Week 9, Part 4: Summarize (#23)

It's hard to believe that I have reached the 23rd thing. Some of my favorite discoveries were LibraryThing, Podcasts, Technorati, image generators and mashups. I really liked LibraryThing because I can keep track of my books and store them. I like that I could create different lists and being able to type in a title or author, search Amazon.com or the Library of Congress for a match. I've never did much with podcasts before. Now that I have searched them and listened to different ones, I will look for ways to include these in instruction. I had fun with the mashups and image generators. Not having done much with them in the past, I will look for ways to use these to enhance lessons and engage students.

In terms of lifelong learning, this program has helped me learn about applications that I had only heard about but never really had the time or opportunity to explore. I believe there are always new things to learn and this program reinforced that belief. The more comfortable I am and enjoyment that I get with using newer applications, the more I will want to keep learning.

As far as takeaways or unexpected outcomes, this program helped understand the potential of these new technologies in an educational setting. When I am a Media Specialist, I will work with teachers to help them embrace technology and use it more in lessons. Helping students become engaged in learning through alternative channels takes creativity and perseverance. Learning doesn't have to be boring or one sided. The participatory nature of Web 2.0 applications opens up more opportunities to reach kids where they are.

One idea for this program would be to add a continuing education component that introduces new and emerging technologies and applications through an RSS link that brings people back to learn new and exciting developments to implement in the classroom. I would be interested in participating in other programs. One area that needs more innovation is technology for special needs populations. Even though assistive technology is not a new concept, accessibility tends to be narrow, that is, only some types of special needs are addressed. I would like to see more creativity in applications that will engage various learners with a wider array of special needs.

To sum up my experience with this program, I would have to use several adjectives such as engaging, challenging, entertaining, inspiring and overwhelming. There is so much to discover and learn which can be daunting. Programs like Classroom Learning 2.0 help many of us who did not grow up in a digital world the way children today have. It would be helpful to continue programs such as this to bring those reluctant adult learners closer to technology without the anxiety that sometimes can accompany overwhelming feelings.