Adela

There were so many points in Chapter One that really hit home for me.  Being a career switcher, I have asked myself on several occasions “what I must know to teach with computers effectively?”  I teach computers at the middle school level, but I have an accounting background.  I was surprised when they wanted me to teach a computer class, but I guess they feel that business is business.  Yes, I have knowledge of computer software, but after teaching my first year I realized that I needed more.  That is why I chose this program.  Chapter One discusses the six foundational areas of competence recommended for teachers, and I had to stop and assess myself.  As far as technology operations and concepts, I am fairly advanced on the functions on each menu and can work through the Help resources to solve problems.  From trial and error, I have acquired the basic hardware troubleshooting knowledge.  That is one of my problems, everyone thinks I am an expert, but I learned from trial and error.  My first year also taught me that using technology effectively in the classroom does require more than basic computer skills.  This program has helped me to improve my learning environment with effective lessons; lessons that are challenging to my students and enable them to interact with me and expose them to new information.  Last year I actually sat down and created a curricullum guide for one of my classes, and I plan to use it this year as my instruction model.  I like the inductive-thinking model in the chapter, and I will keep those strategies in mind.  I never thought of the level of assessment of my students.  The Bloom’s Taxonomy is a great tool to use to assess my students.  Of course I will expect different levels for my different grades.  For example, I would expect my eighth grade students to be at a higher level than the sixth and seventh graders.  I am on top of the productivity and professional practice.  I created a web site for my class last year that I will link to the school web site.  Being the technology teacher, I do the data for the school in reference to scores.  I run the reports and pretty much handle the online testing process during the year.  These online courses I am taking have definitely helped me to become more effective in my classroom.  Being a computer teacher, all my students have access to a computer in the classroom.  Everyone has the same opportunities to learn.  We have rules and guidelines in regards to the Internet usage.  Yes, one or two students have broken the rules before, but there were consequences.  I look forward to being the best computer teacher I can be for my students, and I hope this class helps.