Web 2 Course Reflection

Web 2 Course Reflection:

As a dedicated lifelong educator I recognise the importance of maintaining a learning environment for my students where personal advancement in conjunction with technological advancement is of the utmost importance.

The iLE@rn Model typifies the need for students to engage in the learning process. Students should no longer be directed by a “chalk and talk” learning process, and need to instigate their own learning. When students are a part of the act of education, their ability to learn grows exponentially; if they choose to allow it. By acting as a “Community of Learners” we can draw on the knowledge and experience of others to excel in the chosen activity.

I like the point which shows us to be “Knowledge creators and Managers”. Unfortunately, I feel that many of use fail to look to the greater needs of the students. Possibly due in part to time constraints, but also at times a little laziness. We have a duty to make the process more interesting, engaging and successful. This is true, but for all of us who look to teaching as a Career, we owe it to ourselves to enjoy and learn from these experiences also. As such we must constantly look to personal improvement. If we are to stay in this worthy profession, then we need to advance not just the students but also ourselves. To me, being a “Global Citizen with Catholic Values and Ethics” means that we must work collaboratively and teach with the aim of creating better human kind.

Blooms digital taxonomy lays out the old style Taxonomy in a more modern plan, and it is good to see how technology fits in with the old style teaching approach. As with all teaching, I think it simply means we need to teach with a ‘sprinkling’ of a bit of everything; old style teaching combined with modern technologies. I know I won’t be using all the things I have learned in the Web 2 course, each to their own, but if we all adapt our teaching methods and philosophies just a little, the boys will benefit from an array of new skills and abilities.

I believe that the end of the Web 2 course is not a reality. Opportunities should now be made, and in the future, for those who have completed the course to come together to share their Web 2 skills which they have practised in the classroom. It is one thing to identify the options available out there in the cyber world, but we as educators should now have the opportunity to share the applications we have come up with in the classroom with others in the course. Just like the iLE@RN Model suggests, we are now a “Community of Learners” and should begin this process by sharing our new found skills and applications with our teaching comrades. The Blogs have given us the opportunity to hear what others have done, but I would like to see practical applications.

One thing I know is that time is short and of the essence. We have put so much time into completing this Web 2 course that we should not throw it away. If we do not use these newfound skills immediately, they will be lost in cyberspace!

I have made a personal reflection on Jay Meyer’s Course Reflection on the Meyerball site. Wed 23.6.10.