Course Review

I have now reached the completion of this course, and can reflect on the new skills which I have developed throughout it as a 21^st century teacher and learner. This course has made me rethink new methods for engaging students in the classroom. I have had the opportunity to explore different social media outlets through the course- including Google Plus and Twitter, and various other bookmarking websites, and have found numerous activities and ideas that could be utilized in any classroom to help improve student engagement and understanding. This course also allowed us to relearn and explore more deeply the professional standards and ethics of teachers in Ontario. These standards are immensely important in ensuring that our students’ uttermost safety, respect and quality of learning is considered and upheld when planning our lessons.

This course has also reawakened me to the value of technology, and the vast resources which are available through the internet. At the beginning of this course I hoped to learn more about different resources that I could use as a high school teacher- particularly in the sciences and maths. I have succeeded in this goal, as I have been able to collect a plethora of invaluable information and resources which I will be able to utilize in my teaching career, as I continue to work on integrating blended learning into my daily routines. In particular, I have found some great resources pertaining to high school Physics (which can be a struggle to find, might I add) through Pinterest. I was also able to gain some ideas from various educational bloggers and 21^st century educators. There is such a vast array of resources available to teachers now that I really appreciate taking the time to explore the quality and different contexts for which we could apply some of these in the classroom- from audio/visual technologies which can aid students with special needs, to digital/multimedia presentation software. While I have explored a large number of resources, I cannot still help but feel excited about all of the resources that I have yet to find and explore, as many of these resources could be utilized to enhance student learning- not replace the role of the teacher. While technology today is an invaluable resource, I will continue to be cautious when approaching a new resource, as I feel it is our duty as a teacher to ensure these resources enhance student learning, optimize student outcomes, and protect student safety.