Personal Reflections
Fall 2011 - The Journey Begins
I have been a classroom teacher for some time, but I wanted find additional ways to engage my students. I've always been comfortable using technology and like to implement and weave different tools into my lessons. I also like to help my colleagues learn new tools to use. When I heard about the OTEC program in Fall 2010, I knew it was the next step I needed to take as a teacher and life long learner.
I started in August 2011, believing that the OTEC program will help me fine-tune my pedagogical skills while broadening my knowledge about current landscape of educational technology. I knew that change is in the air as more and more schools, both public and independent, are purchasing more computers, laptops, and tablet devices.
I have been a classroom teacher for some time, but I wanted find additional ways to engage my students. I've always been comfortable using technology and like to implement and weave different tools into my lessons. I also like to help my colleagues learn new tools to use. When I heard about the OTEC program in Fall 2010, I knew it was the next step I needed to take as a teacher and life long learner.
I started in August 2011, believing that the OTEC program will help me fine-tune my pedagogical skills while broadening my knowledge about current landscape of educational technology. I knew that change is in the air as more and more schools, both public and independent, are purchasing more computers, laptops, and tablet devices.
Fall 2012 - After one year
What a ride it's been! In just one year, I've learned about the following Web 2.0 tools which I now use on a daily basis: VoiceThread, Twitter, Popplet, Weebly, and Wikispaces.
Cloud computing has taken over how I create new assignments and projects for both my OTEC courses and for my own classes that I teach. What did I do before Google Docs, Evernote, and Dropbox?
Mobile technology has also taken off. We can now log into our online synchronous classes using the BlackBoard mobile app on the iPad. I've also converted to reading for leisure on the iBooks and Kindle apps on my iPhone and iPad. I rarely ever pick up a printed book anymore.
It's also easier than ever to collaborate on-line with Skype and Google Hangout. Ten years ago when I started teaching, I never thought I would be having Skype sessions with colleagues in Seattle, Jakarta, Philadelphia, Boston, and Portland. I never envisioned teaching a 14-week asynchronous online course to high school students around the world. It's been exciting and I know this is just the beginning.
What a ride it's been! In just one year, I've learned about the following Web 2.0 tools which I now use on a daily basis: VoiceThread, Twitter, Popplet, Weebly, and Wikispaces.
Cloud computing has taken over how I create new assignments and projects for both my OTEC courses and for my own classes that I teach. What did I do before Google Docs, Evernote, and Dropbox?
Mobile technology has also taken off. We can now log into our online synchronous classes using the BlackBoard mobile app on the iPad. I've also converted to reading for leisure on the iBooks and Kindle apps on my iPhone and iPad. I rarely ever pick up a printed book anymore.
It's also easier than ever to collaborate on-line with Skype and Google Hangout. Ten years ago when I started teaching, I never thought I would be having Skype sessions with colleagues in Seattle, Jakarta, Philadelphia, Boston, and Portland. I never envisioned teaching a 14-week asynchronous online course to high school students around the world. It's been exciting and I know this is just the beginning.
Spring 2013 - The end, or really, the beginning
This semester has been filled with anticipation as well as anxiety. I can't thank our ETEC 687/690 professors enough for all their hard work to make the practicum process smooth for us. The scaffolding and the details for each assignment helped me stay on schedule. Nonetheless, it's still really frightening that I would have to present my masters thesis project to a real audience in the coming weeks. Luckily, rehearsing with my critical friends group has helped to smooth out the kinks in my presentation.
In addition to ETEC 690, topics in ETEC 647e - Emerging Technologies for Learning exposed me to additional tools and technologies to further improve my pedagogical and technological skills. Amongst the topics discussed are MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses), OER (Open Education Resources), game-based learning, augmented reality, 3D printing, and wearable technologies. Of these emerging technologies, I'm especially intrigued by 3D printing and the possibilities it bring. A story of a girl getting "magical arms" sounds like it's from the future, but made possible through 3D printing. Just recently, scientists have harvested this 3D printing ability to print cells that can bend like muscles or communicate like neurons. Not only is the field of education being revolutionized, but also the field of medicine.
I'm excited to be part of this digital revolution. I'm also curious to see what happens next.
This semester has been filled with anticipation as well as anxiety. I can't thank our ETEC 687/690 professors enough for all their hard work to make the practicum process smooth for us. The scaffolding and the details for each assignment helped me stay on schedule. Nonetheless, it's still really frightening that I would have to present my masters thesis project to a real audience in the coming weeks. Luckily, rehearsing with my critical friends group has helped to smooth out the kinks in my presentation.
In addition to ETEC 690, topics in ETEC 647e - Emerging Technologies for Learning exposed me to additional tools and technologies to further improve my pedagogical and technological skills. Amongst the topics discussed are MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses), OER (Open Education Resources), game-based learning, augmented reality, 3D printing, and wearable technologies. Of these emerging technologies, I'm especially intrigued by 3D printing and the possibilities it bring. A story of a girl getting "magical arms" sounds like it's from the future, but made possible through 3D printing. Just recently, scientists have harvested this 3D printing ability to print cells that can bend like muscles or communicate like neurons. Not only is the field of education being revolutionized, but also the field of medicine.
I'm excited to be part of this digital revolution. I'm also curious to see what happens next.
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