Funny how you learn something new in an informal setting, in a relaxing slow-paced way and you really enjoy it. But then you take a course, & learn some of the same basic technology, & because it's for a grade, you freak out and worry about being capable of learning and putting that knowledge into action. That would describe me fairly well this semester.
Like I said at the beginning of my blog: I do Facebook and I have put together a DVD with music for my Pre-K kids as a gift to my parents at the end of the school year. I really enjoyed putting it together & did so in less than a week, working fulltime with 21 four-year-olds! But, I guess when you mix in a little extra stress of a grade involved, I don't handle it as well.
That being said, I have learned alot this semester. I have been exposed to technology that I had for the most part only heard of, and some I have never heard of. Ironically, my cousin from Maryland just mentioned Second Life this week on Facebook. He was remarking that he was glad he wasn't young when this technology appeared. Regardless of how I really feel about Second Life, I was glad I knew what he was talking about.
There is just so much "out there" now. I think you have to really try in order to keep up with technology unless you work for a rare school district that promotes the newest technology. I have asked our "tech guys" in my school district several questions this semester, and for the most part, they haven't known anything about, for example flickr, Second Life, Wikis, or even Photo Story.
One way that keeps me interested in learning new technology is to visit other districts websites to see what attracts me to the site. When I was preparing my PhotoStory I visited a site of a kindergarten teacher who uses a PhotoStory every week to post events in her classroom. I really liked that...and plan to do the same. This interests faculty as well as parents that log on to see their child and can get school news at the same time. Because we were provided with so many sites I will use them and continue to search the web for technologies to use in the classroom and library. Also, their as learning opportunities at our Service Center through workshops and I plan to attend the ones coming up that will teach me more about some of the technologies mentioned in our texts.
As a whole, I am feeling much more at ease about technology. I have seen through discussions postings for our class, some know alot about using technology and others are more like me and are eager to learn, but somewhat intimidated. I'm blessed to have a son who know alot about computers and technology, and the things he doesn't know, is willing to ask someone to help me. As I said in my first blog--I am so eager to become a librarian--I can't wait--and they will be surprised to find, this 50+ librarian knows what they are talking about!!!
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