Reflection

“Newbie”

The theme for my ePortfolio is “Newbie.”  Even though I feel confident using a computer, I used programs that I knew and rarely worked to learn anything new.  When I lived overseas, it would have been neat to have a blog to document not only our travels, but our experiences.  It would have been easy to share this with family and friends (and complete strangers).  But I thought blogs were too hard to do.  Not until blogging was an assignment, I didn’t realize how easy it is!  Since I have never created a blog, wiki or webquest, they are new to me.  So with this new technology, new skills and new confidence, I am the ‘newbie.’

Blog – Before this class, I had never typed a blog.  I no longer have the fear of creating a blog.  I realize how simple it is to create one.  Even though blog.com does have some challenges, such as the text not completely showing, I have the confidence to either try and figure it out or to look for another site to use.  It has also showed me that if I can figure out how to use one, so can students. 

I would tend to think this would be more appropriate learning tool for middle to high school students as opposed to elementary students.  Perhaps, though, with elementary we could do class blogs to communicate with other classes in the school or outside of the school.  Since I had to create a blog, I have gained confidence in my ability to continue doing them or to teach students how to do them and how to incorporate them into a lesson.

Wiki – Before this class, I had never typed or used a wiki.  My only knowledge of a wiki is through the ‘forbidden Wikipedia.’  I didn’t truly understand what it was, except that I was told while subbing that the Wikipedia website was not an appropriate source for research for the students.  I now have a better understanding of wikis.  I understand how they are created. 

I found the process of creating a wiki frustrating for two reasons.  First the content from which we were to create the wiki is new to me.  This is my first education class.  So while I was not only learning how to create the page itself, I was teaching myself various learning theories, education vocabulary, creating lesson plans and creating rubrics.  It was only because I have kids who have used them and have seen them when I was subbing that I knew what rubrics were.  Before I could put anything on a page, whether it was a learning theory or lesson plan, I had to teach myself that part.  I then could create the assignment.

The second reason it was frustrating was because I was not comfortable with the editing of others work.  The respect of ownership held me back from making changes.  I didn’t want to step on any toes.  Especially with not being able to always have concurrent communication, I was not able to even discuss it with the owner when I was working on it.  After reading your comments that the editing lacking and our conversation at the last face-to-face, I have a better understanding of how the creation of a wiki is supposed to work.  I just got nervous when a grade is involved, especially someone else’s grade.

I gained a better understanding and some respect for wiki pages.  I can see having a class make a wiki page in a middle to high school class.  I think being able to do something with a class, something technology driven would bridge the age gap between me and the students.  I’m still not sure how reliable they are, despite Dylan’s explanation at the last face-to-face.  I liked Cassie’s explanation of using Wikipedia as a starting point for research.  I can see myself employing that route in a classroom. 

Webquest – I had no clue what a webquest was when I saw it as an option for a wiki page (maybe the theme should be clueless).  I didn’t take the time to look up what it was until I had to do one (part of the newbie theme, or laziness theme).  Even when I tried to make one it took me a while to figure it out.  I had to look at several websites to figure it out.  But after creating one and then having to use one, I think I really understand webquests.  I realized that having the students use a webquest to explore new subjects would be a neat way to encourage the students to learn new information and apply the new knowledge immediately to a project.  The technology also bridges the age gap and encourages excitement in the process of looking up information. 

I realized that creating a webquest could take a lot of time, especially when the information is new to the creator.  I thought that if I was in the classroom and was more familiar with the subject, I’d be more familiar with what I was looking up.  So I would know where to go and where the ‘to go to’ sites were for that subject.

  Since my theme is Newbie, I would build on that theme in my future educational technology use by learning as much as I can about what is available to me.  I wouldn’t be as afraid to learn more about what is out there and I won’t be afraid to try out new technologies.  It is ok to be a Newbie.