Reflection # 4

• What are some specific challenges that you foresee in implementing the initiative you developed? How do you plan to overcome them?
The main stumbling blocks that I see have to do with internet safety. The legal issues that we discussed at the last session are the areas that I need to think about for implementing my initiative. I should be able to find out all of the different areas that I need to address before I am able to get the e-learning class up and running.
• Thinking about all we covered in this course, in addition to implementing your initiative, how will you continue to develop 21st century literacy skills in the students that you serve.
Oh boy, as you have witnessed getting my students to use tools (as well as learning what tools are out there for them to use) is my passion. I have been doing all that I can to get them ready to find more for themselves. I keep finding tools that they can use, like for free, and they are all over them. I have turned them on to the directory for web 2.0 tools and some of them have come to tell me about what they have found that they feel I might like or be able to use. I have some short term goals that include teaching technology classes. In preparing myself for this I have become “friendly” with some of the staff in the IT academy. I am not planning on trying to teach it classes next year but maybe a summer school class. Long term I have an interest in teaching all IT classes.
• What other thoughts and ideas do you have for developing future e-learning initiatives in your teaching and learning environment?
Next year the 12th grade curriculum is going to include using blogs. I am planning of presenting some staff development sessions on using the blogs and how many of these web 2.0 tools are vital to classroom use.