Reflecting on Module 4


Reflecting on Module 4
Module 4 looks at Implementing Reflective-Reflexive Learning in the Digital Classroom. The module looks at the changes created by technology. The module further looks at  the changes within education and the role technology has played.  There is a discussion on the fact that technology integration can play a large role in changing our learning environments to better support the facilitation of reflection and reflective practice and the use of technology to support reflective practices. The module is broken down into three topics:
Topic 1:  Facilitating Reflection and Reflective Practice
Topic 2: Using Technology to Support Reflective Practices
Topic 3: Designing Digital Technologies  for Reflective Practices

How did the reflection assignments help you construct your understanding of the issues discussed in the readings?
As I read the article by Klopfer, Osterweil,  Groff, and Haas (2009) I realized that there are so many technologies that can impact the teaching learning process. The authors indicated that the emergence of social networking technologies and the evolution of digital games have helped shape the new ways in which people are communicating, collaborating, operating, and forming social constructs. The authors further suggested that technology can have a reciprocal relationship with teaching. With the advent of new technologies, educators are forced to leverage these technologies for classroom use. I find that in my educational setting I have to try and find open source tools for use with my students as the educational institution that I work with does not provide more than the basic resources. The challenge with some free resources is that there is limited capability as no all modules are available. For example when I use some smart draw tools with my students, the final document has a watermark in the background with the company logo. One of the things that I found is that technology tools can be used to scaffold the teaching learning process and help students to reflect in action and on action. One such tool is the webquest that enables students to work in groups on a task thus enabling collaborative and cooperative learning from each other and external resources.               Klopfer, Osterweil,  Groff, and Haas (2009) made mention of digital games which I use quite regularly with my students. Students enjoy the leaderboards in these games and it helps them to overcome challenges they never knew they could manage.
What impact did the reflection assignments have on your understanding of the real world?
Reed , and  Koliba, (nd)  suggested that most of what we know about the world comes  from learning through our experiences. The authors further indicated that students also  learn a great deal from formal education .One good thing that I have found with my online assignments is that it forces students to read. My students have indicated that they do not like to work online because they must complete blog post and other assignments but they can it in a face to face class and never participate for the entire class session. Most time my assignments are created from scratch for my students as I want my students to get a rich cultural learning experience. I want them to use their own experiences to aid in learning new things. For example I create my own digital stories with pictures that are relevant to the context in which students are learning.

 In what way were your preconceptions of issues challenged through your reflections?
Arvanitis, (2018) suggested that today’s teachers are required to act as change agents. The author further indicated that this requires being more reflexive of their own practice and adopting a vision for transformative education. When I just started teaching 18 years ago , my classroom was teacher centered. I was the wealth of knowledge in my classroom or so I thought. When I moved top university teaching my Head of Department challenged my teaching methods and mentored me from a behaviourist approach to teaching to a constructivist approach to teaching. Now my classroom is fully teacher centered catering for the needs of all my students irrespective of their learning styles. I have learnt over the years how to facilitate students with different learning preferences despite my own preconception or my own dislikes to the teaching method.
References
Arvanitis, E. (2018). Preservice teacher education: Towards a transformative and reflexive learning. Global Studies of Childhood, 8(2), 114-130. Retrieved from: Retrieved from: http://kc-test.cg-creator.com/_uploads/2043610617734980.pdf
Klopfer, E., Osterweil, S., Groff, J., & Haas, J. (2009). Using the Technology of Today, in the Classroom Today. The Education Arcade, 1, 20. Retrieved from: http://education.mit.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/GamesSimsSocNets_EdArcade.pdf
Reed , J., Koliba, C., (nd) Facilitating Reflection - A Manual for Leaders and Educators. Retrieved from: http://www.uvm.edu/~dewey/reflect.pdf

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