final post

As Walden University comes to a close, I have a fundamental change of the role of
technology in the classroom. In May 2008, I graduated from Heidelberg College with both
a teaching and history degree. I was eager on the search for a job touting the
"technology" I teach with. I would explain PowerPoint's and excel spreadsheets were how
I was using technology. I was lucky enough to land a job at Put-in-Bay Schools. From
there I have learned so much. The big change was when I enrolled at Walden University in
March 2009. The first two classes seemed like a rehash of my education classes but when
I took the third class, "Understanding the Impact of Technology" where my teaching idea
of technology grew. I learned about 21st century technologies and web 2.0 and it gave me
new and endless ideas that will engage and develop students. That leads me to the last
paper I have written for Walden where I make a case for using digital gaming as a
learning tool. I will look towards learning outcomes as to learning methods. It the
outcome desired is learning there is a lot of different ways that a person can achieve
that. These new technologies break down many barriers including the oldest one, well I
didn't learn this way. This type of teaching breaks down the walls of traditional
classroom and opens it up to the world as a whole. Classrooms interact with classrooms
in different states and different countries. It is important to understand that this is
the world we are living in. Just getting "good" grades is not good enough. People must
develop 21st century skills as they will be more important to a student's success in the
real world. I am happy with Walden University and am very happy to receive my degree but
my learning will never stop!

Craig