Kate Ropchan's
ePortfolio
My voyage to Master of Educational Technology
Reliable Boat
Prior to embarking on a boat trip, consideration must be given to having a reliable boat to begin the voyage. The pedagogy you bring to your teaching is like the vessel you use on the water. Boats have changed over the years with the advent of newer technology and supplies. Similarly, students have changed, and teaching methods need to keep this in mind.
In the past, I have become so caught up in teaching content that I needed to step back and look at the larger picture while I asked myself some questions. What kind of skills do students need to be productive citizens? How can I create meaningful opportunities for learning that allow students to share their own cultural experiences and make sense of their own learning? How can I provide the necessary tools to empower learners to be agents of change in their communities? As I refine the courses that I teach, I will continue to keep these questions in mind.
There are a number of 21st century skills that I believe are necessary to transport learners smoothly to their destination. For example, today's students need to be able to think about and solve problems, work both individually and with their peers, communicate effectively, take initiative, and bring diverse perspectives to their work.
Artifacts presented here include my ETEC 533 Prezi about 21st century learning environments, and ETEC 510 new designs for new learning discussion post.
Artifact: 21st Century Learning Environments Prezi
If I could choose just one artifact to share, this virtual presentation would be it because it encapsulates my beliefs about 21st century education, especially at the secondary level of science and math. In ETEC 533, we learned that 21st century learning environments should center around the student, knowledge, assessment, and community (National Research Council, 2000). This relates to constructivist theory and has implications for the ways that educators should teach and assess students. After all, the demands for students have changed over the years and today's students need to demonstrate understanding and critical thinking, rather than just memorization (NRC, 2000). This modern model of teaching does present some challenges, but technology can be used to support this shift in learning and overcome some of these difficulties.
My group used Prezi to create this assignment, and it a tool that I have used numerous times since, both in the MET program, and in my classroom. I was delighted with the capabilities of Prezi, especially how easy it is to enter text, embed videos, and upload images and audio clips. The group that I worked on this project with was exceptionally supportive and collaborative, often checking in with one another to brainstorm ideas, offer technical assistance and edit each other's work.
Artifact: New Designs for New Learning Discussion Post
In ETEC 510, I contributed to a discussion about Prensky's (2001) article "Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants", which was significant for me because it persuaded me that there are key differences in today's students. It was interesting to reflect upon the fact that students in school today are different than when I was their age. Today's students grow up with technology all around them, and seem to expect their education to be as exciting and relevant as their digital devices are to their lives. As a result, I know that I need to carefully consider what and how I teach in order to reach modern learners. This was a critical realization for me because it seems like it was just yesterday that I graduated from high school, and yet there have been vast changes in technology and as a result, human interactions, during this time. As Prensky notes, "today's students are no longer the people our educational system was designed to teach" (Prensky, 2001, p. 1). While classrooms were designed under the assumption that information is scarce and hard to find, today's students can have access to knowledge at their fingertips (Wesch, 2007). By putting technology in the students' hands and encouraging the pursuit of answers to authentic questions, I can make the learning process become more active, engaging, and relevant to today's learners' digitally infused lives.
