Wow! This journey has been one of the most challenging, yet rewarding, of my life. I take great personal satisfaction in all I've learned and how I've grown as a techie and instructor. As I entered the program with little to no expectations toward the amount of knowledge I'd gain, with only hopes of becoming more tech savvy, I am beyond amazed at what I am strutting away from this experience (the program) with! My blog posts clearly communicate the excitement I experienced sharing new tools and knowledge gained with my students. Looking back over the past two school years, my lessons have grown to include much more technology than before which has lead to higher student engagement. Colleagues approach me with technological questions which would NEVER have happened prior to my entrance into this program! I am a better teacher thanks to this program!Personally, the program has been utterly and amazingly satisfying. Albeit, I experienced oodles of frustrations and challenges as many of my blog posts communicate; this program has been nothing but great for my self-esteem and personal need to learn and grow.
Reading my 61 blog entries and my classmates' comments took me on a roller coaster ride of emotion. To begin, I must say I am completely touched by the empathy and support my cohort peers provided in the past 20 months. I journeyed with a truly amazing group of people! If not for their unending support and kindness, this journey would have been much tougher and at times more than likely unbearable.
Surprises encountered: I'm amazed that it feels like yesterday that I was in each and every course. The experiences still seem so vivid! I giggled aloud at my frustration level in
some of the posts! Oh how the Pecha Kucha aggravated me! The level of frustration I felt throughout the courses makes me chuckle a bit but also makes me wonder if my blood pressure will be lower once all the loose ends of the course are wrapped up. Ha! I'm surprised that my knowledge of the importance of backing up files hasn't yet moved me toward backing up the irreplaceable photos on my computer's hard drive! In October of 2009, I stated my intentions of moving photos and videos to MotionBox...I wonder what happened. (Note to self: Do this soon!) (Another note to self: Snapfish acquired MotionBox!) An additional surprise is the amount of relief that is tangible in many of my posts regarding assignment, project, etc. completion. Mostly, I am surprised at how amazing this journey has been! At how much I've learned! At how much my learning has blossomed and continues to blossom!Wish I would've delved deeper: I wish I would've created a spreadsheet or wiki (or something) of the tools I was introduced to in the past 20 months. I kept a small notebook of tools with my usernames and passwords; it's alphabetized! BUT, I shoul
d've included a blurb about each tool as well as likes and dislikes. The notebook is hugely useful, but I could've created a LiveBinder. I wish I would've delved deeper into social bookmarking...Diigo or Delicious...I also hope to get back to Twitter...not to Tweet but to make use of the resources that are shared there! Satisfactions: The early introduction of Google docs in this program lead to my students for the past two years having Google accounts! It's grown to be completely commonpl
ace. In my October 14, 2009 post regarding the "Considering the Future" post, I stated that the role of the teacher will change to one of less of a giver of information to more of a guide on the side. I am so pleased to say that this became a reality as I integrated My Big Campus into my English classes as part of my Culminating Project. Additionally, in my March 2, 2010 post I referenced my "expert blind spots." It feels good to know that I've been able to address some of this as I've placed directions, instructional presentations, and screencasts into My Big Campus to aid students' learning and allow them to practice and apply 21st century skills such as independent thinking and problem-solving. On top of that, reviewing my posts, my concern for how my learning would benefit my students is palpable. Excitingly, due to the digital storytelling course that's part of this cohort, my English students created digital stories! Moreso, my intention to use Dipity from my August 12, 2010 post came to fruition in my portfolio as I used the tool to account for the hours in my Culminating Project. The hugest satisfaction is that I stuck with the program to the end.Future intentions: Create a video substitute plan for a pre-planned absence in the future. Continue to monitor my Google Reader account for ideas to use and share. Back up photos and videos on external hard drive. Continue to integrate technology to enhance my students' learning. Teach an online course. Share my instructional technological know-how in an organized fashion such as a conference or staff development session. Continue to be Techie in Training...an eternal technological learner.
