Kristen Dyksterhouse

This class examined various psychological perspectives of learning in relation to students’ learning experiences. Specifically, I explored and compared how learning occurs in various settings in accordance with the diverse and unique abilities of each of my learners while considering the development of powerful learning experiences. Throughout this course I researched different learning theories, and using those learning theories, I was able to achieve a greater understanding on how technology can be used to support, enhance, and extend learning both in and out of the classroom. Further, I evaluated different technologies and how those technologies could be used to address misconceptions and learning gaps students may have. I developed a podcast, a digital storytelling presentation, and a meaningful lesson, each successfully integrating technology and pedagogy to enhance learning.

This course focuses on the guiding principals of becoming a technology leader. The relationship between technology, teaching and learning are examined; also, strategies for professional development, project management and evaluation, as well as the social and ethical uses of technology integration are explored. Specifically, I learned what effective leadership is and what it is not by analyzing traits of successful leaders and through discussion of instrumental and missional thinking. That is, I learned that technology leaders must have a vision for moving forward with a problem of practice that focuses on using technology as a support rather than a solution. Taking on the role of a technology leader in the assignments, I indentified a problem of practice, presented a solution that utilized technology as a support rather than solution, and created a high-level action plan (vision) to move from policy to implementation that policymakers could monitor along the way to ensure the policy aims were being met.