Technology in the Education Arena

 
Sitting here watching the Harry Potter movie we got for Christmas and since I have spent the last 3 days sick in bed, I have been thinking about the past year, the future year, things I am thankful for, and things I want to change.Many things happened this past year. 

The year started off very badly in January with the death of my mother who I miss so much.  Of course, the year had to go up from there and it did.  I did much more with the Macintosh computer, did podcasts with students, worked more on my blog (but still not as much as I should), reviewed and updated my feeds in Bloglines.  I love having my blog and my Bloglines account.  When I want to unwind at the end of the day, I get out my laptop and open my Bloglines account and start learning — just read and learn with no pressure.  I also created my Technology Resource Wiki which was a goal of mine for a couple years.  Gave professional development to the teachers and several teachers started their own wiki.  Started a new job with another school district the beginning of the school year.  I left the elementary environment and am now working in the secondary environment.  It was a great move and I am learning a lot of new tools and meeting a lot of great teachers.  I miss the teachers at my elementary school but have been keeping in touch with them and hope to continue to do so.  I have learned a lot about my video iPod.  Now I have an iPod Touch and have been working with that.  Today, I subscribed to several technology podcasts that I am going to transfer to my Touch.  Love the wireless on my Touch.  Have learned to love “books on tape” because I have a 30 minute commute now, so I rely on my books on tape.  I am going to work on using my iPod in the car and listen to my podcasts also.

In August, I got involved with Second Life.  It has been a very different and interesting learning experience and I am enjoying it.

Last January, I attended and presented at the National Accelerated Schools Plus Conference in Memphis on 25 Ways to Use Technology to Promote Differentiation.  I also presented with Beth Knittle at the MassCUE Technology Conference in November on Second Life. 

So, what about the new year? 

Well, of course, want to blog more.  Keep up the resources on the wiki.  We have Discovery Education Streaming at my schools and I would like to become very knowledgeable with this tool so I can give professional development to the teachers. 

I would like to give some more serious thought to Second Life.  I have been taking and giving professional development in Second Life, but all the sessions have focused on Second Life.  It is time to move on and expand the sessions to go beyond Second Life.  Aftr all, that is why I am in Second Life — to use it as a venue for professional development for teachers and ultimately for students.  I would like to start thinking about what kind of presentations to do in Second Life.  Time to start brainstorming.I am enrolled in a few Masters courses in order to continue learning and earning credits beyond my Masters.

Personally, I would love to start to include exercise in my schedule and bring back pleasure reading instead of just “technology” reading. 

It is going to be a busy year and hopefully an exciting (in a good way) year!