Reflection

As I approach the conclusion of my first practicum, I’ve spent time reflecting on how I’ve incorporated technology throughout my teaching journey. One of my most significant discoveries is just how invaluable AI has been in lesson planning. It has become an essential tool for creating lessons and developing questions, activities, and even educational games. By leveraging AI, I’ve been able to cut down on the time I spend planning while still producing detailed and effective lesson plans. This has allowed me to maintain a healthy work-life balance, ensuring that my evenings are not entirely consumed by planning and preparation.

I’ve always been eager to include technology in my teaching, but it wasn’t until this practicum that I truly realized its full potential. This course has provided me with a wealth of resources and ideas to integrate into my lessons as I continue to grow as an educator. Through technology, I’ve been able to design lessons that are more engaging and diverse in how they present concepts to students. Whether it's using interactive tools or multimedia presentations, technology has opened the door to new and exciting ways of introducing ideas and fostering student understanding.

That said, this practicum has also taught me some critical lessons about the balance required when using technology in the classroom. For instance, I initially used technology as an activity for early finishers. However, I noticed that some students were rushing through their work, sacrificing accuracy and effort in their eagerness to use the technology. This experience highlighted the fine line between using technology as a beneficial learning tool and having it become a distraction or even a hindrance. When technology is treated as a reward or toy, it can inadvertently encourage less thoughtful work, which is counterproductive to learning.

Overall, this practicum has been a transformative experience, allowing me to learn both as a student and as a teacher. Observing my peers and their methods has been incredibly insightful, and implementing my own approaches in the classroom has provided valuable hands-on learning. Watching how students respond to different technology uses has further shaped my understanding of its role in education. These experiences have solidified my belief that while technology is a powerful asset in the classroom, its effectiveness lies in its use and balance with other teaching strategies.