This project was time consuming and sometimes, very frustrating!  It was also well worth while as I have learned so much about implementing lessons that integrate technology. The most frustrating parts were the incompatibility issues that we faced when we used different computers. Fortunately, we had an excellent support system through the University of Michigan. Melissa Dehring, my student teacher, was also phenomenal. As I have said before, this project would not have been possible without her. 

I would implement this unit plan again, but I would definitely allow more time to complete each piece of the project. It will be a bit of a challenge to do this without the constant presence of such a knowledgeable colleague, as Ms. Dehring was just that. We were also lucky in that we had an unusually small (and very well behaved!) group of students with which to work. Class size and the availability of resources are two important factors to consider when making decisions regarding time allotment.

The success with technology that students experienced was unbelievable!  They were highly motivated and worked very hard to achieve their goals. Students who are otherwise challenged were especially successful with this project. Technology offered them a variety of  ways to gain new understandings, communicate their ideas and apply what they had learned. They simply thrived in their technology rich environment.

For these reasons, I must continue to find new and innovative ways to integrate technology in the teaching and learning cycle. If this responsibility is not taken seriously, technology will simply become a novelty to students, with no more appeal than pencil and paper. My past practices and limited knowledge really hampered my abilities to use technology as little more than enrichment. It was ineffective and inadequate, but at least it was a start. Thanks to the MITTEN project, I now have a better understanding of technology integration as I continue to strive toward becoming a technology proficient educator.