Module+4+Reflection

 Reflect on your thinking surrounding your developing a philosophy of Instructional Technology use for learning and your understanding of 21st Century Teaching and Learning.
 * Prompt**

* I read chapter 3 in the ISTE's Technology Facilitation and Leadership Standards book * I watched many web-based videos about 21st century skills * I also read many articles about education in the age﻿ of technology
 * Description **

Wow did I learn a lot in this module. As I learned about 21st century teaching and learning, I really began to develop my own philosophy of instructional technology. At first, I thought 21st century teaching and learning was all **about** technology. What I believe is that it's about bridging the new with (no, not the old) the somewhat new (the new being technology and the somewhat new being our curriculum). It's about preparing our students for the future that's ahead of them...a fast-paced, tech savvy world where people will need to spew creativity and critical thinking.
 * Impact **

Technology is everywhere, and it's spreading more quickly than we, as educators, can keep up with! Instructional technology should be just that---instruction with technology. In the video on 21st century skills, Sarah Brown Wessling stated that the "technology that we use has to have a connection to content. We need to marry content and technology." I couldn't agree more. Technology can't just be something that students do to fill in time. It can't just be the reward for good behavior. Instructional technology needs to be what takes our students 10 steps ahead and molds them into critical-thinking, creative, innovative, bodies that can go out in the world and know they've got what it takes to succeed. As Sarah Brown Wessling also mentioned, "It takes time to grow learners." I think this stands true for teachers and students in relation to technology integration. If we, as educators, put in the time to change the way we think about technology integration, and begin to see it as positive and not as a burden...then we'll grow learners that walk away from us ready to take on the world. What I will do is develop my philosophy of instructional technology a little bit more and a little bit deeper, and then spread the word to the teachers in my district. I truly have learned so much, and I think this information is important. I really believe that teachers are reluctant to try technology integration because change is scary. But, change can be good, and change starts with a voice. So, it's time for me to speak up!
 * Intent **
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