Blog Post 1

As an educator, I currently have many weaknesses in technology. I use the technologies that my district presents for us to use. It honestly never occurred to me to look outside what is typically used in our district. I am very familiar with document cameras, electronic whiteboards, and projectors. I’m required to have a teacher webpage. However, as I took SLIS 5001, I realized that there is a world of technology that I have not been exposed to as an educator of which I am currently unaware. For example, while I have a general knowledge of what Wikipedia is, I have no concept of exactly what a wiki would look like or how to create my own. I have not even thought of what applications there could be in online blogs for students or online group discussions. I am familiar with podcasting. I subscribe to several podcasts that I receive via my iTunes. Again, it never occurred to me that there could be an educational aspect that could be used in school. I feel like half of lacking is in the thought of applying new technologies to teaching. The other half is that I simply do not know enough about available technologies.

In education, I use the strengths that I have on a daily basis. I apply technologies within my teaching and in my classroom. I help students learn to become independent users of technology within my classroom. However, my weaknesses are going to be addressed in many ways. I plan to attend technology training within my school district this summer to address various weaknesses that I feel that I currently have. As I attend these trainings, I am planning on brainstorming and combining what I regularly use outside of work with what my district wants teachers to apply as well. I would like to have the ability to podcast a book talk and feel confident enough to give the assignments to groups in my class as well. I will also very much use 5720 to help bring me up to speed on current technologies. After this summer, I plan to continue to address my weaknesses by keeping abreast of current technology and educational practices via professional journals and articles.