Technology fits into my teaching philosophy as a way to differentiate instruction to meet the individual needs of all students.  In addition, it offers ways to engage students and add rigor to the classroom activities.  Technology also allows student and teachers to collaborate to build on strengths and improve on weaknesses.  Finally, technology allows for informative data to be created, analyzed, and shared all in an effort to drive meaningful instruction. 

Purpose is the biggest point that is made in video.  If someone feels there is not a tangible purpose, then why do it.  This purpose could be a grade, make teacher happy, impress peers, keep parents off back.  My ultimate goal is for my students to recognize/generate their own purpose.  This is autonomy.  Self motivation to do a task and do it well, because you want to master something.  To me it is the biggest challenge we face.  Students cannot connect to purpose, therefore why do it.  If doing just for a grade, who really cares long term.  If doing it to internally know that you mastered a task simply for the purpose of building a foundation for mastering other tasks, then we are to something.  I am not sure how to connect this to my class, because I am consistently striving for this.  However, making sure I have "grades" sometimes defeats my purpose.  I often ask my students what does a grade mean to you.  I get various answers, but rarely do I hear to show mastery and autonomy. 

I would have to rate myself at the entry level all across the rubric.  I may have attempted or thought about attempting something at the adoption or adaptation levels in the active, collaborative, and constructive characteristics, but nothing consistent. I would like to be at those levels consistently  by the end of next grading period.  In order to do that, I have to spend some real quality time this summer planning a project/unit that will accomplish that.  I also need to look at writing a grant that will bring more technology into my classroom.  Something I have wanted to do and have talked about, but never have done it.

Homework

Homework is something I struggle with.  I feel it is important, but have some students who rarely do it.  No matter what I do they do not see any value in the homework I assign.  I need to develop homework assignments that are valued by and meaningful to all my students.  I think some type of online reflections and collaboration between students and teachers could accomplish that.  I have no idea yet what it would look like or how to implement, but I do know I would try it if I ever figure the answers to those questions. 

I would place myself as emerging on the discussion rubric.  I demonstrate some characteristics in the effective range, but need to improve on use of evidence, asking questions, and full understanding of concepts.