Mark Heald Portfolio

Opening Reflection

            I remember being a young fourth grade student at Wedgwood Elementary in Seattle and taking a field trip to a University of Washington computer lab. It was on this trip that I was first exposed to the internet. I was amazed by the fact that one could search for information on any topic, and I was particularly impressed by the fact that I was able to download video clips from Star Wars movies. I am from a generation that grew up with the web and internet, so when my Education and Technology class started up, I admittedly was a little arrogant with regards my skills with technology. I thought that I had a good knowledge of the latest technologies, but what I discovered was quite the contrary. It is impossible to fully learn everything there is to know about technology, and I was reminded of this throughout quarter. I learned something new each class, and this portfolio reflects how my capabilities with technologies increased, as well as how technology can be applied to a classroom setting.

            Within this online portfolio, I have included a table of contents which presents three artifacts from class. The two executive summaries demonstrate my ability to examine education related articles and to both summarize and discuss them. My inclusion of APA citations was also something completely new to me, and these summaries show my development in writing in a manner that is academically appropriate. The digital story is example of using technology to tell a story. This artifact is important because of the amount of technology used to create it, much of which I had no prior knowledge of before the quarter. These three pieces are included in my portfolio because exemplify my growth in using technology and in writing both critically and neutrally about someone else’s work.

            My review of the technology tool demonstrates my ability to take a piece of technology and analyze the pros and cons of using it in a classroom. My examination of Conflict History allows one to see an example of the thought process one must go through when deciding whether a technology is appropriate to use in school. With so much new technology available, it is a challenge of teachers to try and figure out how to best use technology to maximize student learning. This assignment allowed my peers and me an opportunity to explore many of the great technologies that exist and determine if they have any relevance to a classroom. Along with the review is a list of ten websites, all of which are links to technology that is education related. These sites will serve as resources later in my life as I pursue a career in education. Each of the ten sites is related specifically to teaching social studies. This is included in my portfolio because it shows my ability to use the web as a means for finding resources which can be used in class. The internet can be a great place to find information on how to apply technology to the classroom, a point that was reinforced throughout the quarter.

            While I came into the quarter thinking that I already knew enough about technology, I quickly learned that this was not the case. I learned that there is always new technology to be discovered, and that there is a wealth of technology that can be used in the classroom. The hard part will be figuring out just what works and what doesn’t, as a lot of technology may prove to be more of a distraction than a benefit in some classrooms. This quarter, I was able to really grow as a learner. My eyes were opened to a vast amount of new technology and information, and I became more aware of the applications of technology to a school setting. I now have a greater appreciation for technology and its importance to education, and I look forward to discovering new ways to use technology in the classroom.