Digital Technology Reflection Questions

1. Discuss the impact your use of a resource like the TeacherWeb could have on your teaching style and on student learning. What are the strengths and weaknesses of using a resources like TeacherWeb?

Resources such as TeacherWeb can act as a supplement that enhances my teaching style by providing an additional medium for me to reach my students. This format can be more appealing to students who prefer a more technology-based learning style.

Strengths of implementing a TeacherWeb for use with my classroom:

• It could help increase parent involvement in student learning since parents can have access to the site.
• If students are absent they can see what they could have missed (assuming that the teacher updates the information daily).
• It's another method to reach students.
• It can help keep the teacher organized since he/she would need to update it often.

Weaknesses of implementing a Teacherweb for use with my classroom:

• Some students might not have Internet access.
• The only Internet access a student may have is while at school (assuming school has access to Internet and computers), so if assignment instructions are solely posted on the site, the teacher must provide an opportunity for students to access this information.
• Teacher must keep it updated which can be time consuming.
  

2. Discuss the development of your Wiki and WebQuest in terms of how you see a wiki, and your WebQuest, impacting student learning. Compare your work spent on the development of your wiki to the perceived benefits students might get out of completing lesson via your wiki WebQuest rather than a traditional class session.

A Wiki/WebQuest is convenient because all lesson information is organized for the student and teacher (as long as the teacher provides this information) in a central location. With this in mind, we do not risk to the misplacement of homework or papers that were handed out in class, instead, they are accessible through the website. Teachers can also still have contact with students through chat sessions; however, the teacher must be vigilant in updating the site to keep it updated with the most current resources and must also be aware of the need of scheduling chat times if students need help. I feel that it was fairly quick and easy to adapt a written lesson plan into the format of a Wiki/WebQuest, so I feel that its benefits are worth the time it takes to create the page.

Despite the many benefits of the Wiki/WebQuest, I still prefer the traditional class session as a means to deliver lessons. When taking into consideration the age range of the students I will be teaching, they may need the setting and environment of a classroom atmosphere to help provide support and resources to help them in their learning. I feel that WebQuest lesson plans might be more suitable for higher elementary, middle school, and high school-aged students.

3. What would be one or two changes you would make to this project that would make it more engaging, meaningful, or more practical for your future classroom use?

I feel that it would be beneficial for us to have more classroom experience to see how technology can be implemented into the classrooms we will be working in. Otherwise, I felt that this project was helpful in introducing me to the potential that these resources have to offer in student learning and my teaching style.