Unit 10 - Conclusion

Questions:

Select one (1) of the following topics for your final journal entry:

1. At the beginning of this course, you were asked to assess your present strengths and weaknesses in technology. Has your assessment changed? If so, how?
2. How do you plan to keep up with new innovations in technology once you have completed your classes at UNT?
3. What specific plans do you have for implementing technology in an educational setting as a result of what you have learned in 5720?

As I stated in my initial blog, the fact that I’m extremely energized about all types of technology is one of my strengths. That attribute remains unchanged. A position in my middle school library as an educator of technology and information management continues to be my goal. My weakness regarding the lack of sufficient time to integrate the different types of technology in which I’m interested remains unchanged for now. Failing to design lesson plans which allow time for the students to be more involved in the type of student-led learning which utilizes cutting edge technology does as well. However, in just a few short, short weeks, the kiddos will return to the classroom and the transformation will begin.

My goal for the approaching school year is to integrate many of the great technology tools to which I’ve been exposed during the SLIS 5720 course. For example, the requirement of utilizing a presentation tool other than PowerPoint for the first technology project forced me to learn about Google Docs Presentations. In looking at the Google Docs tools for the presentation, I found the vast array of tools which GD offers. To be honest, my life will never be the same! I’ve already utilized Google Docs Spreadsheets for organizing 6^th grade team detention schedules for seven of my middle school colleagues. I plan to replace the user-unfriendly website tool for our 6^th grade team with a wiki; I can’t wait! I’m setting up a Google Calendar to replace the print one that we always hoped the kids would take home to their parents. I spoke with another tech-friendly colleague about linking podcasts of our Open Team Meetings to the team wikis. I started a list (on Google Docs, of course) of science tutorial screencasts which the students and I can produce and link to our classroom wiki.

In addition, don’t even get me started about how I’ve utilized Google Docs for my daughter’s wedding! GD literally saved the wedding planning from undue stress! My Chicago-based daughter and I actually revised an important document together in “real time” using GD Documents. I reside in Dallas.

The list goes on and on and on…I’m hooked!