Reflection on EdTech 543

When I first registered for courses this summer, I was first enrolled in Mobile App Creation. This class, however, only concerned apps having to do with Android devices. Ultimately, this would not have been very useful for me since our school only uses iPads. So I was a little unsure what to expect from EdTech 543 and I did not have a great deal of expectation leading up to course. Having taken the course, I very much grateful for having had the opportunity. I learned a great deal and made some powerful connections with students in my PLNs. I look forward to implementing some of the skills that I have learned and practiced in the fast approaching school year.

The course began by asking us to connect through Facebook, Twitter and WordPress. I did not expect to be spending so much time in this class on Facebook. At first, it was overwhelming signing up for so many different services. I already had a Twitter and Facebook account, but I mostly used it to gather information, connect with friends and sharing some content and media. This is how, I assume, most people use it. I was not tapped into the powerful capabilities of social media networks for my professional benefit. I previously assumed that social media networks having to do with my professional life were exclusive to sites like LinkedIn, which are specific to developing your online social media presence within professional networks. However, I now feel very much adept at using social media to connect professionally with outside world. I also feel experienced at using social media in the classroom. It is amazing how in such a short period of time I can develop such a different and more complex relationship with the online world. I consider it a blessing to have been required to connect with so many different communities online. I think that I have been using the internet for leisure and entertainment only for too long. Now is the time to use it to it great potential. I feel that I am now a much more efficient user of the internet.

After the course, I also have a much stronger conceptual understanding of the different theories that validate our use of social media in the classroom. I especially enjoyed learning about connectivism, communities of practices and Web 3.0. The idea of the augmented reality has been coming up a lot recently, since I have become aware of it through this class. Interestingly, it coincided with the release of Pokemon Go, which is a new way of seeing and interacting with that reality. At my school, there has been a bit of a backlash concerning Web 3.0 and students’ use of the iPad. Many educators believe that students are spending too much time on their devices and losing sight of the value of real-time person to person communication. This movement in the school is coming from  studies that are showing that techie-teens are less empathetic than previous generations. My opinion on this subject is that the only absolute in teaching is that aging teachers have always been reticent to adopt changing pedagogy and technology and I believe that if educators do not work with and for the growth of technology in this world they will find themselves obsolete. Our public schools are not improving and peoples personal and professional lives are finding themselves more and more on the web. The next generations of students may never set foot in a classroom. Or they may only set foot in a classroom part of the time or for seminars. Whatever model may take shape in the future, one thing is certain, technology will play a central role.

Concerning the importance of technology, we must also consider the importance of our digital footprint in this age of the augmented reality.  I understand now that our digital identity can be a deal breaker concerning our employment.  I also now plan on buying up web space to  start creating my online brand. I just am curious how I can make my brand marketable. During the online Twitter Chats, I found several very inspiring educators who have branded themselves and create content more than just share content. I see many ways that education can develop and grow and become more accessible to different groups. One of the most powerful aspects of technology is the ability of its tools to level the playing field and allow students of different economic levels to access online courses cheaply and have meaningful experiences without needing to afford costly tuition. MOOCs  like Code Academy and others create learning opportunities for students a little more no cost. There is then the idea that possibly internet access should be a human right like access to drinking water, clean breathable air and quality education. I believe that the current president sees this as something to work towards. I hope that future leaders see how important this is also.