Reflection #13

WHAT?: This week in field was our last two days! We taught last week so this week again we just mainly observed and helped out where our cooperating teacher asked us to. My partner and I did not see much technology used this week, basically just the use of the projector. We also taught our cooperating teacher how to create a digital story by using PhotoStory 3.

SO WHAT?: I wish that we would have seen more technology used this week, because with some of the teacher's activities I feel like technology would have been a great use. The class did a hunger simulation about countries around the world for Thanksgiving. I feel like a digital story would have been a great way to enhance the hunger simulation. There could have been some awesome photos used, and I feel like it could have told a story.
I feel like overall our training with our cooperating teacher went really well. She took notes the whole time which was nice, because I feel like she will actually use this type of technology in the future. The cooperating teacher really loved our digital story, and she was super impressed with how well the students loved it. I know that from these results that the teacher will try to create her own digital story sometime. I am glad to know that I helped her learn more technology skills so hopefully she can implement them more in her classroom.

NOW WHAT?: This next week we go back to regular classes. It is kind of bittersweet. I know we will miss the children. I feel really glad that we were able to teach our cooperating teacher about PhotoStory 3. I was glad our cooperating teacher could truly see how easy PhotoStory is to use, and that maybe she will use it her in classroom. I know that the children loved the change of lecturing, and the digital story was a great hit with the students. I feel like technology is so important for teachers to use in their classroom, not only use but to get their students involved with technology as well. Our world these days is based all around technology, and I feel that the future adults of our society should be exposed to this. In school is a great place for the children to see it, use it, and enjoy it. I know that from this experience I will integrate more technology than we see used by our cooperating teacher. However, I feel like it was a big plus being able to train her on PhotoStory because now she can integrate more technology into her classroom by using this great tool.