Before starting this course I was open to learning new technology but negative questions kept popping in my head. It was a struggle to block out the negative thoughts. One re occurring thought was about balancing screen time. Students need to connect face to face and have social interactions. If technology was used more in the classroom then I was concerned about students going home to be in front of the screen more. I think most teachers know many children who go home and are in front of the t.v. or computer. I shook this thought around in my head and realized that we need to teach these students how to use technology purposefully. As Jenny reminded me, often kids who go home from school and live on the  computer are lonely or don’t have the parental support. Lets give them a reason to go home and use technology productively.

At the beginning of the  course I wasn’t sure how I could really apply using technology in September. I thought twitter is the rage right now, but laughed it off thinking how is that going to be useful for my grade 2’s? The school that I worked in last year (who knows about next year) doesn’t have ipads or laptops or many of classroom computers. I have never been hesitant about learning how to use new technology, I just didn’t now how I should use it in the classroom.

I was also overwhelmed by the amount of literature there is to read online. I wanted to learn it all…yesterday!  I thought I should give up reading my novel for pleasure. There simply is no time for that. Now I have chosen some really good blogs to follow such as mindshift, and know about some great authors who are barging ahead in this field. Some websites are pure treasures! I can have a balanced life and be proactive. I know how to organize websites with Diigo. I did use Diigo before starting the course but didn’t know about all that it is capable of.

Personally I use email, and facebook. I had never blogged, tweeted, or wanted to make a website. Now I am comfortable blogging. I know blogging will be very helpful in communicating with the whole school community, or teaching profession. I explored weebly and learned the basics of how to make a website. I have a twitter account, but have not used it very much since I signed up. It will only be useful if I use it, so I better get on that!

There are resources in the school, I am not focusing on the technology that I don’t have. I can make use of what I do have available. We have computers. They are older but they function like computers! I am not thinking of technology as an additive. It is not just the drizzled chocolate on top anymore. I know ways to integrate technology to assist the learning.

I have learned some lingo. No, I wont be dropping any of the BIG words like Institutional Isomorphism on teachers. They will certainly high tale it. I do know the theory behind some of the resistance. From my experiences I can have conversations with the teachers in my school to start small. I can start with one teacher. I don’t expect to get all teachers on board. If I work with one other teacher and make it a positive experience attitudes can change. I will be adamant on pro-d. I can work together with teachers from other schools or other districts. We can develop our own pro-d, and then bring what we learn back to our own school.

I was open to the idea of change but had no plan of action. Making a change now, will make it far better for students and teachers in the future. This will not be easy, put I am prepared. When challenged, I have to remember ask myself why? Why am I doing this? For my students of course.

I have remained open minded and positive which has gotten me through to today!