What I have learned this semester

Looking at my Inspiration graphic organizer from the first week of class, I really did not know a lot about technology. I knew how to do a basic word processing, basic email, Powerpoint, and how to use a digital camera. I was really intimidated about taking this class, but I needed the foundation credit.

Now, I'm really glad that I took this class. Now I can create a webquest, do wikis, make a digital text, do a digital movie, podcast, blog, Skype, do social networking, do threaded discussions, Voki, etc. The other teachers at my school are pretty impressed with what I can do--in fact, I'm pretty impressed with myself.

I realize now that technology is something you have to just jump in and try. There are a lot of things I still could not figure out or master--at this date, I still haven't been able to post my digital movie----. As a teacher, you just can't stand back and say "I don't know or our school isn't equipped---you can make things happen with technology and your students if you try. My kids were excited about using technology and if we want them to learn and to appeal to them, teachers (myself included) need to learn more about technology.

I hope to continue using many of the tools I learned about in class. I think this class should be a requirement because technology is the wave of the future. We must embrace it and try to use it successfully in our classrooms if we want our students to become productive, future citizens.