Course Reflection & Feedback

After watching the podcast about the Catholic Education Office's iLearn Framework, I now have a greater understanding of what elearning is about and how its focus is in creating engaging learning environments, not about using technology - as it is mentioned in the short clip "technology is the tool to achieve the learning goals". Throughout this course we as learners have been encouraged to be reflective which is a significant aspect of the elearning model, by writing blog entries after each module and identifying how we can integrate web 2.0 tools into our classrooms. What I've liked about this is the tools aren't the dominant factor, some will work well, some have little significance to the desired learning outcomes for your KLA. The key to achieving successful outcomes with learners is the way the learning environment is created to engage learners in challenging experiences to draw upon existing knowledge so they can gain new understanding.

The progression from lower order thinking to higher order thinking skills with Bloom's Taxonomy engages the the learner to become more autonomous, challenging them to broaden and refine their existing skills into new and adaptable skills and becoming responsible of their own learning which in effect fits in with an aspect of iLearn Framework. Bloom's digital taxonomy adaptation encourages students interaction with technology to become more knowledgable and skilled in using it as a tool to learn new information and extend on existing knowledge. I find this adaptation to be extremely helpful in the planning of my curriculum as the students undergoing my course interact with a variety of technological sources including lighting desks, audio consoles, vision mixers which require them to develop skills in the higher order thinking domains to be able to operate them successfully.

The web 2.0 course has provided me with a new cofidence in using tools such as podcasts, flickr, blogs, wikis in my classroom and facilitating my students to develop their skills to interact with these tools to gain new and challenging learning outcomes. A learner can't learn new skills or knowledge from a teacher, unless they themselves are knowledgable in practicing the skills. And with the constant changes in technology and the current abilities with students using these tools, there is a synergy between teacher and students in refining and developing their use within the learning environment. I have found this course to be extremely helpful in building a greater bank of strategies to form more exciting and challenging learning experiences for my students.