This course has helped me develop and expand my knowledge on how to teach students how to be literate in today’s technology rich world. I have learned to structure learning opportunities for students to use 21st literacy skills. These are the skill they must have in order to be successful in the near future. Most importantly, I feel that I now can effectively use the internet to help students acquire new knowledge and apply it in a unique and constructive way.
Realizing how easy it was to infuse the 21st century skills into my content area was the most striking revelation I had about teaching these new literacy skills. I knew that most of my students’ had some background knowledge with using computers, but I was really amazed with how much they could already do. I used several of the handouts that were provided in the book “Reading the Web Strategies of Internet Inquiry” by Eagleton & Dobler, to get a better understanding of my students’ ability in regards to researching and navigating the Web. These tools were very helpful in helping me determine my students’ level of readiness for using the internet and beginning an inquiry project.
The knowledge and experience that I have gained over the past eight weeks has inspired me to expand and create learning new learning opportunities for my students’. There are a lot of powerful tools that are now available for teachers and students and I want to give my students’ the chance to interact with them. These are the tools that most young adults are using now and will continue to use as they enter the workforce. I now have a better understanding on how technology can have a powerful and positive effect on student learning and achievement. The insights that I have gained in this course have without a doubt enhanced my effectiveness in the classroom.
Using inquiry project on a regular basis to address the standards in my curriculum area is one professional goal that I would like to pursue that builds upon my learning in this course. I want to continue to help my students’ become familiar with tools that can help them search, evaluate, and synthesize information from the internet. I believe that this will help develop and build their new literacy skills as they investigate the core content.
I plan on accomplishing this goal through completing this Master’s Program and through my own research. In addition, I’m going to continue to experiment with multimedia and internet technologies tools that will enhance and support learning in my classroom. I’m really amazed with what I have learned so far. I really look forward to using and incorporating the use of inquiry projects in my classroom. I believe that it will help me become a better teacher and help my students’ achieve more.
