IDT Reflection by Anthony Wright

I used to think...

arwright1984 — 2023-12-04 23:55:39 UTC

I used to think the only standards that I needed to concern myself with were my Tennessee State Standards for the subject matter I teach.

I also used to believe that assistive technologies were super expensive and schools with low funding would be unable to provide these necessary tools for their students.

...now I think...

arwright1984 — 2023-12-04 23:55:50 UTC

Now I think (actually know) that there is more than just one set of standards I need to review when I am writing lesson plans. ISTE standards are prepared to better prepare students for 21st-century skills.

I am now also aware of several tools that can be assistive to students who may have certain needs that are free. I would have never imagined that tools in this genre would be free to anyone who may or may not need them. I assumed they would be expensive just for the sake of being able to be expensive. I have already been able to use some of the technologies to help assist students who are behind in their reading.

I used to think...

arwright1984 — 2023-12-04 23:56:07 UTC

That there is no way that tools such as blogs, vlogs, or anything social media had a place in the classroom. I believed this because I felt most of these types of materials would be more opinion-based and biased, as opposed to being factual.

I used to think...

arwright1984 — 2023-12-04 23:56:18 UTC

that games were meant for the easy day or the Friday before a long weekend. Sure, they are great for reviews, but not for actual teaching. Games have their place in the classroom, and that is the day before a test.

I also used to believe that it was overly complicated to create videos that would benefit my students. With all of the recording and editing, who really has time to create a video when youtube always has your back.

I used to think...

arwright1984 — 2023-12-04 23:56:28 UTC

That it was not important to self-evaluate. Self-reflect, absolutely, but evaluate?

...now I think.

arwright1984 — 2023-12-04 23:56:35 UTC

that blogs, vlogs, and everything else can be very useful in a classroom. Although opinionated, they offer different perspectives from around the world that could benefit our students, especially those in rural areas who may never leave their city/ county (I have been amazed how many of those students exist). The opinions from different countries, cultures, etc. could go a long way into demonstrating to students how things may work in another country, as well as help students empathize more with those around them.

...now I think.

arwright1984 — 2023-12-04 23:56:43 UTC

That games should be a part of nearly every lesson plan. I was also surprised to find how many types of gamification exist. I have been at the high school level for five years, and all I really knew was Kahoot!. However, thanks to this class, I Was able to research and realize there are so many types of gamification, from Blooket to virtual escape rooms with specific subjects in mind. I was also unaware of badges and how they could be used in a classroom. I should have known that, due to the fact I like playing video games, and I am always after all the trophies, which I find similar to wanting to ensure students would get badges.

...now I think.

arwright1984 — 2023-12-04 23:56:50 UTC

I now know it is an integral part of our development as professionals to always self-evaluate. No matter the job, there is going to be someone who observes you from the outside, but they only know what they see. Self-evaluating can lead us to what we need, not what others think we need. This could lead to professional developments, or leading a group of learners in a professional development. Without stopping and self-evaluating ourselves, we will be left to others evaluations, which will tell us what they want from us, not necessarily what may be best for us an individuals.

References

arwright1984 — 2023-12-05 00:05:12 UTC

Standards. ISTE. (n.d.). https://iste.org/standards

arwright1984 — 2023-12-05 13:44:34 UTC

The IDT courses have changed the way I teach in my classroom. At the moment, my school requires lesson plans to be written with the TEAM format, so the edTPA format will not help me in that regard, but the edTPA format did help me better organize my TEAM lesson plans, by having better objectives written (ABCD), as well as opening my eyes to different standards that exist. My lesson plans for school now include ISTE standards to further show that what I do in my classroom does not stay in my classroom.