I consider myself to be an average computer user. I can create humble documents and power points to use in my classroom. The extent of technology in my classroom comes through computer use when the students are working on assignments I create. I am currently enrolled at Walden University and my third course is Understanding the Impact of Technology in Education. This course has given me a strong understanding of how to use technology to create a 21st century classroom. Through the use of blogs, wikis and podcasts, I will be able to use modern technology in a manner that will connect with my students. My first experience of developing a blog, wiki and podcast has been in this class. I have read and heard each of them before, but I never gave real consideration to using them in my classroom. In past years, my students have created Facebook and Myspace accounts for my class. They used it to assist each other with homework and to create online study groups. I personally did not have any input into the accounts and failed to use them to my advantage. Through this class, I am finally catching up to my students in the use of technology.

I definitely need to open my eyes and be aware of the developing technology around me. In the past I have had the mind set, if my students like, then it probably is not good for the classroom. I have an abundance of technology at my finger tips and I have started exploring new methods of using this technology.

There is no better time than the present, so I am putting in place a project that was described in my week six assignment. My Advanced Placement World History classes will create wiki pages that will assist them in their preparation for the AP Exam in May. This will be my first venture into transforming into a true facilitator and my classroom into a 21st century workplace. All AP students have summer reading assignments they must complete. This year, I will create a blog space for students to discuss the books they chose to read. I will start next year introducing all of my classes to projects that will bring them together into groups and have them gather, collaborate and present information. Students will also create personal assignments using web tools. Through out the school year 2010 – 2011 my students will continue to blog on outside reading assignments. College Board separates the Advanced Placement World History course into five units and I plan to have one 21st century style assignment per unit. At some point over the next two years I also plan to create a Skype link with a class in different part of the world. Some of my students have relatives in other countries and I think it would be interesting for a world history class to connect with other regions of the world. There are a couple of teachers at my school with friends teaching in other countries and they are willing to assist me to connect with them.

As I started this course, I considered myself to be a teacher that got my students involved with our curriculum through engaging discussions and intriguing assignments. Although, my intentions were to develop a student centered classroom, I have come to realize that my class continued to be teacher centered and I was not preparing my students for the 21st century workplace.