Reflection

Reflecting on this year's experience of TATC is one mixed with many emotions. I began this year-long trip determined and scared. When we began Foundations, I jumped into a group assignment and realized that the others in the course would be very beneficial to know and to consult. As we progressed through the course, I learned to be a more independent learner knowing that help was just around the corner, if needed. I was stubborn most of the time and was determined to work obstacles out myself. As challenges arose, I read, pondered, tried, retried, cried(a couple of times), worked, and posted finished assignments as scheduled. Each time assignments were finished, I felt major pride.

As I worked through all the TATC courses, I had to keep the ideals that direct us in mind. These ideals are called Standards. Standards I through V are the big generic standards that all the Technology Application courses are built on. All projects we did for each of the TATC courses relate to at least on of the first five standards. As I structure my classes in the future not only will these first five standards have to be met, they need to be the major guidelines for my classes.

Standard VII is Desktop Publishing. This course is the one that I used the most in my classes as the year progressed. I gained so many different ideas and projects from the course and from my fellow TATC students. I also gained more projects from the Tech Ap Teacher Network observation I did at the TCEA convention. I applied and used these "goodies" in my DTP classes. It was wonderful to watch my students grow and benefit from all the things I learned and shared with them. I have built a student based printing business for the community with this course. I have watched some of my students realize that they have the ability to design and produce to very high standards. I intend to continue this business for years to come for myself to improve and produce as well as my students.

Standard VIII is Digital Graphics and Animation. This course is the one that caused me to enroll in TATC. I loved this learning experience. I did my extended studies in this graphical course. I carried it into my own classroom - even though I did not teach this course on its own. The students and I built, experimented, started over, threw out, accomplished, and celebrated each major project we completed. This course fascinated me and its final products fascinates others as well. What I am excited about is the fact that I will be teaching this course in the fall and years to come. I am so excited!!!

Standard IX is Multimedia. This course surprised me. I realized that multimedia is exactly multi. All types of technology go together to form the multimedia course. The difference is no one technology product stands on its own. Multimedia is a combined effort of many technology products all working together to convey one goal. From web mastering to video tech to graphical design to desktop publishing, multimedia uses all these mediums. I plan on using the multimedia approach with my students - especially the students who have taken more than one of my courses. Myself and my students, with my examples, will merge all our technological talents together and be "multimedia" without calling it multimedia.

Standard X is Video Technology. This course was the one I dreaded and was most scared to begin. However now that I survived it, it has become a part of me. I have learned enough to be dangerous. I now have the equipment at home and school to build videos and share them with others. I knew that all the TATC students from last year told us that we would learn and enjoy the many aspects of this course, but we doubted them. Why did we doubt them? This course got under my skin. I will use all I learned here in my classes and in my personal life.

Standard XI is Web Mastering. This course was a challenge. I cannot believe how much we used this course in the rest of the courses. For example, I am building a web page here to share this reflection with all. I taught a web class for the first time this year. As I progressed through the TATC courses, I learned web items and knowledge to post my projects. I then applied these to my web class that I was teaching. Since the world is now built around the Internet, web mastering is a great talent to have.

As one can see, mastering all these courses and standards has been a challenge. A challenge I would face again if given the chance. Now that I am on this side of the challenge, I know and feel that I have learned so much from the TATC experience. I will continue to grow and learn as I teach all these standards and TEKS to my students. I hope that I will touch them or inspire them to use their technology skills in their lives to become a productive, successful citizen.