My background is more in technology than in education. I am currently working as a software engineer and have a number of year’s experience in this domain. My experience to date in an educational context is primarily as a student. As a traditional undergraduate on-campus student, as a post graduate distance learner and currently as a post graduate online learner. My goals for this course are focused primarily on my preparation for an upcoming Web Training program manager role in Cambodia.

Many of the tools and technologies being introduced in ETEC 565A are new to me. I am looking forward to learning how these can be effectively integrated and evaluated in educational environments. During the semester I hope to gain a solid grounding in analyzing technological tools and solutions. Furthermore, I hope to discover creative ways technology can be used to help with the challenges facing the IT school in Cambodia. Particularly in addressing the following three issues:

• Difficulty in finding and retaining local teaching staff.
• Low levels of education, knowledge and practical skills of the local teaching staff. Most of the current teaching team are students who completed the program the year before.
• Low levels of collaboration and interaction between students, between students and teachers as well as between teachers.

My first goal is to learn how technology could help address or at least alleviate the issue of finding and retaining staff. I would like to find ways to use technology to make better use of these limited recourses. Ways to maximise the precious face-to-face time in the classroom. For example, by learning how to evaluate when it’s appropriate to integrate technological interaction or assessment tools/resources into the curriculum. The aim of this is to lighten teacher workloads.

I would like to discover ways technology can help the teaching team to “engage in professional growth and leadership” (NETS). To learn how technology can be used to foster an environment of continued learning amongst teachers. Whether the best way to do this is by promoting self-directed learning or by means of creating a teacher learning community. I would also like to find ways in which technology can be used to simulate authentic problems to address the team’s low levels of practical and real world experience.

My final goal relating to the lack of communication, collaboration and interaction between students and teachers I think will be my greatest challenge. To achieve this I think I need to focus on improving my awareness of another of the NETS teacher guidelines. This being to: “model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments”. I would like to explore ways of producing resources and using technologies to increase the interaction and collaboration levels and to help create new types of dialogues between all parties.

References

National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) for Teachers. Accessed online 10 May 2011