Looking Back at Our Future: A Reflection on Emerging Technologies for the Classroom

We are now at the end of our last course in the Integrating Technology into he Curriculum Masters program at Walden University. Finally! As our final project in our emerging technologies class, we were asked to create a lesson that uses an emerging technology, substantiate the use of this technology with our colleagues and administration, and then pursue funding through a grant proposal. This project is an excellent way to showcase all that we have learned in this course.

The initial step in this process was the identification of an emerging technology that we would like to use with our students. To do this we had to examine technologies and evaluate them for effectiveness with our students. Then we had to build a lesson that integrates this technology into the curriculum. I chose to create a lesson about the moon's phases and its effects on tides using Moodle and Edusim. It was really exciting to search for and find so many multimedia resources to add to the class Moodle for this lesson. I found games and videos and interactive websites. I think I most enjoyed exploring the learning package from Edusim "Night & Day – Earth & Moon." I am looking forward to seeing my students experience these resources, too.

The next step involved preparing a report to substantiate the use of this technology with our students. This was the most thought-provoking portion of this assignment, and the most challenging. It is easy to imagine the arguments against implementing new technologies that many of our colleagues and administrators might use. Thankfully, this course equipped us with information to combat these attitudes. We specified the ways that the assignment supports content as well as the needs of the 21^st Century student, and explained how these two goals are compatible. We explained the need for supporting both goals. Then we provided an argument for technology policy changes in our schools and districts. To do this effectively we had to draw upon the knowledge that we have gained throughout this program.

The last portion of this assignment had us writing a rationale for a grant proposal seeking funds for the technology we used in our lessons. Once again, we had to explain how the technology would effect our students' learning and explain how it would prepare them for living, working, and learning in the 21^st Century. We also had to explain how the technology would transform our students' learning by engaging the students and addressing their modality and ability needs. To do this we had to understand how 21^st Century students differ from past students and find ways that the technology meets those needs.

I think it is important that those of us finishing this program take on the role of technology leaders in our schools, if we haven't already. To do this, I will actively seek out emerging technologies to implement in my classroom. I will follow blogs of other technology leaders and frequent websites that stay ahead of the curve on Technology. Another way that I might keep abreast of what is new is by joining educator communities on Second Life and checking in to see what is happening.

To influence and lead the adoption of the technologies I discover as well as the implementation of technologies that support 21^st Century Learners, I will provide an example of their implementation in my classroom. After successful implementation in my classroom, I will seek out other teachers with an inclination toward technology and share it with them. By doing this, we will be able to demonstrate the potential of the technology on student learning. One teacher can influence a few, but a team of teachers can influence many! It is my hope that by influencing others in my school, we can help create an environment where students are ready to face the challenges of the technology-rich world they will inherit.