Moving Mindset

Well, week two is completed and I feel defeated.  I have reviewed each video and written assignment multiple times to make sure I was doing the assignment correctly.  I have been so stressed, wanting to get it "right" that I believe I have made it ten times harder than it should have been.  I am beginning to see a bit of OCD creeping into my character.  It may have actually been there all the time, but I believe I can control it most of the time.  

I have found that the characteristic of e-learning I both love and hate is the fact that I can review each article as many times as I need to do so.  I have found this to be a blessing and an obstacle.  I find myself reading into the assignments things that may or may not be there.    

I enjoyed Will Richardson's video "Waiting for Superman" and especially his story of his daughter using technology to advance her piano skills.  It seems that she was bored with her current assignments and took the initiative to teach herself.   That is what we can do with technology.  The information is available and we as teachers are not the only people who  hold the keys to knowledge.  Sadly, out students hold the key to technology.  The video "Engaging Digital Natives" was a great analogy of who is comfortable with technology.  I remember seeing my 1 year old grandson sit in my hallway with the I-Pad.  I didn't even own an I-Pad at that time, but I sure received a lesson from him.  He turned it on, scrolled through the pages to find the icon he wanted, PBS Kids, pressed the icon, waited for it to load and then selected the show he wanted to watch, Sesame Street.  I was amazed and quite intimidated by this little ones knowledge of technology.

I feel that I am learning a great deal through this e-learning class, but I still feel like I have a long way to go.   Last week I thought I was at the low end of effective.  This week I see myself at the low end of evolving in all areas.  The old saying " The more you know, the more you realize you don't know" surely applies to me.  I am, however, excited to be learning more about the use of technology in the classroom.

As I prepare for the coming school year I see myself having a "moving mindset" in allowing my students to access the computers more in their assignments.  Instead of having students make flashcards by cutting out pictures from magazines and glueing them to the back of the word card I plan to allow students to make their own flash cards using Quizlet and having them copy and paste their pictures to their cards.  It maybe a small step, but one I am very excited to start.