Just like the road trips, I was very excited to get started. I wanted to learn! I knew I was a snail pace techy and didn't know much, so whatever I got out of it, I knew I'd be better off than when I started. I also knew it to be challenging, but I was excited! I believed I could do it! As the journey progressed, I was overwhelmed with all the "new stuff" I was learning but thoroughly enjoyed all the new knowledge. I enjoyed all the presentations, the conversations and the explorations we had in class. I found all the information to be very helpful and eye opening. Then, slowly, I realized, my perspective on technology was changing. Technology is very useful in the classroom and is useful in teaching and learning.
There were so many new helpful and interesting sites and apps to learn. Most of them were fun and easy. Some of my favorites were the gloster (online poster), chatterbox (app), Do-ink green screen (app), and the shadow puppet (app). Word clouds were especially fun and easy to make. These are some of the new learning I would apply to my teaching. I think my students would enjoy using these tools and I know they would benefit from using them. I am not an expert on technology by any means, but I do feel more comfortable using some of the technology and feel I can teach a few things to my students.
One thing I found very hard to do is putting myself out there in the social networking world. I am an introvert and really am a background kind of a person. I do not particularly enjoy posting things for all to see or speaking in front of people for all to hear. This aspect of the class was very stretching for me. I did not enjoy this, but I know it did make me grow, for which I am grateful.
As I have said in the beginning, a journey is that much better when you travel with wonderful people! Reflecting back, I think this was fun because of the people. I couldn't ask for a better group of classmates! Everyone was so open and always willing to help, letting me know I can come to them anytime. I so appreciate all the support. As well, I really appreciated the instructor's immediate feedback and encouragement. People always make a difference!
Though the journey was invaluable, it was long. At times I felt like I was going on the highway with speed bump after every mile. The pace of the course was very fast for a newbie techy like me. And as wonderful and educational as the course was, I wished we could have slowed down and eased over the bumps rather than racing over them. I felt every bump. A new task was given before I had a chance to practice and familiarize myself with the old one. There were many times I had to watch Youtube video to actually figure out how certain sites were used. So, although the learning aspect was exciting, and learning with friends were fun, I felt drained from the pace of the course. And I started asking, "Is it over yet?'
In conclusion, I really did enjoy the whole course. I truly learned so much and have gained a great deal knowledge and skills in technology. I know I will apply my learning in my teaching as I move forward. However, I will be quite relieved after class next week. No more homework...for awhile.
Thank you, Nicole and all my classmates for going through this journey with me!~😊
