Final Reflection

Wow! I don't know where to start! Maybe I should start with the first day. I did not even know I was looking at a blog when I pulled up the class blog website. I had never been to one, so I didn't know what one was. I am almost 30 years old and the only reason why I used computers before this class was just because I felt I had no choice most of the time. I did not know how to enjoy them. The neatest thing to me was to use the computer to pay bills and save the trees.

In spite of that I was one of the many students who felt that I could get away with minimum amounts of time spent on this class because of the lack of supervision that comes with it. However, I quickly found myself literally drownding and struggling to catch up within the first 3 weeks of class. In other words, I had to learn the hard way to spend some time in the lab.

This class did challenge me to the point of near insanity. But I did start college for a challenge, so I guess I can't complain too much about that. Dr. Strange and the lab associates (as they like to be called) were always there to help. They take their job seriously. At the same time they liked to cut up with me and show me how to have fun with the assignements.

The direction that Dr. Strange is taking his students in is, perhaps what is most worthy of my reflection. I had no idea the type of revolution our educational institution is in. Everything is changing and, just like everything except for drama, we are behind here in the south. Children are learning differently and we must compete. We must be able to participate in what the world is doing. Human beings have always thrived off of each other's ideas. Students today crave interaction and idea sharing - PLN's.

TEACH SOMEONE SOMETHING

I did Jamie Lynn's hair into a "topsy tail" and tried to upload the video to YouTube, but I guess it didn't work because it is not under my videos. When I was in the Lab Thursday with my son it was trying to upload. Dr. Strange said that it was taking a while because YouTube was busy. He said that if I sent it to my account then I should be able to embed it from home and just give it some time to publish. I guess it didn't go through. I will try to resolve this issue Monday.

RESULTS FROM GOOGLE DOCS SURVEY WITH COMMENTARY

FINAL REPORT ON PLN

Well, first of all, I now know what a PLN is. Second I know why it is important to me. Third and last, I know why it is important to my future students. I, as a teacher in the age of the Millineal and the Alpha generations, will be a facilitator for their use of the available technology for learning. In other words, I will have to show them how and encourage my future students to use available technology for learning what they need to learn in the classroom. My PLN has evolved from rarely checking e-mail to having a detailed blog, subscribing to various interesting blogs, participating (and enjoying) Facebook, and using the computer happily instead of grudgingly. I do not have a Twitter account but I do enjoy my YouTube account and although I have had a g-mail account for about 5 years, I had no idea how useful it can be. What potential!! I see a PLN as something that is ever changing for me as I learn new things but my view of today's technology as the ultimate learning tool is a new and welcomed view.

FINAL SUMMARY POST C4K

C4K # 11 was a girl named Madison from Louisiana that had gone on a field trip to a county fair. She was chaperoned by her mother. She was excited to mention that they took a tour bus instead of  a school bus. I told her about my big field trip to New Orleans and how my mom was the chaperone. Finally, I told her to keep up the good work on her posts.

SPECIAL YASMINE ASSNMNT. Yasmine obviously loves horses. What noble creatures. I hope she loves getting all the posts. What a bright young lady!!

C4K #10 Amy is a student from Spencer (I couldn't find which state) but the post I commented on was about her dog. She is obviously a member of a dog loving family. Their new dog was a rescue and she was so excited about the new addition to the family. I told her that her post was very well written and that she should keep it up.

C4K #9  Chelsea is a student from overseas and she is a very well rounded young lady. She sings in a choir, plays basketball, all while keeping up with her blog and her school work. Man, I need to take a hint from Chelsea!! Really, though I told her to keep ut the great work and that I was impressed.

C4K #8 Well, I couldn't find out anything about alba skunkshark (cool name), but I did see that they have a gift for photography. This student was proud of their hobby and I was a cool picture.

C4T SUMMARY #4

The teacher that I was assigned is Liz B. Davis. Although I was unable to tell her so, I have enjoyed reading her posts. She is the director of academic technology at an all boys school in Boston. She is always showing her students how to use all types of technology to their advantage. For example, many of her students are only familiar with Facebook, but after sharing the benefits of Twitter, the boys begin to use it effectively. Also, she is always posting her thoughts and discoveries as she builds her PLN.