Reflection: READ 600

I had heard of MySpace and YouTube, although I had never been on either site. Blogging, Podcast, Facebook, and Flicker were terms that had no meaning for me a couple of months ago. Today a smile came across my face when the saleswoman in Borders asked me what was blogging. I had asked for the section that carried books on the subject. I couldn’t help but feel a little smug, as I was now able to stand there and explain to her what blogging is. Who’da thought! I can now in relative competence speak on each of the new literacies that I’ve learned about in the last couple of months. I am really excited about what I’ve learned, and look forward to continued investigations of these topics.
This experience was not easy because it took me out of my comfort zone, but boy am I grateful. I needed to have my eyes opened to exactly how much I was lagging behind in the world of technology. I knew there was a lot out there that I didn’t know, but I figured I was making out just fine and would continue to do so. That was so far from the truth. There is another world that have been opened up to me in both my personal and professional life. I plan to take some additional technology classes. I must keep learning and growing!
I am doing my research paper on "Using Blogging as an Instructional Tool". I have learned so much and can't wait to begin implementing some of the strategies in my own school. My school had been sited twice by the state for failing to infuse technology into the curriculum. The state monitors said that although they saw computers in many of the classrooms, they saw very little student use. I shared my ideas for incorporating blogs into our reading and writing instruction with my administers last week. They now want me to share these ideas with the teachers at the grade level team meetings. It is my hope to get others as excited about this project as I am.
I have gotten so much more out of this course than I ever thought I would. Originally I was simply interested in getting an additional 3 credits that would help me reach my goal of Masters + 32. The fact that the East Orange Board of Education was paying for the class only sweetened the pot for me. Yes, there were times when I asked myself "What the heck have you gotten into"??? I remember my confusion after reading the first couple of articles about the "new literacies" and trying to distinguish between Web 1.0 and Web 2.0. Researching Hopkin Green Frog drove home the power of the internet for me. All I can say now is "I've come a long way baby". I am very grateful to Dr. Dana putting me on a new path towards becoming computer literate. I thank you very much.