Whew, what a semester! I will not lie or sugar coat it....this has been a tough semester for me! It was just a combination of things: changing schools and teaching positions, not getting started off on the right foot with grad work, and a large load of grad classwork. I overcame my struggles and dug deep inside to power through it all. Looking back, I learned so much in a short period of time and was exposed to so many different wonderful things that I never had (or forced) the time to do on my own.
This class has forced me to leave my comfort zone and try new things. I opened so many new accounts this semester I had to write down all the passwords because I couldn't remember them! Twitter and Instagram were totally new platforms for me. I now understand both of them, but still feel that what I can do in both separately, I can do in one platform on Facebook. Therefore, I am still searching for answers on that one.
As a reader, the thing that I am most excited about are the Online Book Communities! I did not even know that these existed. Now I can keep track of all my books in one online location.
As a teacher and librarian, I am so excited about podcasts and screencasts! I have already used both in my classroom. Actually, podcasting has SAVED my life the last couple of weeks! I have one student in my class who has oral administration for everything and it is so difficult to do with 19 other children in the room. I always felt like I was not monitoring the other students like I should because I was stuck in a corner, quietly reading so know one else would hear. After learning to make a podcast, I now record all of my tests ahead of time and let the student listen to it has he is testing using headphones. He has complete control and is able to pause it between questions. It has worked beautifully! Thank you for that! I am able to give everyone my attention now that I can podcast!
The most difficult assignment for me was cartoons and comics. You are probably wondering why because it sounds so easy. I just couldn't get my creative juices flowing to come up with material to use. It took me forever and I finally resorted to using nothing educational: a joke my son loves to tell and a personal experience. I will have to work more on using these and how to use them in the classroom. Students would love to create them, even if it's just teaching a concept. I will probably start there.
I really think that screencasts will be the most beneficial to students. Not only can teachers and librarians use this as a teaching tool, but kids can create their own too! They say that you don't truly understand a concept until you can teach it to someone else. What a great way to practice that!
Although this was my most difficult semester of grad school, it was also the most knowledge that I have gained. I will be able to use so many of these technology venues in so many different ways. I can't wait for summer to come where I can really have time to "play" with each of them more in depth and call them my own!
Now, off to podcast for our reading test tomorrow! Thanks for a great semester and valuable tools to use!
You can actually have your Tweets appear on FaceBook, thereby posting to both. It's in the Twitter settings. If you get a chance you should check it out! I have done that and it's great to post to so many different people at the same time! Best of luck! You made it!
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