Tuesday, December 1, 2009

My Personal Learning Network









As of now, my personal learning networks include facebook and twitter. I make use of them right now by following certain teachers and any announcements they have made that I might need to know for class. I currently follow Dr. Strange on Twitter, and Dr. Juarez on facebook.

I acquired twitter from this very class because it was a requirement. I acquired facebook about four years ago because it was a good way to get in touch with old friends. I use both every day, multiple times a day.

I plan on using it in the future by adding my future students. I will obviously have to delete many things that are on my profile now, and share it with the principal so that he/she knows I am using it in a good way so that my students and I have a way of communicating at all times.

Goodbye Dr. Strange and fellow classmates (for now).


I had a great time in the class. Although I probably didn't talk to half the class individually, I felt like I got to know everyone pretty good because of our presentations and such. I am sure I will have some more classes with a few you before I graduate.

Dr. Strange, thank you so much for everything you have provided for us this semester. You run a very fun, relaxed, and challenging class. You have undoubtedly prepared me to become a better teacher one day, which is all I can ask from my professors.

See all of you soon I'm sure!

EDM 310 reflection


1. Think about the many things we covered in class: blogs, wikis, presentations, Google Docs, Google spreadsheets, Picasa, podcasts, videocasts, YouTube, posts you read, PLNs, Twitter, other teachers and students outside of our region, comments4kids, iTunes, iTunesU, accessibility issues and the use of html tag modifiers to address some of those issues, who you are as a professional, Google forms, data bases, Google Earth, Delicious, ACCESS, ALEX, Foliotek,
technological literacy, the future of schools, your "intellectual trail". Did I miss anything? Take each of these and consider what you learned and how or if it may or will be useful to you as a teacher. and as an individual in this "modern age." List what you learned and comment about it if appropriate. List as many things as you can think of. If you did not learn anything from this class, say so. I hope, however, that was not the case.


I learned more in this class about technology than I have in any of my other classes combined. Before this class, I visited probably two websites on a daily basis. Now I know about blogs, wikis, presentations, Google docs, Google spreadsheets, Picasa, podcasts, videocasts, YouTube, posts you read, PLNs, Twitter, other teachers and students outside of our region, comments4kids, iTunes, iTunesU etc. I am no doubt better prepared not only as a student and future teacher, but also as a regular citizen when it comes to using technology.

2. Are there things you would like to have learned in this class but did not?

One thing I would have liked to have learned in this class was more about photoshop.

3. Are there things you learned in this class but wish you had not (and you will try and forget them or not use them as soon as possible)?

I honestly can't think of a single thing that I learned in this class that I wish I hadn't. Everything we learned will benefit me.

4. Did this class excite you in any way? I mean excite, as opposed to "was useful" or "was interesting" or "I did it"? If No, say that. If Yes, tell me what excited you, why, and how.

The project that excited me the most was project 11. I have always wanted to make a presentation using my own music, videos, and voice. That was a great project.

5. Did you find anything in this class to be particularly "intellectually challenging"? If so, what? Why do you think it was "intellectually challenging"?

Everything was intellectually challenging because everything required you to put sincere thought into it. This wasn't a class of right or wrong answers. You couldn't just make a guess at something and hope it was right. You have to put the work in, and your effort shows.

6. Were you bored by this class at any time? If so, what bored you and how might that be corrected?

Never bored.

7. Would you change this course in any way (add things/delete things or anything else)? If so, give me your suggestions. Since I am always changing this course I could use your input!

As stated earlier, photoshop would have been fun. Not sure how useful that could be in education, but it has always interested me and I have never done it.

8. Are you Technologically Literate at the moment? To what extent? Low Some Medium Good Great

I think I am medium when it comes to technologically literate. This class has taught me a ton, but I am still not close to where Dr. Strange is at.

9. How will you maintain or improve your technological literacy between now and the time you graduate? … the time you start teaching?

I will improve my technology by continuing to improve in everything we learned in this class. I know the basics now to many things I never had a clue on. Now it is time to master it.

Comment 4 kids


The comment 4 kids assignments were amazing to me for the simple fact that I could never imagine doing this type of thing when I was younger. These kids get to show their work for the whole world to see, and get feedback from all types of people from around the globe. Among the things I commented on were Mr. Lamshed's class talking about bullying, Motorua's blog showing students on a river bug, Mr. Deyenberg's class and their technology, and Mr. Brown's history class.

The most interesting thing when commenting on these kids blogs was how smart they are and how open they are to accepting constructive feedback. I use to get upset when my teacher made me write my definitions over when I was in elementary school. These students are getting critiqued not only from their teachers, but complete strangers.

Comment 4 kids is a great teaching tool for any teacher. No longer are the students getting taught by just their teacher's perspective, but many teacher's and student's perspectives.

Here are some of the blogs I commented on.


Mr. Lamshed's Class
River Bugs
Mr. Deyenberg
Mr. Brown's history class

My Presentation

Project 11 Incorporating text, video and audio into a presentation about Virtual Fieldtrips