I Had the Time of My Life....or the Final Class-assigned Blog Post....or Week 10

On a personal level, and this is my blog, so, I am going to throw it out there: this is term and the class that I took at Southern New Hampshire University has been one of the best academic experiences of my life. It was just everything about it: unexpected emails from the instructor of things that are totally and completely in my wheel house, just because she saw it and thought of me. I have learned so much about myself as an educator and also learned how to articulate professionally what it is that I think about the educational world and where I see it going.

The greatest things I have taken out of this are resources. Web 2.0 tools, broadening my Personal Learning Network, and just learning of places I can go to find support. Because, I know, that someday (hopefully soon) I am going to need that in my career. And that is something that I am still hoping to learn: if what I learn will really help me. Will I retain it? Or will I need to keep my Diigo account fully stocked of every little thing to ensure I do?

There are course objectives for this class, things that we were expected to understand by the time it is over. It is not uncommon. Every class has them, at any level. I discussed some of them once before, briefly, but, I am going to lay them out here and break down a few more:

Design meaningful and authentic digitally based learning experiences with multiple and varied assessments

I was totally thrown out of my comfort zone with this one sometimes. The final webquest assignment was the big reason for that. I was like a deer in the headlights sometimes. I have grown up learning in a very structured environment. A+B=C. A and B are predetermined, so C is right there laid out for you. But, with this, I had to start being more creative in my education. And in doing that, it helped me reinforce that I want that for my future students. So they do not have to feel like deer in headlights when confronted with making their own decisions in the classroom.

What?!?!?!

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)) 

I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THIS. I had been secretly a little concerned that I was not going to understand how to utilize standards in my lesson plans. That it was going to be that thing that crushed my hopes and dreams as an educator, because I couldn't implement them and demonstrate them. But, I have learned that I am alright. Honestly, they are not there to set me up for failure! I can use them, and they allow me to be creative and implement them in many ways. Making the Webquest, and doing the Me Poem, they all helped transition me in to understanding them. And I am infinitely grateful for that.

Demonstrate an understanding of the use of assistive and adaptive technologies and other digital resources to personalize and differentiate learning activities for every student 

Assistive technology is something I have always known about. I have worked with many special needs children. But, I love hearing more about how it is being implemented, especially as more and more schools are becoming inclusive.

 

The last ten weeks have been saturated with technology for me. I have always used it: computers, social media, video games, streaming music. But the sheer amount of options out there...it is almost daunting in its vastness. Learning about it, though, is a necessity for me as an educator. Schools need to evolve and technology is a tool that is limitless in its potential to help do that. Technology helps me and other educators facilitate education. It is my belief that independent learning is the only way that a student truly learns, and technology is one of the best ways to encourage that. With new Web 2.0 tools, we can focus on the process of learning, and not just the goal. Tools like, Edmodo, and EduBlogs can help us connect with each individual student and give them a voice. These are tools that can easily be transitioned into the schools, and allow for students to express themselves.

I know, unfortunately, this is going to be a process. Schools, especially public schools, are not well-known for their ability to adapt quickly. As Marc Presky said, we dabble first. We test the waters and see how it works out, and sometimes, even that can be like pulling teeth. But, I think that eventually we can get there. Hopefully we can. Because if we don't, we are just perpetuating an archaic way of learning. As educators, it is part of our job to ensure that students can learn as much as they can individually. And that won't happen if we remain stagnant. We, as educators, facilitators, teachers, can speed up this process by working together and forming our own Personal Learning Networks. Because, really, change starts with us.

I have learned a great deal about Personal Learning Networks through the book I have been reading for class, called The Connected Educator. I was first introduced to Diigo through this book, and it is one of the best tools I have ever found for me personally. I use it for so many aspects of my life, and as a way to keep track of all the things I have going on or want to remember. I have become more active in reading blogs of other teachers I have found and related to. I have also been using my Twitter account and other social media to hear the ideas of other educators I can emulate. I have found blogging to be the most beneficial for me. Which is something addressed in both the book and in the class this term itself. I find it to be more personal, and reading the blogs of other educators allows me to learn more. It reaches me better than say reading a Twitter feed of a few characters. And it allows for more in-depth discussion after-the-fact as well.

I feel like what I have learned in the last ten weeks is going to stay with me, beyond what I save on Post-It notes and in Diigo. I feel like it actually made a difference in how I view education, and as my first graduate level course, I could not have asked for a better experience. I don't give compliments fleetingly, and I am extremely practical. I just feel like this class has helped me become more than just a naive, idealistic, wannabe teacher.

P.S.- It has been a while since my friend Pusheen has made an appearance, so, for old times sake.....