6.5 Assignment: Critical Reflection Journal/Blog

What is new to my thinking or learning this past week?

            Over the last six weeks of this course I have learned about various types of technology including digital citizenship, learning management systems, evaluating digital tools and apps.  In addition, I have learned about technology tools that support student learning engagement and communication and how to assess and choose the best ones. Finally, I have learned about new ways to assess learning and accessibility tools for students who have disability needs. 

            I continue to be amazed at how much technology has changed the education world to enhance a student’s educational experience.  The educational process and the way teachers certainly have come a long way since I was in school.  Ultimately, change is a good thing as number one the student success should be the focus of every change, and two, change should be focused on making the student more effective, efficient and enriching. 

            This past week as we focused on accessibility, learned about various technological advances to help those with challenges have a better educational experience.  Whether it is a language barrier or a physical barrier, technology is now enabling millions more students who would have been excluded from a traditional classroom the opportunity to learn alongside their peers.  As I reflect on accessibility in the educational process, I think about people like Stephen Hawking and even Christopher Reeves.  Thanks to advances in technology both of these individuals were able to communicate just like the rest of us despite their physical disabilities.

How has this new information challenged me? How has this stretched my professional growth and development? What are the implications of this week’s learning on my professional practice?

             The information this week and throughout this course has challenged me to realize that not only has technology changed the way we communicate with one another, it has enabled those who had challenges with the learning process previously to receive a quality education just like their peers.  Earlier in my career I worked as a consultant for a ‘Software as a Service’ company and assisted school districts in various areas of the educational process.  We helped school navigate the ever-changing process of Education Mandates, improve their attendance through Attendance Management service, and help make their Special Education process more effective for the student by using a software-based system to track the SST (Student Success Team) process prior to a student being put on an IEP or 504 plans. 

            Technology enabled school districts to streamline their process and work smarter not harder to improve issues they might have in these areas.  I learned a lot about the ‘Special Education’ process and discovered a lot of inefficiencies to schools’ processes.  However, one thing that challenged me the most was the fact were the statistics that showed students who stayed in ‘Special Education’ their entire educational journey and were never brought back into a regular classroom setting only outpaced their Non-Special Education student peers with contact with law-enforcement and the juvenile justice system.  I thought a lot about this particular statistic this week as I looked at the issue of accessibility and the availability of it in schools today.  I was pleased to learn that through new technology students who were previously excluded from the regular classroom setting through the use of assisted technologies can now learn alongside their peers.

How can these new learnings be used to impact my personal faith journey and my impact for the Kingdom?

  Christ’s death on the cross and His resurrection has made Heaven accessible to all who believe in Him and ask for His saving grace.  Just as technology has made the learning process more accessible for those with learning needs, it has also enabled us to share our faith with Non-Christians in some of the remote areas of the world.  We are able to reach others with the good news and saving grace of Jesus Christ in ways that we never have before.  We can live out the Great Commission in ways that we never have before.  We’ve translated the scriptures into thousands of languages for seekers all over the world.  So now that we are equipped with the ability to share our faith with anyone anywhere, why aren’t we doing it? 

I believe many times we do not feel equipped to adequately share our faith with others.  However, we need to remember that God does not call the equipped, He equips the called.  Just take a look at the group of misfits that Jesus called to be his first twelve disciples.  They weren’t equipped for the ministry that Jesus called them to at all, but here’s the good news, Jesus equipped them.  Albeit that things were rough for them in the beginning and perhaps for some their whole journey, but they lived out Jesus’ call upon their lives. 

            So how do we do it?  I have found that one of the best ways to share your faith and what God has done in your life is to live by example, live a Godly life.  Show people that you care about them the way that Jesus does – take time to be there for them, pray for them, listen to their needs and though you might not be able to meet those needs, but by just being there for them will demonstrate not only your love for them, but also the love that God has for them.