As many of you may or may not have figured out, I named my blogs with numbers at the end. I Started with 101 because blogging was something that I have never heard of, so I used 102 to give meaning to a basic college class. I continued with 102 and 103 and …, using them as the courses became more defined and presumably a little harder. Mid way through the semester I changed to the 200 numbers, almost like I have graduated to the next level of classes. My understanding of how to use blogs have increased at that time, or at least I thought. As I entered this class, with only the expectation of finishing the class to work towards my Master’s degree, I came to the realization that I will need to use this technology that I have learned to broaden the learning spectrum that my students will work towards in my classroom. By no means have I mastered all the tools that have been handed to me, but I no longer consider myself a beginner when it comes to this thing that we call “Technology.” I can work with a PowerPoint, or fiddle with web design. I can try to make a podcast, or design a lesson plan based on using a blog. These are terms that I, with the exception of PowerPoint, have never heard of. My understanding of these terms has grown and with a little more tinkering, I actually will feel comfortable teaching them to my students. Or at least feel comfortable telling my students what we are going to be doing and watch them fly through the assignment doing things that I have never seen before. At least when there is a conversation about podcasting with my students, I can enter the conversation and have a visible understanding of what they are talking about.
At the beginning of the semester I went home to my wife and son and said that I lost and way over my head. I said that I am not a tech person and never will be. They make this technology for certain people to use and I am not one of the people. After a few weeks, I started getting more interested, especially with blogging. I could put my feeling down on the keyboard and get feedback from other people on whether they agree or disagree. Still, for the latter, I could care less, it is a way to express myself. Lately I have gone home and told my wife what I have learned to do with more enthusiasm, I have even peaked her interest in learning how to do some of this stuff. Have I become a “Teckie,” is that even spelled right? I don’t think so, just someone learning another important part of how our society works. And more importantly, how to balance everything that is important to me in my life! As a teacher, a coach, a husband or a father one thing that this class helped me learn more than just computers and technology is that you don’t always need to be the one teaching, you can learn something from anyone. All you need is to have an open mind. Sometimes taking a step back to view the bigger picture helps you see where you are supposed to be headed.
1 response so far ↓
Stephen Ransom // May 7, 2008 at 11:43 am
I love your thought, “you don’t always need to be the one teaching, you can learn something from anyone” This is so important in the classroom, both with and without technology. But technology provides some powerful tools to make this happen, both for teachers and for students. As for becoming a tech geek, that was certainly nowhere on the radar for this course, but it is so encouraging to hear you reflect on your growth, both in skill and in attitude, as a result of this course. Keep on stretching and learning and avoid the pitfalls of stagnancy, complacency and bitterness that are so prevalent in K-12 education.