Everchanging Technology

This week I have come to the realization that no matter how much I learn about technology, there will always be more to learn. Things change so rapidly, you have to constantly be searching out the next new thing. When I found out that we were discussing social bookmarking this week, I thought that, at least this portion, would be easy for me. Then I sat down to begin the work... I have been using Delicious and Diigo for a little over 2 years now and I love them both. I try to convert everyone that I can, because it has made my life as a student and an educator much easier. However, I had never heard of Diig, Furl or Stumbleupon.
I began using Dropbox about a year ago to share larger files with my classmates and pictures with my family, but I was unfamiliar with Evernote and I had absolutely no idea what FERPA was.

It's easy to see why some of our colleagues get set in their ways. They find the constant change of technology frustrating and unsettling. I try hard to remember my absolute sense of panic and hysteria when I began this journey 2 years ago so that I can be more understanding when I try to talk about the next new thing that I want my staff to try.

I started this blog last year for a class in instructional technology. As you can see, we were required to create three posts for the class. Obviously I haven't kept it up since the class ended. I'm not very comfortable with writing a blog. I guess that I haven't felt that I have anything to say that rates putting it out in cyberspace. I don't know why, since I have absolutely no problems rambling about anything and everything to the people around me. Don't get me wrong. I love the blog format, and follow a number of fantastic educators. I'm continually grateful that they choose to share their experiences and expertise, and I have benefited often. I just always think that I should leave cyberspace to the "experts".

I have been working on changing this view, and hopefully keeping this blog up more regularly will help. I am a new Library Media Specialist and many of the information literacy standards have to do with creating information for others to use. We are supposed to be teaching our students to not only use the Internet to gather information, but to participate in the culture of learning. I guess it's time to practice what I preach.

I just finished my coursework for my Library/Media Certification this past summer. After a whirlwind of learning about new technology that was available, I was excited to put my learning into practice. Although I am familiar with many of the recent innovations, I am not naive enough to think that I know it all. I am continually reminded of this fact as teachers come to me with questions that I cannot answer. As the only technology person in my building, I am trying to increase my knowledge base even more so that these humbling experiences become fewer and farther between.

I am lucky to work with a group of teachers that are also excited about the possibilities that technology brings to the classroom. We have already completed many fabulous projects this year using google earth, glogster, my big campus (a cheaper alternative to Moodle), photostory and pixton. As we move forward, I hope to find even more tools and ideas to bring back to my teachers.

final thoughts

Technology, when used properly can really enhance the learning process. However, we, as educators, need to make sure that our use of technology serves a purpose. We shouldn't incorporate technology just because we can. When we add technology to a lackluster unit in the way of a well planned and effective webquest, we have enhanced learning. When we go overboard with transitions and visual effects in our powerpoints, we aren't serving any higher purpose. In fact, these uses can turn people off, and muddy the waters.

I am truly excited about the possibilities that technology provides. As I think about the lessons that I used to teach, even the ones that I thought were great lessons 12 years ago, I can easily see how they could be more effective and interactive with the addition of technology. For instance, instead of making an advertising poster and speech for a particular Civil Rights organization, students today could easily create an entire video advertisement. This addition helps them gain a greater understanding of the power of images and persuasive speech. Not only will they learn about different Civil Rights groups, but they will also learn effective ways to convey this knowledge to others.

I truly believe that to be effective educators we need to understand and be able to use current technology, no matter what grade level or subject matter we teach. With it, we can change the world; without it, we simply watch the world go by.

more thoughts

As I have continued to work with some of this technology, I am more convinced of the effectiveness of using it in the classroom. It is not only important to teach our children how to use computers and the internet, it is important to use this technology ourselves in our teaching. For instance, the more we know about power point, we can create more effective presentations that grab our students attention instead of creating a modern lecture.
I have begun thinking of ways to use technology to advance and challenge some of my higher level students. The power point project that I am creating has possibilities for these students to add to it. We can also use the interactive power point as a review for students who need to go over information another time, or need to have it presented in a different way. Technology is a great way to help individualize lesson plans. It is also a wonderful way to use a medium that students are interested in to capture their attention and interest.

I have recently realized that I had a lot to learn about technology and it's role in education. I had never thought of myself as technologically illiterate until I had a class in information literacy this summer. I couldn't believe how much had changed in the 12 years since I had been out of education.
So with an incredible amount of panic, I plunged in to the deep end. What I found, is that it really isn't that hard to teach an old dog new tricks. In fact I was having a blast "playing" with all of the new gadgets and sites I had been introduced to. I learned how to wordle and glog (two things most of my friends still think sound too dirty to discuss in front of their children). I opened delicious and gmail accounts that I posted to my recently created igoogle homepage, from which I access my rss feeds. I feel like I've learned a completely different language as well as new skills.
But, now that I can do all of these things, the question is - When do I? and Why? I really do feel that technology adds so much to the educational experience. At its best the entire learning process in enhanced and comprehension is deepened. If nothing else, it can capture the interest of an otherwise unmotivated student. Students are using this technology all of the time, we, as educators need to get on board; if for no other reason than to teach students how to effectively communicate in an e-mail.