Week 5 Reflections

To be perfectly honest, I really had not envisioned any outcomes for this course at the beginning. After I started, I began to envision learning about all the new technology that is available. I most certainly achieved that! Through the readings, discussions, and videos, I discovered a world of technology that I didn't know existed. I knew that my school as a little behind in technology, but I didn't know how much There is so much technology out there that I know about now that my school could benefit from. For example, keeping an online portfolio for every child would be awesome. I also learned more about social networking. I never would have started a blog if it had not been for this class. Until now, I had thought of blogs, twitter, facebook, etc. as something frivolous and useless for the classroom. I know better now. These social networks are not just for fun. They can be used for learning in the classroom (even the elementary classroom). I also began to envision how much of an impact the right kind of technology could have in and out of the classroom.
I believe that the outcomes of this course are very relevant to the work I do in school. The kindergarten students I taught nine years ago are different from the ones I teach now. My current students are technology saturated. They know how to start and navigate the web sites I allow them to go to whereas my students from nine years ago never were allowed to access the web. Each year my students get more tech smart. In some ways they know more than I do. My cell phone is what one called a "dinosaur." I don't know how to work the new touch screen cell phones and some of my students do. In the technology age that we are living in, we all must continue to learn about and implement new and beneficial technology. I realize that I have a long way to go, but because of this course I feel better prepared to face all the technology that is out there.
Since I really had no outcomes at the beginning of this class, I do not feel that there were any unachieved outcomes.
I was successful in carrying out the course assignments. This time of year is extremely busy in a kindergarten classroom and I found myself bringing a lot of things to complete at home. This took away from the time I spent online with this course. It was a little difficult for me to balance work, home, and this course. I was late on my 4th assignment because of this. Several days would go by without me checking my email which ultimately resulted in this assignment being late. It was my own fault and I take full responsibility for it.
This course taught me a lot about myself. I thought I was fairly competent with technology, but I realize that I am actually very archaic. I am behind the times in regard to social networking and other media outlets. The technology that I use at school is OK, but could use updating. Because of this class, I realize that my attitude towards certain types of technology such as blogging was biased and wrong. My attitude has undergone a tremendous change. I am much more interested in and fascinated by ways of instantly keeping in touch with others. I don't fear technology as much anymore. I know that there is lot for me to learn, but at least I am willing to learn it. I wouldn't say that I could not be a leader in this area. I think that I could because I have a willingness to learn and use new technology. This is good modeling behavior. I would never require my teachers to use technology that I was not prepared to use myself. I also understand the importance of keeping up to date and would provide, if not require, professional development in technology for my staff. There has to be a priority placed on technology and I know that I would do this as an administrator.
Blogging is something I had no knowledge of until this class. I had heard the term, but never fully understood what it was. It was fun learning how to create and insert a PowerPoint presentation into my blog. Of course at the time I had a few choice words for the computer, but we seem to be getting along well now. I can see some educational benefit from blogging such as access to homework and notes, but there are some concerns as well. Students and teachers could post something inappropriate or harmful to another person. A teacher could very well be fired for posting something inappropriate and she was unaware that it was. This is why the administrator needs to be current on laws and keeps the faculty and staff aware also. Blogging is a good way for an adminstrator to keep up with businesses that are school stakeholders. One must be careful though. Whatever you say or publish on the web is always out there. No one is able to hide or completely erase what has already been posted to the web.