This class has helped me integrate effective technologies into my classroom. By following the universal design plan, I was able to better understand how to meet the needs of all of my students while putting together a technology-rich lesson. My belief that teachers should not just use technology for the sake of technology, but instead to enhance a lesson and supplement the original learning environment has definitely been strengthened by this class.
I have been integrating web-based technologies for at least 4 years now, so I feel that I was well aware of effective uses of technology before taking this class. I did not have a set evaluation system concerning web-based resources, however, so this class was helpful in that manner. Universal Design gave me a step-by-step method of evaluating resources to make sure they were not only effective, but also accessible by to all of my students.
My goal was to learn a more efficient way to choose web-based resources to include in my class. I feel that I was successful in meeting this goal. I feel better prepared to justify the use of the technologies I already use and may need support to continue using. This class gave me a plan to use to evaluate web-based resources and that was part of what I was looking for in this class.
I have had a long term goal of getting my endorsement in educational technology. In order to reach this goal, I plan on taking the remaining required classes that I have to reach this goal.
