Looking Back....

Wow, it is crazy that I managed to accomplish a little bit of mastery of all of these tools in a short summer session! I really enjoyed it though. Many of the tools I had been exposed to before but a lot of them I had never really experimented with. I have to say that my favorite experiences on this journey had to do with creating things. I really enjoyed Flikr, mashups (although frustrating), Animoto, and the word generators. So many useful things for the classroom and my own life. I do think that I will continue using some of these tools and while I may not keep this particular blog going, I think I may resurrect my other one and write it with a different spin on things.

Honestly, I do not think I would change much about this course. It was extremely informative and fun (most of the time). I was able to rediscover my love of writing and become a little more knowledgeable of all the web has to offer. I do think that I will have to keep abreast of technology seminars related to my discipline to keep up with the ever-changing "World Wide Web."

I think that when using technology you have already signed up to be a lifelong learner. I was discussing the concept of technology in the classroom with another professor and we both came to the conclusion that you definitely have to continue learning about the different technologies that come about (he mentioned that the beginning of online classes most likely stemmed from those crazy little things called "Correspondance Courses" WILD!). Computers are certainly different now than they were when I was in elementary school in the 90's. In that same breath, I want to reiterate something that I had stated before at the very beginning of this journey. I think that it is so important that we do not become so dependent and fascinated by all the shiny technological tools that we lose out on the student/teacher relationship. I do not always remember the fancy techie stuff or the new computers in school but I do remember my teachers who worked with me. The point of this soapbox, let us remember that as educators, our main focus of teaching should be the students, not all that extra stuff, however helpful it may be.

Still learning....

Peace!