Reflections Continued Blog #1

This week has been a learning experience. This was the first blog I created and it took me a while to get familiar with the terminology and meanings. I still have a tremendous amount to learn! The joy of taking a course such as this is it opens one up to another form of learning and if done well melds learning and creativity. This exercise has already allowed me to learn from my colleagues just by viewing some of their blog setups. In reflecting on the question for future technology projects for the class, I think I would have a more constructive answer as I learn more.

I can see this sort of tool (a blog) being used as part of my current job as a way of improving understanding of new policies and process. Pushing out new policies are mundane and most people do not want to read them. A blog could be used for clarification, education, and free exchange of question and answers. 

In reflecting on Stephen Downes' article I can say that educational institutions have not used blogging to its fullest potential. Case in point, this was my first blog! I am in the third year of the doctoral program for Supervision, Curriculum, and Instruction. If the majority of the educators incorporating this medium for learning are those in the educational technology field others have not examined the benefits of it's uses. It might be of benefit to have all educators formulate their own educational technology philosophy. I think one of the major obstacles is the "all or nothing" mindset. Educational technology for everything or no use at all. Edcucational technology just as lecture, individual, or group work is beneficial and allows those with different learning styles another avenue for success in the classroom. It is another way to create knowledge and produce active learners. I believe a lot of it is lack of knowledge and how to implement plans that informate and not just automate.

I must say that Alan November's article, Creating a Culture for Teaching and Learning, was one of my Aha! moments. I actually wrote the phrase, "Aha article" on the front after I read it. I have definitely been an automator in the past, however, after reading this article and taking this course, I will be more cognizant and make an effort to be an informator in the future. One of the major issues November discusses in his article, which struck a cord with me, is the potential for technology to continue to widen the gap between the rich and the poor. This lack of connection for a large portion of our population is one of the reasons I want to work in Student Affairs in the future. As mentioned in my edcuational technology philosophy it is about connecting students to tools available to them in navigating the higher education environment. I can see the knowledge I gain in this class assisting in those efforts.

I am taking this class as an elective, however, I chose it because I believe it is vital to engaging and creating knowledge for learners and empowering them to be part of the process. My expectations for this class are that I too will be empowered to create knowledge for myself and learn more about the endless possibilities of educational technology.