Dead Week Reflections

Although I've never understood why exactly we call this week 'dead week' (considering we still have full classes, and most professors treat it as a week to cram in everything they haven't been able to finish yet), it is here nonetheless, and yet another semester draws to a close. As I sit down to reflect on my semester in this class, many things strike me. We've learned about so much that it is almost difficult to synthesize, and I greatly appreciate that. There were aspects of the class that were extremely frustrating, but there were more parts that were incredibly enlightening and educational. Covering everything from the Universal Design for Learning, to the TPACK framework, to how to make a lesson plan, to what a 'one button studio' is, this experience has truly made me think about how I view technology. Although I still have reservations about the benefits of technology in the classroom, I can safely say that I no longer fear it as much as I used to. I view technology extremely differently than I did at the beginning of the class. I now have ideas about how I want to incorporate it in my future classroom and I (finally) agree that it can be very important to education.

I had a love- hate relationship with how free flowing the class was as well. The lack of instruction we had about most of our projects was stressful, but, upon their completion, it always became clear why the door was left so wide open. I loved the opportunity to learn how to think and create for myself, and I loved how we learned about different teaching techniques through having to be taught by them. After almost every assignment, I could see how the different styles we had been learning about were being applied directly to our learning, and THIS WAS INCREDIBLE! I was able to learn a vast amount while also seeing how the things I was learning could work effectively. 

All in all, I would say this has been a very good semester. There was always a unique learning experience to partake in. I know that I will use the skills and knowledge I gained here to enhance my teaching in the future! So, amidst the stress, overwhelming exhaustion, and inevitable crabbiness that dead week has come to embody, I still can not think of this class as an inconvenience-- only an incredible learning experience (which, lets be honest, is an accomplishment during this time of the year!) Here's to a great semester! *drops mic*