Critical Reflection EDLD5366

Where have these 5 weeks gone?  I can't believe class is over and another already beginning.  This is a topic that I really enjoy---digital graphics and webpage development.  Both are something that I do in my job as an Instructional Technology Specialist.

Here is my reflection for the end of course assignment:

Reflection is something that we are seeing used more and more in the classroom.  I feel it is necessary and beneficial.  In my opinion it is necessary for true understanding.  Critical reflection actually allows for the learning to reach the highest level of Bloom’s by Evaluating and then Creating.  The evaluation allows the learner to review the learning and the process of creating the reflection meets the top of Bloom’s through creating.  Creating a reflection allows the learner to put down their thoughts into words that can express what they learned but also how they felt bout said learning.

The learner should be critical of their reflection.  They should be truthful but it is not necessary to

simply repeat the knowledge learned.  I think there are some that will have problems with this as expressed in the article that was part of our reading assignment. According to Jackie Gerstein, Ed.D., the current generation is a product of a standardized system that is required to memorize standard information for standardized tests.  I feel that she is right in many ways but, it is the responsibility of every teacher to make sure that their students can do more.  I believe the process of reflection can allow for that. 

Through this course we have been allowed to critically reflect many times.  The use of the forum allows each to post about their learning, read fellow students reflections and then post to them.  Through the use of response it allows all learners to further learn.  I realize that that might seem redundant but, by reading the posts of my fellow classmates I learn more through their posts because each of us sees things, learns things and reflects in a different way.  There have been times there was something that I didn’t quite comprehend but after reading forum posts I was able to have the “aha” moment. 

I must confess that I was very unsure of the group project.  I wondered how in the world we could work together on something such as a website.  Through email though we developed a vision and were able to come together creating a website that was truly a collaborative effort. 

Regarding the use of websites in the classroom I have used them in the past and feel they can be an excellent tool for many reasons.  The process of the development and planning is a great use of collaboration.  Students must work together for the good of the group.  It has become so much easier to use this form of collaboration since there are many ways to use Google or other free websites for creation. 

I can see the use of critical reflection in the classroom as very rewarding and encouraging higher level thinking that is necessary for students. I think it must be used starting at lower elementary and developed throughout a student’s school years.  We can no longer expect students to be able to “just spit back facts” they must understand what they have learned and how it fits into life.