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Week 6 Reflection

 I enjoyed this week for a number of reasons. Last weekend I went through a rather arduous ordeal, so this week it was very fun to simply be in my house and dive into my novel for the Goodreads challenge and learn about network knowledge activities. 

I particularly enjoyed Salomon's article It's Not Just the Tool but the Educational Rationale That Counts. This article really resonated with me because I have seen first-hand what happens when tools are chosen because they are sparkly and new, but educators don't know how or simply cannot effectively integrate them into their classrooms. This can happen for a number of reasons. Instructors all have their own style of teaching, and it is important to allow them the autonomy and support to find what works best for them and their students. Give them the space and ability to choose what will work best for them based on their desires as well as their knowledge of their students, but also give them the resources they need to effectively implement tools into their instruction. Choice and resources are key. I do not think it is beneficial to push new tools and programs school-wide while also expecting teachers to "figure it out." Does the tool serve the students in an effective and productive way? Why? Will it be engaging? How? These questions must be asked when selecting instructional tools.

This week I was also able to think about the tools we were given in a way that I could bring back to my current career. I also started shifting a bit: I want to utilize tools that will help me now, at the secondary level, but I also acknowledged to myself that I should be thinking about these tools in terms of higher and adult education, as eventually, I would like to transition out of secondary education. The tools this week were interesting. I think FoldingStory will be something I use in my personal life, and Bubble.us will be a game changer for leadership collaboration on my campus. 

Until next week!





Comments

  1. JackJune 23, 2025 at 11:23 AM

    Hi Jorann,
    I also really enjoyed the Salomon article for the same reasons, but also because I felt it was still so applicable to today's world. Technology gets shoe-horned into everything just for the sake of it being new. Like you said, there needs to be intention behind what we choose to use.
    Good post!

    ReplyDelete

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