This blog is set up so that I can reflect on my Masters in Education course at Monash University. The current unit requires a more reflective approach and given that it is about using technology in education a blog was an ideal choice for me. I will endeavour to write at least once a week, but usually more about my reading and my practice.
The unit is about the intersection between innovation and learning and this is an area that I am very interested in. I currently use some technology in my classes, but only things like grouply, ning, wikis (from wikispaces)and blogging as well as the use of Smartboards. I have a Googlesite for one class and we regularly use Googledocs as well.
I use twitter for professional learning but have not used it in class, partly because of access issues and partly due to time constraints as I teach VCE.
One thing that has just occurred to me about the use of technology in education is something that I just read today. I had created a Survey Monkey survey for teachers at my school as part of the preparation of the e-learning plan. One teacher’s response dovetailed with my own philosophy of teaching and learning. The respondent said ‘it’s not just about doing it for the sake of it. It has to have a real purpose’. I was glad that this came up in the survey because it showed that at least some of the respondents had a balanced approach to using technology. Another response was unfortunately, more typical. It was from a VCE teacher who saw their role as preparing students for SACs and exams only and that technology had no place in this. This showed me the breadth of responses at my school and I am sure that this would be seen to varying degrees in most schools.
