digichat

I am a novice technology age facilitator, who , long ago was introduced  Linux, digital stories, wikis, blogs, discussion board and other shenanigans. I had to use the technology and was good at it however, after working for seven years without facilities to accommodate any of what I had learned  I lost the skills and knowledge I had.  The lesson is, use it or lose it.

Recently I have engaged my students on Discussion Boards.  However, I have noticed that technology seems to be on the fingertips of this generation regardless of how young they are able to manipulate some form of technology.  This has attracted me to using technology as a vehicle to capturing the interest of my students, hoping that they will transfer similar   levels of motivation, interest, open-mindedness and willingness to constructing knowledge. 

Obviously, my introduction gives witness to my limited experience interacting with technology especially web 2.0.  Therefore, I am ready  to change my status .  A few objectives I would like to accomplish by the end of this course/MET program include being able to setup/create learning communities via the internet; Wikis, to use the Smart Board as it was intended to, and to exploit Moodle.  Another personal goal I have is to promote the creative use of digital tools and technology resources among colleagues, students, parents, teachers and policy makers.   I hope I am not too ambitious biting off more than I can chew. “Greedy puppies choke.” 

I would like to design online courses, track students information, create a course website, as well as to be informed of the most effective ways to integrate and take advantage of Web 2.0 technologies to effect success and stay on the cutting edge.

While I am learning to make use of web2.0 tools I would like to be able to assess students’ performance, knowledge, skills, attitudes and beliefs in measureable terms according to best practice.  How do I focus Assessment on the individual learner, the learning community, the institution, or the educational system as a whole?

 I would also like to be able to develop the technical skills necessary to identify and choose the best quality software at the most economical prices.

I would like to utilize multimedia on my agenda.  Since learning in this sense is two fold the onus is on me to become comfortably skilled using the technology so that I will be able to impart same to my students, who in turn will allow their students to interact with technology.  With the help of the MET Program I would like to facilitate, model, design, promote digital age technology and be engage in continuous professional development of this craft.   

Resources that will be required to accomplish this mammoth task of being a novice graduate to a professional technology age teacher MET Graduate include, of course, money, equipment, knowledge, service provider, equipment, time, training, and requisite skills for each component.  Bates & Poole, 2003, pp. 79-80) sited SECTIONS as a blueprint to considering the use of technology.