool in helping students learn and become successful.