EDLD+5366+Reflection



EDLD 5366 Reflection Students in the digital world today will need to be able to accomplish tasks in a way that other eras never had to ponder. Within today’s educational landscape, there is a need for students to be able to adapt and incorporate technology in almost all aspects of their lives, due to the impact of technology on all aspects of today’s society. Project-based learning in technology is a fantastic way to learn and create at the same time. This course allowed an opportunity for this style of learning and provided a hands-on approach to digital graphics. Burns (2002) discussed the importance project management due to the multitude of skills it allows to be incorporated into the classroom, including time management, management of materials and drafts, and working iteratively creating the parts that will make the complete project (p. 25). These skills were all part of the experience of this course. By studying desktop publishing, it was possible to incorporate the learning process neatly with practical experience in the development of the newsletter. As learned from Williamson and Redish (2009), the first Technology Facilitation and Leadership standard was employed through showing an advance understanding of technology applications along with Standard V which was also highlighted throughout the course, by the development and design of the newsletter. Having worked on the newspaper staff when I was in high school, I was very excited to approach the newsletter and design it. I immediately honed in on my debate program as the key audience for my newsletter. This excited me as I felt an immediate connection to the project. I revived my layout skills, but was relieved to see that most of that work is now done within the templates, making it a matter of modifying the template to the design and style that was desired. The logo I designed for the back page has since been incorporated into the debate squad’s rules and regulations guide, t-shirts and evidence tubs. As I looked back at the newsletter, I was very pleased with the final product and am considering starting a regular newsletter for the administration and parents to keep them up to date as to the team’s progress. After showing my project for this course to co-workers, I have been encouraged to start soon as they feel it would spur deeper communication between the organizations on campus to the rest of the student body and increase involvement in extracurricular activities. Mason and Dodds (2005) alluded to the digital divide that exists in the schools. By incorporating technology in all disciplines, it will help heal some of that divide. The students with computers and internet access at home will remain ahead of the curve in the key components of technology applications, but the more exposure all students have to technology applications, the easier it will be for students to enter the world prepared. Within my Communication Applications class, I could easily incorporate a unit where students design a newsletter to communicate the news of the school and in turn teach them how to use the basic functions of publishing software. While narrowing the playing field, through project-based learning, the classroom will become a place that better prepares students for all of the projects they will manage both inside and outside of school.

Burns, M. (2002). From compliance to commitment: Technology as a catalyst for communities of learning. //Phi Delta Kappan, 84(4),// 295-303. Mason, C. Y., & Dodds, R. (2005). Bridge the digital divide for educational equity. //The Education Digest, 70(9)//, 25-27. Williamson, J. & Redish, T. (2009). //ISTE’s technology facilitation and leadership standards: What every K-12 leader should know and be able to do//. Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education.