My last post

It's hard to believe that five weeks have gone by. They were the longest yet the fastest and most intense weeks of any course I have taken so far. When I started this course I had a basic knowledge of technology and what can be done with it. Of course, I send and receive emails, use Google, and browse through websites when I am looking for information, but I never realized how much technology and Web 2.0 tools can be used in a classroom. From this course I learned how to use a website, blog, and wiki and how to incorporate them in the classroom. My favorite of these three is the website. I like the idea that homework, tests, class and school activities can all be shown in one place on the teacher's site rather than jumping around a district site. I also like that newsletters can be made on programs such as letterpop and distributed however the teacher wants and that they can be linked to the website also. Making videos can be a fun activity for students and safe if done correctly by the teacher and with the permission of the parents. It was great to learn about the many free sites that are available using Web 2.0 technology that create crossword puzzles and mind maps among other things. Del.icio.us and diigo were great. They allow you to bookmark and save your favorite websites without creating a huge list of favorites. I have learned so much. Before this class I did not know what a hyperlink was or what it did. I never made a powerpoint before let alone one with sound and then to use a Web 2.0 tool, slideboom, to publish it. I even created a video and put it on Youtube. I have discovered that there is no reason to fear computers and technology if you use it correctly. It can be fun and educational for all, not just students. As far as teaching and technology I never knew they could be fun and important in the classroom. There are so many ways that technology and Web 2.0 tools can be used it is amazing. I did not have a chance to explore all of the sites in the last week or two, but have made notes and bookmarked them for future reference and reading. I have come a long way in the five weeks of this course, but still have a long way to go.