Student Reviews

Case Study Interview Comments

I learned more this summer in the CTER program than in my entire four years as an undergraduate.

The instructor has been wonderful, I mean, he really [ helped ]. If you have a question he's usually right there to answer it and, I mean I've talked to him lots of times just in the chat room and he's always, you know, how are things going, any questions, you know, is there anything I can do, he was real good about that.

The CTER program has provided quality of instruction and activities, 2) the opportunity to learn and work asynchronously, 3) the wide variety of activities which broadened our exposure to technology within our schools and its potential for incorporation in our existing programs.

The activities were spelled out clearly and Michael responded to questions quickly and effectively. I learned a TON of things in this course. Orientation helped me meet people who I could call locally and bounce questions off of them during the course.

The greatest strength of this course was the confidence that I have gained in knowing I can interact with technology. I am less intimidated by its possibilities, and know that there is a lot out there that I still need to know. However, I can take it one step at a time, and I have the confidence to do this. I really like the fact that I have created Web pages on the Internet!! I never thought I would be able to say that, and now I know I can do this with my students.

The many directions the activities would take you. The activities were diverse and gave you experience with several new technologies.

The greatest strength of this course was the different experiences with technology. My knowledge and confidence is growing and growing!!

I had the good fortune to belong to an outstanding group which managed to get the work done and enjoy each other at the same time. This is perhaps one of the best examples of group work I have participated in during my education.

The instructor did a wonderful job creating an easy to follow syllabus. Additionally, she assigned readings which were interesting, thought provoking and meaningful. Her immediate feedback was excellent.

(Students were asked,"What expertise does a graduate with focus in ed technologies is expected to have? and How do you feel about it now that you are almost done?")

Graduates of CTER should know how to incorporate technology appropriately into their educational curricula and make themselves available to help others learn more about it too. Now that I have finished the program, I feel that I can and do appropriately implement technology into my courses and my professional life (like I have done with the professional portfolio in my e-portfolio). Not only have I used the Internet to research more about technology, but I have used the technology itself to write essays and create multimedia projects. Furthermore, I have used a variety of tools that I had never been exposed to before (in educational ways anyway), including chat rooms, asynchronous discussion boards, audio files, and a variety of html editors. I feel much more confident now about troubleshooting and trying new things. I still feel, though, like I don't know enough about the technology itself-the "how stuff works" of it. I am seriously considering taking some undergraduate courses in technology-web page design, digital imaging, etc. Already, the "techie" people at the school include me in their "circle," and now I'm privy to some extra privileges that most teachers don't have.

I believe it can be expected that a CTER student would have a basic understanding of technologies available but not necessarily a working knowledge or all programs or possibilities. I think they also should have gained a level of confidence that enables them to try implementing technology in regards to education and an understanding of how it might affect educational situations. Although I still do not consider myself a "techie" I can confidently say I have increased my knowledge 300%. I am now at least realistic about my technology fears and understand the tremendous impact technology can have on education. I finally feel as if I know as much, usually more about computers than my high school students do. I feel confident in trying.... that to me is a great accomplishment.

I would like to think that we are collectively more "technologically savvy" than other departments, but I see so many of my colleagues giving worthless Internet assignments just to "incorporate technology". I gain confidence with every web page I create. I clicked onto my 1st e-portfolio, and I feel so proud of myself for how much I have learned! Talk about your confidence booster!

It is not an overstatement that this has re-energized my teaching like nothing else.

For more testimonials, visit the CTER yearbooks.