Field+Based+Activities+Reflection+III.E

Standard III E is about using current research and content standards (local, state, national) to build lessons and units of instruction (Williams and Redish, 2009). What better place to learn about current research and content standards than at an educational tehcnology conference? I had the priveledge of attending two of these - back to back. The first was Texas Computer Educators Association (TCEA) Convention, and the second was Technology Institute for Music Educators (TI:ME). At TCEA, I attended sessions on QR codes, SMARTboards, Photoshop, Web 2.0, using cell phones,and others. There was so much information, that I had trouble sythesizing it all. As usual, something grabbed me and I went with it: QR codes. I saw so many ways to use these, I couldn't wait to get home and try them out. Every class I attended was an example of a best practice because the concept being shared was one that had already been shown to be successful.

The TI:ME sessions were informative, but not nearly as well planned as the ones at TCEA. I eagerly attended a session entitled "Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Garage Band." I had my iPad in hand with the Garage Band app, only to sit through an hour of a very knowledgeable lady speed through how she used Garage Band. No opportunities to try it out. No hands on. Just a lot of fast talking - with frequent advertisements for the book she had for sale in the exhibits. The thing I took away from the session was that Garage Band is a legitmate tool for teaching music literacy, and I want to know more. If i were still teaching elementary music, I'd definitely be all over it! I just didn't find anything about how to use it.

Why do teachers teach teachers in a way that is so opposite of the way we're supposed to conduct our classes? This knowledgeable presenter would have done very poorly if she were being evaluated according to the system used in my district.

All in all, the two conferences, were a great place to learn about the best and the latest.

References

Williamson, J. & Redish, T. (2009). I // STE's technology facilitation and leadership standards: What every K-12 leader should know and be able to do //. Eugene, Or: International Society for Technology in Education.