Learning Styles 2.0- Professional Development Goals

I found the Learning Styles 2.0 article to be particularly interesting when thinking about professional development goals with regard to technology. I was particularly drawn to the attribute of the digital learning experience which states that learning should be student- centered. I think an important use of technology in education is to give students the tools to enhance their knowledge and take an active role in their learning. I think using technology in the classroom and teaching students to use technology to their own advantage out of the classroom are both important. Students need to be both engaged in and responsible for their learning and technology is a tool teachers can use to provide their students with both of these aspects. I teach a second grade class and for spelling, the students are encouraged to use a website called spellingcity.com. The teachers are able to upload our spelling lists each week and the students are encouraged to use the website which includes games and study strategies to help them prepare for the test. I think in such a technological world, it is important for students to have resources such as this one to assist them in their learning. In addition to these tools being student centered, they are also “on demand” and available whenever students need them. I would like to learn how to better use these tools and add other tools to my repertoire, such as blogs and wikis, to enhance and support my students’ learning and create a community of learners in and out of the classroom.