Wk.+7+-+Application+Task

**Introduction**
With the advent of personal computers and the World Wide Web, teachers are no longer the students’ primary source of information. Traditional textbooks are no longer the final authority on content. Students have not only easier and more comprehensive access to information than during any other time in history, but the “Read and Write Web” has turned students into creators of information as well. Therefore, teachers’ roles and functions are changing. Effective educators have embraced this new role and are learning new skills and creating constructivist learning experiences in order to transform their classrooms to better serve their students. This week, you will examine specific ways in which the role of the traditional classroom teacher must change in order to engage students. For this week’s Discussion, you will consider what practices and dispositions are most effective for a technologically integrated classroom. Finally, you will have an opportunity to reflect on your learning throughout this course and share insights that are important and relevant to you as a teaching professional.

**Learning Objectives**
Candidates will:
 * Describe and evaluate the skills and dispositions necessary to be an effective teacher in a society saturated in technology and information
 * Identify and give examples of personal, systemic, or institutional barriers that may prevent the transformation of the teacher’s role
 * Reflect upon their learning in this course

**Reflection: Final Blog Posting**
As this course draws to a close, take some time to reflect on what you have learned and how it will affect your growing technological abilities, your knowledge of how to effectively integrate technology in your classroom, and how to become a teacher leader in the area of technology integration. //**Note:**// As this is your final reflection, you are not required to post to the blogs of your colleagues this week. Also, your blogs are part of your graded course work and, as such, should reflect professional work. Please proofread your entries carefully. Save your Application as a “.doc” or “.docx” file with the filename “REF+last name+first initial”. For example, Sally Ride’s assignment filename would be “REFRideS”. Choose the **Week 7: Reflection** basket, and then add your Application as an attachment.
 * Step 1:** For your final blog posting, respond to the following questions:
 * In what ways has this course helped you to develop your own technology skills as a professional teacher?
 * In what ways have you deepened your knowledge of the teaching and learning process?
 * In what ways have you changed your perspective from being teacher-centered to learner-centered?
 * In what ways can you continue to expand your knowledge of learning, teaching, and leading with technology with the aim of increasing student achievement?
 * Step 2:** Set two long-term goals (within two years) for transforming your classroom environment by which you may have to overcome institutional or systemic obstacles in order to achieve them. How do you plan to accomplish these goals?
 * Step 3:** Refer to your checklist from Week 1. Have any of your answers changed after completing this course?
 * Step 4:** Copy and paste the URL for your blog into a Word document and submit your assignment to the **Dropbox** **//by//** //**Sunday.**//