Professional+Growth

Professional Growth.


 * As shown in my diagram of my Personal Learning Environment, **** PLE ****, a lot of the tools used in one area of my **** PLE **** are used in another area. One direction that I like in some of the new uses of technology has been to make it more personal again. For some time, without being able to put a face to communication online and its anonymity has been a negative aspect. However, with the use of video, either live or recorded, users get to actually see the human behind the emails, messages, learning, etc. **
 * When I can incorporate any Web2.0 tool in more than one area of my **** PLE **** the more likely that I will be able to easily use it in the classroom greatly depends on how comfortable I am in using it. I can see using Skype at home and then coming up with a great way to use it in classroom. Once I feel comfortable enough using it then I could imagine connecting my students to other students around the world. **
 * Another use I could see sparking some creativity of my students would be posting videos or presentations online. For those who thrive using technology as a medium of their learning greatly benefit from allowing new ways to present the content. I like this much better than have students save things on a jump drive and having to use 20 different drives to set up on my computer to show the presentations. **
 * The tool that I have used most is the wikispace. It is easily accessible and can be managed by teacher and students. It is easy to navigate and user friendly. In my use of it with the school newspaper, students really foster a cooperative attitude with one another. I make no apologies to students that I am not an expert in the quirks of technology, but instead that I assess them on the quality of the content they produce. This tool I have incorporated with my son’s Cub Scout pack. The article that mentions technology users as “natives”, “immigrants”, or another as “illiterates” definitely shows in the public world. Almost all parents are hesitant to sign up or even try anything, but love the accessibility of information. So for my **** PLE **** branch that reaches outside of my professional world, I really see technology as something that everyone has to be ready to endeavor at their own pace. **