Last Class Post I (but not the last post)

What a journey! If someone told me a few weeks back that I would be able to accomplish a blog, web quest, collaborating electronically, and using apps, I would have chuckled (Then I would have submitted your name to a government agency). Here I am at  the other end of the tunnel and I have a new found appreciation for the digital resources available at our fingertips.

Overall, this class has pushed me in a direction about which I initially had a great deal of apprehension. I admit that the internet did not exist when I was growing up. It is not intrinsic in me. Now I have the confidence to find what I need, and more importantly, what I can bring to my students.

Objectives
The objective for the course were daunting to a technological acolyte like me. Here is a list of course objectives with commentary:

1. Learn ways to promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students’ 
conceptual understanding
The idea that there were opportunities for collaboration beyond the classroom and the school day is such a boon to education. My eyes opened beyond email as a medium. I work in a Google.docs school and did not even realize the true resource available to my students. Until this course, I simply thought of it as a way to eliminate a flash drive. Now I realize how much more students can do with the technology. They can create, meet, comment, and collaborate on work without ever actually meeting face to face outside of class time. Simple amazing! It also gives me a medium where I can respond to their work or questions in a speedy way. It enhances what I was doing in class already to go beyond the forty-five minute period.
 
2. Demonstrate an understanding of safe, ethical, legal and moral practices related to digital information and technology
This objective has been part of our curriculum for years and has been evolving along with technology and the times. Now I feel like I have a better understanding of Creative Commons and licensing and the idea behind intellectual property. Citing literature and ideas has always been part of the English curriculum, but the other kinds of information were primarily the realm of the librarians. I feel can now guide students better regarding digital resources.

3. Illustrate through application how state and national standards are implemented within the curriculum 
(e.g., Common Core, NH Curriculum Frameworks, ISTE (NETS-Teacher/NETS-Student) and NH-ICT 
Literacy Standards for K-12 Students (Ed 306.42))
Standards are such a hot topic right now in education across New Hampshire and the country. With the implementation of Common Core in the public spotlight, it is important that what educators do aligns with the new standards. The ISTE standards surprised me. I did not know such standards even existed. It makes sense that they do as we move further into the digital age. These technology standards are important and will help me to ensure that I am helping to reinforce information literacy as an integral part of what I teach.

4. Demonstrate an understanding of the use of assistive and adaptive technologies and other digital 
resources to personalize and differentiate learning activities for every student
This area of education is exploding with the use of formal programs (Dragon) and the multitude of apps available. Chances are, if there is a need, there is an app for it. In speaking with our district IT specialist about what I have learned in class, he responded, "Wait until you see all the apps." This new way of computing and using technology truly allows users to customize their own digital experience and define what the user needs technology to do for them. The options are almost daunting. What I have learned here is that sometimes you just need to jump. Recently I made a vocabulary card set for a humanities class on Quizlet (which I would not have tried if not for class). On it there are a number of games to play with the vocabulary. One is a race to math definitions. I set a baseline for time. I did not expect the overwhelming response of students and their desire to beat the teacher! I found myself fighting for my vocabulary life. Many students even skipped their break to try to be the fastest. I will see how they do on the test tomorrow.

5. Evaluate and reflect on emerging tools and trends by reviewing current research and professional 
literature
This is part of the course I think I enjoy the most. I am a pragmatist by nature. I like things that work and are simple. I have a world of resources at my fingertips I never realized were there before. Diigo is my favorite new site! It is great on so many levels! I can research based on what others have also found helpful. I can enlist whole groups of people already thinking and expanding on things that interest me. I also like the ability to highlight information and research electronically. It is so much easier to organize and keep rolling on a given topic.

6. Turn theory into practice by completing 5 hours of related field experience.
Being a classroom teacher has its benefits for this objective. I am also blessed to work in a building where people support each other in so many facets. Junior English is a "tech rich" level at our school. The teachers accommodated my needs and were very transparent regarding how they use technology to enhance what their craft. Their encouragement has given me confidence to push my learning in a new direction. I have used what I created in this class to begin walking the path.

 The future is bright and I feel that it has been good to be in the role of a learner again. It reaffirms the importance of a desire to know more never has to end. There is a certain joy in discovery, and with regard to technology, I feel I have it.