What is knowledge? Knowledge is power and power is control. We need personal power and control in our lives to make informed decisions and the openness to be flexible at the right time to shape and enlighten our own being...
This all for the betterment of our friends our families and our world.
For my blog I have chosen blogger as it seemed to be very user friendly for a beginner new to this world. I have found the set up and navigation within this publishing tool very similar to other word processing applications that I am familiar with. This seemed the best route for me at this time while I am just a rookie.
- Personal learning
- How can Web 2.0 impact my personal life?
- What tools can I use to re-connect with family members that I haven't seen for a few years?
First let's just start where I stand now ... firmly rooted with my relationship with technology and the computer age - that was until 2.0 came into my life. If it wasn't for EDES 501 I would not have discovered how little I do know and how there is so much more to learn. Doing the basic "searching" the Internet, being knowledgeable in many software applications and e-mail just will not cut it anymore. I recall 14 years ago, we had one computer in our home and three children at home. My children went through university using the computer labs. Now most students have their own laptops. Our children are all grown up and on their own and my husband and I have our own computers. It sounds just a bit ridiculous that we each can be on our computers and e-mail each other while we are only 15-20 feet away at different locations in the house. I found this cartoon that says it all. This has shaken my roots and leaves me wondering ...how will I ever survive this whirlwind of information that keeps coming to me in 2.0? To survive, I know that I will just have to accept this cultural revolution and go with the flow in order to take on the the challenge of the 21st Century learner on the read/write web.
Since starting this course, I have purchased an iPhone. I can't believe all the things it can do with it. It definitely is one stop shopping in technology. Included in this wonderful piece of technology is the capacity for phone, text messaging, voice mail, Internet, e-mail, GPS, camera and photo storage. This in itself has been a steep learning curve! Let's not forget the old fashioned calculator, stop watch, timer and alarm also included. This is only a beginning as more apps are available for purchasing. It has been very convenient for me to keep in touch with my son now that he has moved away from home for his job. It is comforting to know that I can text message him anytime day or night and the lines of communication are open. Keeping "in touch" virtually brings about powerful emotions knowing that your loved ones are close at hand and are not isolated from you even though they are in remote communities.
- Professional Learning
- How can the tools of 2.0 best suit our students needs for learning?
- In many school boards, all electronic devices i Pods and phones are banned. If we are going to make a concentrated effort in teaching technology, what are the barriers that need to be looked at before this learning can take place and what can we do to remove these barriers?
As a teacher/librarian, I strongly believe that students be taught the process of inquiry and research skills as it will assist them later in life to make informed decisions as they aspire to enter the world of work to become productive members of society. Students now know more than their teachers about technology and the use of social networking tools. Educators now more than ever need to become acquainted with this new technology if they are going to be successful at engaging these learners for what is to come in the 21st Century.
In my professional career, with the new iPhone I just purchsed, I will be able to stay in touch with all my work contacts while I attend conferences out-of-town. In the past, I had to line up at an Internet Cafe and wait 20 minutes to contact my principal regarding purchases at a book display. Now that will not be necessary. I am finding that issues can be dealt with much faster and more efficiently. It also means that I am able to do more things in a day. I'm not sure if that is better as this is a sure sign and cause for burnout. If I am experiencing this now, then could we be on the verge of a burnout generation or will they be able to adapt with better coping strategies to the "on demand" mode that we have found ourselves in with 2.0 technology?
I look forward to the interactions with my fellow classmates as they "water" my knowledge tree throughout this course as we journey through the 2.0 tools. There will be growth and an exchange of thoughts and minds that will expand the reaches of my branches.
