EDLD+5306,+Reflections

The following quote summarizes the core of my learning in this first course in the Educational Technology Leadership program:

"We used to talk about reading, writing and arithmetic as the essential skills for literacy. To be literate today involves acquiring new skills, including those of using technology, understanding science, having global awareness, and most important, having the ability to keep learning, which involves gathering, processing, analyzing, synthesizing, and presenting information as well as communicating and collaborating" (p. 20). Solomon, G., & Schrum, L. (2007). //Web 2.0: New tools, new schools//. Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education.

I began this course as a technology novice, with little more technology experience beyond searching the Internet and using programs in the Microsoft Office Suite. In my former view, technology was a useful tool for learning but not an essential one, and all educators need not be technologists in order to teach effectively. Now, however, my eyes have been opened to the fact that, as the world changes, education must change, and technology plays a central role in that transformation.

The course readings, assignments, and activities have helped me not only realize the impact technology has on teaching and learning, but also begin to discover the wealth of free web 2.0 tools available to educators and students. For education, the power of technology lies in its ability to extend learning beyond traditional classroom walls, connect learners with peers and experts alike, and address the unique needs of specific learners. In addition, technology facilitates life-long learning, which is necessary for success in our rapidly changing world. Without a doubt, technology is crucial for 21st century learning and the cultivation of 21st century skills students must possess in order to compete in an increasingly globalized marketplace. Therefore, schools and educators at all levels must assume the responsibility of integrating technology with curricula in all fields of study.

This blog post addresses the importance of infrastructure, one of the four areas of //The Texas Long Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020,// in supporting technology integration in schools: > My Blogger Profile
 * ===Tech Infrastructure: Foundation for the Future in Education===