I teach music history courses and piano at a performing arts college in Jamaica, and for the past five years I have been teaching with technology.<\/p>\n
It is my goal to become competent in as many technologies as possible in ETEC 565, and to build a cache of resources for future use.\u00a0 This course will develop my competency and confidence with technology, and I will apply what I learn to my own teaching, and share my expertise with fellow college lecturers as they incorporate technology into their classes.<\/p>\n
The MET program is helping me develop and practice the principles set forth by the International Society for Technology in Education<\/a> (2008).\u00a0\u00a0 There are some areas that need improvement, such as developing digital-age assessments and experiences.\u00a0\u00a0 ETEC 565 will provide the time and space to explore Moodle\u2019s affordances, and find ways to design spaces that are accessible and easily navigable to students. \u00a0\u00a0I anticipate needing a strong theoretical framework on which to make choices and decisions regarding technology use, and also a framework on which to base the assessments that I will develop for students.\u00a0 \u00a0The traditional objective exams, and even essays, do not adequately reflect 21st<\/sup>-century principles of undergraduate education, which relies on active learning (Chickering & Gamson<\/a>, 1987).<\/p>\n I am particularly interested in multimedia and social software programs, and how to embed these within the Moodle framework.\u00a0 I intend to learn how to design and construct interactive learning objects using flash.\u00a0 I have, for instance, an idea for a learning object that would teach students about the instruments of the orchestra, what they look like and sound like, and which would afford students opportunities to try their hand at orchestrating a musical piece. But, I have no idea how to bring this idea to fruition.\u00a0 For this project, I will need samples of musical instruments recorded digitally, and a short, original musical composition for ensemble where students can assign instruments to each part.\u00a0 As I progress in the class I\u2019m sure that other technological needs for this project will become apparent to me.<\/p>\n My experience with social software comes from the perspective of a student, consisting of wikis and social bookmarking.\u00a0 I would like to learn how to use the principles behind these programs into a learning environment in ways that are truly interactive and inspires collaboration.\u00a0 I would like to learn how to set up a class wiki.<\/p>\n Bates and Poole\u2019s (2003) framework for selecting technologies will serve me well in my professional life, and even in this class as I design my LMS.\u00a0 \u00a0The current student demographics and organizational issues in my country will preclude me from using any but the most basic technologies.\u00a0 Despite this, it is my hope that I will be given the opportunity to explore the more sophisticated technologies.\u00a0 I know that in the future the demographics will change, and infrastructure will be improved to the point where I will be required to use more sophisticated technologies to facilitate learning in the 21st<\/sup>-century classroom.<\/p>\n References<\/p>\n Bates, W.A. \u00a0and Poole, G. \u00a0(2003). \u00a0Chapter 4: a Framework for Selecting and Using Technology. In Effective Teaching with Technology in Higher Education: Foundations for Success. (pp. 77-105)<\/em>. \u00a0New York: Wiley, John & Sons, Incorporated.<\/p>\n