For the past 5 years I have been working in the Powell River School District in several capacities. I was originally hired as L1 support for the Student Information System, a computer technician,  as well as some basic teacher computer training. The learning curve was steep as my background was in language education, but I enjoyed working on computers and the technology seemed to come naturally. As the years passed I picked up new jobs, district webmaster and phone system administrator, however I was also becoming more and more interested in the application, and integration, of technology within the classroom. In 2010 I attended the ISTE conference in Denver Colorado and following some great workshops I was hooked: I wanted to focus my learning in Digital Literacy, and technology integration.

A couple of years ago I found the MET program and as I looked through the courses offered I was excitingly looking forward to what I was going to learn. Starting off in ETEC 511 – Foundations of Educational technology I gained a great appreciation for constructivist theory, the idea that learning must be constructed from personal and intimate experiences with their surroundings. During the course I did a project on information processing and how the movement of learning relates to differing learning theories (http://prezi.com/fq7mwlb6kiv-/ ) the process was exciting, not to mention I was becoming familiar with new technologies in the processes. As I worked through ETEC 500 – Research methodology, I gained a greater understanding of the importance of using both quantitative and qualitative research to ensure that my educational endeavors are properly grounded in sound educational methods, and that I am finding new ways to solve old problems. During that course I investigated the importance of using school based professional development in order to more fully support lasting learning effects within the classroom, and learning environment.

Now I have come to ETEC 565A I am looking at more specific ways in which I can work with others and myself at selecting and implementing new technologies. This is of special importance for me as part of my life path includes looking at working in administrative position at both the school and district level. Positions where I will need to sit with other educators and take a balanced and holistic look at what will work in our environment, and what wont. In reading the Bates and Poole’s Article on a framework for  (2003), I was excited to find such a great resources in considering new technologies as needs vary so greatly between schools, teachers and students.

As I move forward in this course I am looking forward to the hands on experience in creating and using Moodle as an LMS. I have often found that I am most successful when I get my hands dirty, and take the time to manipulate and work within a program. I believe that knowledge is found in the application of what we have learned. As I move throughout the course the availability of the software will be of most value to me as I truly am a constructivist at heart, and learning is a journey – one step after another, and if you don’t go anywhere, you don’t go anywhere.