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Reflection: Online learning definitely has advantages in terms of providing collaboration among peers as well as reaching students at outside the walls of the school. I feel that students are taking more of an interest to online programs today because they are much different than the traditional classroom. It is important that educators know how to use different forms of online education so that they have the ability to reach more of their students. I do believe that it will take some time experimenting with online programs for teachers to feel comfortable. With online education becoming another option for schools to deliver curriculum it is becoming increasingly necessary for teacher to understand and implement some form of online learning. Businesses and large corporations are beginning to hold more and more online meetings or web conferences to perform business. As a student graduates high school it is important that they have at least begun to experience how to collaborate online. After using a new platform in Schoology, I have realized the huge benefits that online learning programs can provide. I plan to use my course that I designed next year to teach a large ongoing unit that is cross-curricular with Science and also includes several Technology TEKS. I will use the flexibility of the learning program so that I can maintain an ongoing unit at which students can work at their own pace. By setting deadlines for large works, but allowing extra time will also prepare students to manage their time throughout the learning process. The 8th grade students at my school recently took a technology assessment that measures their proficiency with technology. The assessment shows that students thought they knew terms like “wiki”, but were unfamiliar with the true meaning. I feel that as adults surrounded by kids who seem to be very technology savvy take for granted that when we were in school we were taught how to use many of these technologies. Today’s learner is expected to “know” how to or quickly learn how to utilize new technologies. By immersing them in these new technologies and guiding them along their way as they complete online projects or assignments, be able to familiarize themselves with online collaborative tools while also learning the curriculum in my class. I believe that by practicing this online learning they will be more prepared as they move on in their education, and in their future career. I plan to integrate online learning in my class as a teacher. I think it is important that we do not take for granted the needs of digital learners. I also feel that this is something you will have to do in order to keep up with tomorrow’s trends. With today’s financial crisis and the ability to have online classrooms, it only makes sense for schools to increase online learning programs. Because we take for granted that all students are technology savvy I plan to use more tools in the classroom to help teach them more efficient methods in using the internet and collaborating. I will also continue to encourage colleagues to at least explore the opportunities that online learning programs provide. I recently attended out districts Technology showcase and was pleasantly surprised to see all of the various technology tools being used. Teachers and students alike are adopting new and more effective uses of Web 2.0 tools in the classroom. While I am very excited about all of the possibilities that using technology in the classroom has to offer, I still have many questions about online learning. I know I will have several questions that I am not even aware of yet. As I go forward with using online learning as a tool I believe I will face several more new challenges, and hope that together with my students we will meet each challenge and adapt as we go. One question that I am constantly worried about is the presence of online bullying. With online learning it makes it so easy to collaborate, but it also makes it easy to collaboratively bully other students. How do I keep my students focused on school work and ensure that no inappropriate behavior is taking place? Another question I have is how do I as the teacher prevent cheating? The internet makes it so easy to cheat. While listing to the radio the other day a young lady called in and was telling how they found all of their tests online for her AP history course. How do we control or monitor this type of behavior? I think it is especially confusing to young student who is expected to “collaborate” with their peers. Distinguishing the line between cheating and collaborating is especially hard for a preteen. With this new learning I hope that I can only expand on what we have practiced. I have already signed up for multiple training or staff development opportunities that will allow me to implement new lessons using some form of online learning. I will also spread the word, and teach others about such programs as schoology. With the recent Technology showcase in our district, I have already begun talking to interested teachers about the possibilities of Schoology. I was also able to compare, contrast and discuss other programs such as think.com and how to establish best practice in developing these programs. Next year I plan to be a pioneer in utilizing as much technology in my teaching as is available to me. I want students to at least be introduced to all that is available to them. I am extremely excited about the opportunity to learn from my students as they themselves learn and develop new ways to use what I introduce.