N.

Cannon EDTECH 504 Reflection #5 Learning Log After already taking several classes in the EDTECH program, I had an idea of what my definition for educational technology would be. I stated that, Anything that can directly aid the learning process (understanding that not everyone learns the same way or at the same speed) and also increases the learning abilities of both the student and the educator. Having completed this class and my other semester course in my program, I would say that my original theme in my definition was correct as it related to me, my learning and teaching style. I enjoyed how the class started with the history of the coordination of education and technology. When starting a new journey, it is always good to understand where and why something started. I could relate to many of the devices used by my teachers when I was in school and some of which I had the experience in using. The overhead projector, chalk board and Texas Instruments Overhead Viewscreen are just a few that come to mind. With the change in technology that has happened rather quickly, these items have been replaced with SMARTBoards, 1-to-1 learning devices and the Texas Instruments graphing calculator emulator just to name a few devices. Even with the changes, the common theme that I have noticed throughout the history of educational devices and the readings is that dedicated educators are constantly looking for new ways to aid student learning. One of the readings that made an impact on me was the chapter in the Zimmerman and Bell (Jonassen & Land, 2012) book entitled Everyday Expertise. It finally put a name to the string of events that I had noticed throughout my nine years of teaching. Not everyone learns the same way and because of that educators need to have flexibility in their presentation style and delivery of the material. They also need to draw upon prior student experiences in order to make the concept relevant to them. If the student sees the connection to parts of their lives that they care about, then there is a better chance for them to be intrinsically motivated and have the desire to give their best effort. In summary, I am glad to see how this class has covered the past, present and forecasted the future with all the learning theories that were presented. While I may have related better to the Everyday Expertise learning theory, there were still instances where all of the theories complimented each other to enhance the student learning experience. This coordination and getting the best out of my students is what I strive for in my classroom every day and learning new ways to achieve this goal in EDTECH 504 has made my experience in this class very successful for me.

Jonassen, D. H., & Land, S. M. (2012). Theoretical foundations of learning environments. New York: Routledge.