Flight Path

When people find out that I am in the MET program, they automatically assume that I can fix any technological problem or that I am able to use any type of technology with ease. This is not the case. I have used technology since I was young. For example, I played with Gameboys and educational games. I took computer programming in high school and university, and  I also used LMS systems for undergraduate courses. Though my experiences may be various, they have never surpassed the intermediate level of competency. Rather, I have developed a welcome toward technology and the the growing desire to learn more.

ETEC 565A will help me become confident and competent in selecting and using technologies. Specifically, I would like to learn and begin to master working with Learning Management Systems, Social Media tools, like Social Bookmarking, RSS, Multimedia, and Web Design; I want to expand my technological vocabulary. I also want to learn to adapt each to my teaching, to manoeuvre through each tool, to effectively teach using these tools, and to assess students’ personal learning outcomes. I also feel that all these tools can be useful for each class, especially since they possess elements found in Bates and Poole’s (2003) SECTIONS framework.  Students are active participants in their own technological world, which includes Social Media and Weblogs or Websites. It is only a natural transition to utilize similar tools for educational purposes. Using technology is also an exciting prospect for many students who are used to the more traditional forms of learning. The technologies are all programmed with ease of use and reliability in mind. These technologies are in the forefront of popular communication tools. Many of these technologies are open resources which allow for it to be a dependable resource that can be easily integrated.  These technologies provide new opportunities for teaching and learning, as it is an avenue with challenges and alternative approaches. Many of these tools allow for collaboration and multiple conversations. They also create an online community for people to interact.

ETEC 565A will begin my flight path towards a different landscape – one that sets few limits, yet endless prospects. I look forward to stepping out of the familiar and into unchartered places.