Our final web conference for EDLD 5306 was held on Wednesday, December 13, 2011 at 8:00 p.m. Professor Borel focused on assuring our Draft Internship Plan and our Draft Principal Competencies requirements were understood by all. These documents will guide our field activities throughout the eighteen month Educational Technology Leadership program.
For me, the conference was an opportunity to assure I was on the right track. I was using the correct forms and inputting information correctly. My peers asked really good questions like: 1.) whether changes to the documents could be made after submission, 2.) where the drafts documents could be found, and 3.) whether we have to wait for a request from tk20 in order to upload and artifact. I exited this web conference feeling confident that my final week would go very smoothly!
I logged out of the web conference at 8:58 p.m.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Course Reflections
The EDLD 5306 Course & My Expectations
Initially, when I signed up for this course, I thought that I would learn some new, cool, techy things, but viewed myself a technologically viable. Week one was a huge wake up call for me! Words like blog, wiki, embedded video, and webconference gave me a swimming in the head. I said, "What have I done?" Fear tried to overcome me, but I fought it with tenacity!
I expected to learn technology skills during this course and absolutely received more than I bargained for. As a result of the team's support (Thanks, Sarah and Professor Borel!) and long nights, I am able to create a wiki, a blog, a wordle cloud, embedded video, and even participate in web-conferencing. Beyond these technology skills, I am now reading some great resources for technology and learning. This first course has bolstered my technology self-confidence and true knowledge. It also has laid tremendous groundwork for someone like me--on the edge of going tech.
___________________________________________
Outcomes' Relevance to My School Assignments
I do not currently work in a school. However, I am volunteering at a local school. So far we have done one face-to-face meet & greet and have communicated via email over the past two weeks. Based on what has been recorded in my Draft Internship Plan and my Draft Principal Competencies, I do believe the skills I have gained during course 5306 will be honed an used throughout my course work.
As I have stated before, I believe that learning is a life-long activity. It does not suddenly come to an end when a diploma or degree is gained. Life-long learners take the skills and information gained to invest into all the opportunities and lessons that are to come. This is my plan. I see the skills, tasks, assignments required in 5306 as foundational settings on-which to build and expand my personal use and professional use of technology.
_________________________
Outcomes Not Achieved?
My expectations for this course were limited by my own technology knowledge. I did not have a laundry list of skill-sets that I had to learn. I wanted to enter a program that would allow me to gain insight into and understanding of the current and best practices regarding technology use in the realm of education. I believe that I have accomplished the tasks outlined in course 5306 and have done so through hands-on learning experiences. Many moments of frustration were common placed during weeks one and two. I felt like I could not find anything on my first try. However, the process of trial and error allowed me to value the missteps because they informed by future actions. In fact my missteps and subsequent successes allowed me the capacity to help others.
_______________________________
Success with Course Assignments?
When I opened the Overview document to week one the information seemed pretty straight-forward. I went into epic, looked at the tasks and began reading articles. By the first web-conference, as I listened to the questions being asked by my peers, it became abundantly clear to me that I had missed some huge things. I jotted down notes as Professor Borel responded to questions and said to myself, "This is going to be a long night." After the web conference, I began searching epic and mylamar. What had I missed? I could have kicked myself when I realized that I had not scrolled down on the Overview for week one! Wow! I have more to do than I thought.
This misstep on my part--not reading the overview completely--set me on a pattern to avoid making a similar mistake. As a result, I paid close attention to the large and small things. I attended all web conferences and carefully reviewed everything that was printed or spoken. I still did experience some missteps, but was able to correct my errors quickly. During the past five weeks, I have completed each part of every assignment in course 5306 with what I consider success.
_______________________________________
What the Course Taught Me About Myself?
EDLD 5306 has been a good training ground for me. The assignments forced me to move beyond my limited use of technology and construct new things. Prior to this course, I had never created a wiki or a blog. I had not participated in a web conference or embedded a video presentation into a wiki. I had not read so many articles on technology before. All of these truths and my responses to the tasks remind me that huge treasure lies in the chest of experience. I can be effective with understanding and producing technology products. I am not limited to the accent of the "digital immigrant"; I can and shall become fluent in this new language of the "digital natives." As I learn and become proficient, it is my responsibility as an educator to build others forward by sharing what I know. Effective training, experimentation, and commitment to best practices are the little steps that can lead to huge change!
Initially, when I signed up for this course, I thought that I would learn some new, cool, techy things, but viewed myself a technologically viable. Week one was a huge wake up call for me! Words like blog, wiki, embedded video, and webconference gave me a swimming in the head. I said, "What have I done?" Fear tried to overcome me, but I fought it with tenacity!
I expected to learn technology skills during this course and absolutely received more than I bargained for. As a result of the team's support (Thanks, Sarah and Professor Borel!) and long nights, I am able to create a wiki, a blog, a wordle cloud, embedded video, and even participate in web-conferencing. Beyond these technology skills, I am now reading some great resources for technology and learning. This first course has bolstered my technology self-confidence and true knowledge. It also has laid tremendous groundwork for someone like me--on the edge of going tech.
___________________________________________
Outcomes' Relevance to My School Assignments
I do not currently work in a school. However, I am volunteering at a local school. So far we have done one face-to-face meet & greet and have communicated via email over the past two weeks. Based on what has been recorded in my Draft Internship Plan and my Draft Principal Competencies, I do believe the skills I have gained during course 5306 will be honed an used throughout my course work.
As I have stated before, I believe that learning is a life-long activity. It does not suddenly come to an end when a diploma or degree is gained. Life-long learners take the skills and information gained to invest into all the opportunities and lessons that are to come. This is my plan. I see the skills, tasks, assignments required in 5306 as foundational settings on-which to build and expand my personal use and professional use of technology.
_________________________
Outcomes Not Achieved?
My expectations for this course were limited by my own technology knowledge. I did not have a laundry list of skill-sets that I had to learn. I wanted to enter a program that would allow me to gain insight into and understanding of the current and best practices regarding technology use in the realm of education. I believe that I have accomplished the tasks outlined in course 5306 and have done so through hands-on learning experiences. Many moments of frustration were common placed during weeks one and two. I felt like I could not find anything on my first try. However, the process of trial and error allowed me to value the missteps because they informed by future actions. In fact my missteps and subsequent successes allowed me the capacity to help others.
_______________________________
Success with Course Assignments?
When I opened the Overview document to week one the information seemed pretty straight-forward. I went into epic, looked at the tasks and began reading articles. By the first web-conference, as I listened to the questions being asked by my peers, it became abundantly clear to me that I had missed some huge things. I jotted down notes as Professor Borel responded to questions and said to myself, "This is going to be a long night." After the web conference, I began searching epic and mylamar. What had I missed? I could have kicked myself when I realized that I had not scrolled down on the Overview for week one! Wow! I have more to do than I thought.
This misstep on my part--not reading the overview completely--set me on a pattern to avoid making a similar mistake. As a result, I paid close attention to the large and small things. I attended all web conferences and carefully reviewed everything that was printed or spoken. I still did experience some missteps, but was able to correct my errors quickly. During the past five weeks, I have completed each part of every assignment in course 5306 with what I consider success.
_______________________________________
What the Course Taught Me About Myself?
EDLD 5306 has been a good training ground for me. The assignments forced me to move beyond my limited use of technology and construct new things. Prior to this course, I had never created a wiki or a blog. I had not participated in a web conference or embedded a video presentation into a wiki. I had not read so many articles on technology before. All of these truths and my responses to the tasks remind me that huge treasure lies in the chest of experience. I can be effective with understanding and producing technology products. I am not limited to the accent of the "digital immigrant"; I can and shall become fluent in this new language of the "digital natives." As I learn and become proficient, it is my responsibility as an educator to build others forward by sharing what I know. Effective training, experimentation, and commitment to best practices are the little steps that can lead to huge change!
Friday, December 9, 2011
November 17th Web-Conference
As my blog demonstrates, this is the third web-conference in which I have participated. The conference was held on Thursday, November 17, 2011 and began at 8:00 p.m. I logged on at 7:50 p.m. and shared in the social greetings and communications of my peers and professor. At 8:00 p.m. sharp our academic discussions began.
This web-conference was an opportunity to verify textbooks, clear up questions about EPIC courseware or other concerns, and discuss the specifics of the 18-month Internship. This session's Internship requirements were clearly outlined with expectations and deadlines. Assignments included the submission of the Application for Internship and the Site Mentor Agreement. Additionally, Professor Borel clearly pointed out how this session's Internship documents connect to the entire 18-month program.
Web-conferencing is an effective way to assure interactive communication among all participants. However, it is the Professor's concise pre-planning and slides that help all participants remain on track and moving in the same direction.
This web-conference was an opportunity to verify textbooks, clear up questions about EPIC courseware or other concerns, and discuss the specifics of the 18-month Internship. This session's Internship requirements were clearly outlined with expectations and deadlines. Assignments included the submission of the Application for Internship and the Site Mentor Agreement. Additionally, Professor Borel clearly pointed out how this session's Internship documents connect to the entire 18-month program.
Web-conferencing is an effective way to assure interactive communication among all participants. However, it is the Professor's concise pre-planning and slides that help all participants remain on track and moving in the same direction.
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