This course has been a wild, hectic, absolutely wonderful ride. Despite my not so glowing assignment marks I am completely satisfied with my progress and the amount of new learning that has taken place for me.
Exploration of Web 2.0 EDES 501 has provided me with many valuable, new technology tools and a new way of thinking about communication, community, and professional growth. It has pushed me to think about student learning, technology and my role as an educator in this dynamic. And it has given me a new sense of confidence in my use of technology.
As I reflect on the new technology tools I have been introduced to throughout this course it amazes me as to how much I have learned. It amazes me to think that I am now, if not totally proficient in them, aware of so many new Web 2.0 tools and comfortable enough with them that I would have no hesitation in continuing to use many of them.
Web 2.0 is a new way of communicating and creating. No longer are we alone at our end of the Internet with communication being a one way street. Rather Web 2.0 offers so many varied opportunities to communicate, share ideas, collaborate, and to problem solve.
With a variety of new venues to communicate and share ideas Web 2.0 has helped me to understand a “community” can mean more than just people living and working together in the same geographical area. Web 2.0 has allowed new communities to grow through the Internet and that members of these new communities can come together from all over the world.
My sense of professional development and what I believed it needed to look like has also been altered since I began this course. I have always thought professional development, for the most part, had to include attending a work shop or a conference. However, with my new sense of “community” I now realize that the opportunity to grow professionally every day is possible and professional growth is now, more than ever, a very individualized and personal choice.
With a podcast, with a RSS feed, with Twitter or with a Ning, a little professional development every day is a possibility. But we have to remember, taking the time or making the time to read, listen, watch, respond to or share something in our professional fields is just as important as “knowing” where to find these professional development opportunities.
Student learning, technology and my role as an educator have taken on a new perspective also. I knew technology was an important part of our student’s daily lives, but I didn’t really understand how important it was nor did I fully understand that it played such a big part in their lives. Reading about how much time our students spend with technology and social networking was an eye opener. As I in turn reflect on how much I use and rely on technology in my daily work and how it has impacted my communication with others I think we as a school community need to be more proactive in learning about and sharing with others our knowledge of this new reality.
On top of all of wonderful new Web 2.0 tools I am now familiar with and the new understanding of learning communities and also the better understanding of students and technology I have also gained much needed confidence in the use of technology. Although I think I was doing ok in the world of technology I was unaware for the most part of a whole new “world” out there. I was unaware of a world where people were connecting, sharing, collaborating and developing new online communities. I was unaware of the Web 2.0 world and unsure how to travel in it.
Now I have gone from not knowing how to upload a picture from my digital camera to the Internet to thinking how best to put together a presentation of library programming in pictures not only for our library board but also for the Manitoba Library Conference next month. Go me!
This confidence I have gained has come from the hands-on approach of this course, from the honesty of my classmates learning challenges, their support and encouragement (thanks to all of you) and from the amazing resources and on-line learning communities I have become a part of.
There have been highs and lows throughout this course and there have been some wonderful learning moments also. Each time I finished an assignment was a definite high, even though it was short lived because no sooner was I done one assignment when another new tool had to be learned and its applications to my daily life and to teaching and learning had to be thought about. Another high was when you would try something for the first time, such as uploading a picture or adding a widget or screenshot to your blog, and it would actually work.
Some of the lows I have had were, well... my neck and shoulders were cramped and sore for the whole first month of this course due to the stress of trying to learn the new tools and trying to keep up with all the information. Another low for me was, knowing that I wasn’t contributing to the discussions as much as I should have.
Along with the highs and lows of working my way through the Web 2.0 there have been times when I have been so grateful to belong to our little learning community. Through our learning community of Web 2.0 classmates I have learned that I am not alone in this new “world”.
It is a comfort to know there are others who are striving to learn and who value the challenge of finding ways to share their new knowledge with their colleagues and students.
Knowing about and being familiar with new tools is wonderful in itself but the real joy is in sharing this knowledge with others. I have developed in my mind a plan of how I am going to share my new learning with my colleagues, students and my home community.
My Sharing with a School Administrator Plan (Target your decision makers!)
I plan on working with one of the four administrators at our school and help her set up RSS feeds. I explained to her RSS feeds were like professional development sessions coming directly to her desk as opposed to her going out and having to search for professional development.
I plan on providing her with 4 to 5 subscription feeds of bloggers in the areas of school administration, education and technology and I will throw in a couple of library blogs for good measure.
I will include the following feeds:
1. Principals' Office at National Association of Elementary School Principals
2. Moving at the Speed of Creativity by Wesley Fryer
3. Weblogg-ed by Will Richardson
4. Pair-a-dimes for Your Thoughts by David Truss
5. Blue Skunk Blog by Doug Johnson
6. Wired Librarian by Karen Kliegman
7. NeverEndingSearch by Joyce Valenza
My Sharing With Colleagues and Community Plan
Sharing my new knowledge with fellow teachers and community members will include a list of the new resources, similar to Joanne’s Trailfires, for those who wish to explore the tools on their own.
For those who require Internet and computer access or who would feel more comfortable exploring the new tools with others, I will schedule a once per month learning/practice with a new tool each month at the public library. (My library programming has taught me not to have too many sessions too close together.)
My Sharing With Students Plan
Again, I will provide a list of the new resources for the older students to try on their own. For the younger students I will try to incorporate my new learning into theirs when I plan collaborative units and lessons with their classroom teachers.
And now this wild, crazy but absolutely wonderful ride is at its end...thanks to all of you for the great learning experience!
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