My 'baptism by fire' was <object width="640" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/YEls3tq5wIY&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/YEls3tq5wIY&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="390"></embed></object>. It had the hairs on the nape of my neck raising in fear. I thought ' Should I run for it?' 'Would I be able to use these tools plus challenge my students in their use?'
Well, that was the catalyst. I'm always up for a challenge and willing to rise to the occasion. My Web 2.0 sojourn began in earnest. I'm thoroughly enjoying my blogging journey. I've learned so much in a short time, it's incredible. I've been using www.glogster.edu to help a group of my students create a digital poster on The Bodies in the Solar System. My colleague Nicole gave me additional information and ideas in her tutorial, to help to make their work more interesting.http://screencast.com/users/Jamaicangirl/folders/Default/media/fa1942b3-79e4-44cc-852f-ce7dd3040916
My colleagues as well as my instructor have pushed me way beyond my limit. The creation of the recent tutorials was one of the greatest challenges - to prove we understood how the tools worked. At the end of the tutorials, we are all now a group of learned, resourceful and visionary administrators - to - be. We are equipped with knowledge and expertise of some of the greatest web tools.
Let's look at www.slideshare.com no more boredom in the boardroom or the classroom - text and voice working together to lend authenticity and creativity to a presentation. Jing (name reminds me of a Christmas jingle), has enabled us to capture videos and the best part - for free. It has really been our savior in more ways than one. I look back at the many 'captures' I had to do before deciding that one was worthy of being presented to an audience.
I was responsible of producing a tutorial on Photo Story (http://www.photostory3.com/ ) At one point in my production, I got stuck. I went crazy worrying that I could not make good on my promise to show the photostory example.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ft8rVlpq_Ms
But I learned one thing from my instructor. Although he is willing to 'scaffold'my learning in my zone of proximal development; he also wanted me to explore. Explore I did. I began with the Slideshare feature which sent me to research www.zamzar.com for help. It could not provide the help I needed and so I went to http://www.picasa3.com/ and BINGO I struck gold. I was able to change my photo story into a movie that I could upload to Youtube. After that I was home free - able to share my story with my colleagues and my wider cyber family.
I've had an amazing ride. I'm now able to perform much better at work with technology. I've even shared web 2.0 tools with my school's media specialist, I feel so empowered. I have so many resources at my fingertips; although some sites are blocked by my school district, there are still so many I can still share with my students. Web 2.0 have started me on a quest for more technology - my baptism of fire can only be quenched with more adventure with web 2.0 tools.
Credits for graphics: www.techteachingtools.pbwiki.com
Hey girl. You are so right about that it has been an incredible journey and one that has its ups and downs. But what is life without challenges. I even see where you have used slideshare which was my baby. Go girl. I too have tried many of the tutorials that our colleagues used and each one proved beneficial to me. Everyone did a wonderful job. Great job.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Janet. I have been using many of the varied Web 2.0 tools that are available to us and loving them. I am grateful for this course. It has been very helpful to me where the use of technology is concerned.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed your pesentation, I have actually started to create my own story. We all have grown so much in a few weeks. Good job!
ReplyDeleteJanet very good points, have to agree with you it is an amazing journey thus far. Hats off to the instructor!! As you mentioned,he is willing to 'scaffold our learning in our zone of proximal development; but he also wants us to explore. I am sure we all had fun explorining with those tutorials ( I certainly did.)
ReplyDeleteWow indeed this has been a journey so far.Good reflection! I do believe that even though the journey has not ended, we have earned so much knowledge that we can use to create a learning atmosphere filled with technology. Continue to press your way, keep the faith. Remember the race is not for the swift but those that endure to the end!
ReplyDeleteAwesome reflection! I share your thoughts, this is a bitter sweet journey and it does us good to reflect and appreciate the good and smile about the bad.I found your tutorial very informative and I look forward to using it! Great job, girl!
ReplyDeleteI totally enjoyed reading your reflection Janet. There are endless opportunities for us as educators if we tap into the many resources out there. Gone are the days when we teach with chalk and board. With the amount of web tools out there, there is no reason for us not to find some way to include them in our class. I'm glad my tutorial help you in having your students creating Glogs. Its fun isn't it?
ReplyDeleteI agree with your classmates comments, but four words you used stirred my heart more than any others:
ReplyDelete"I feel so empowered"
Wow! This lady gets it! That was my motivation from the start. Well done!
You are such a spirited educator! You are full of courage and encouragement! Yur words are always inspirational for me. I am glad for you, that you are empowered. You deserve to be empowered because you can help others jump through the walking stones in the educational main stream!Love your comments dear colleague
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