Looking at my journey....

A few short months ago I was a little nervous about starting this class, TPTE 486, which focuses on technology in education.  I thought that I was pretty up to date on technology and that I knew enough about it to be successful in the classroom.  I was wrong!

Throughout the semester I have actually learned a lot about technology that I had no clue about prior to the class.  A big change for me that caught me off guard when the semester started was that we would be using iMacs in our class.  I had used Apple products in the past, but had somehow dodged ever using an Apple computer.  I had no idea how to do anything on them the first couple weeks of class and the entire semester has been a learning experience in this alone!  I have actually really enjoyed them and can see myself leaning towards macs in the future.

As I mistakenly thought, I was not quite as up to date on technology as I wanted to believe.  Out of all of the subjects we covered in class the only one that I knew that much about was digital images.  The rest of the things I have learned in class have been for the most part completely new!  I learned how to create websites, how to blog, all about using Web 2.0 tools, how to design and implement interactive whiteboard lessons, how to use a wiki, how to use iMovie, and how to make digital diagrams.  I am sure I am leaving out some of the topics we covered, but these are some of the high points.

All in all I have really enjoyed the class and that challenges that it provided.  While it was not easy, it was a really nice change from some of my other classes.  I love technology and this class strengthened my knowledge and love for technology.  Although it was fast-paced, it is great to look back and realize how much I have learned in a relatively short amount of time.  I never expected to learn this much or to enjoy this class to the extent that I did.  I cannot wait to get out into the classroom and use some of my newly gained knowledge on technology!  I feel as though I am prepared in this arena to do well with technology in the classroom.  I hope to be able to take more technology classes during my masters degree.  I am also considering looking into specialized fields and positions in education that focus on technology.

Web Authoring

(http://oktaweb.net/blog/world-wide-web)

During this semester we have been required to create a mock classroom website that would serve as a communication link with students and parents if we were already in the classroom.  We used Google Sites to make our websites and I have to say that it has been a really positive experience.  I always looked at web authoring as being really complex and difficult to do, but this has not been the case with Google sites.

Google sites allows the user to create their site with a pre-made layout and design that makes your website come together really nicely.  After creating the site and choosing a them you simply create and edit individual pages.  The editing process works a lot like an on-line word processor and I feel as though just about anyone could do it with little trouble.

Back in August I created my site on Google Sites and have been working on it periodically ever since.   Originally I created all of the pages that I would be making and left them blank to come back and finish later.  Slowly I have finished them as we have completed projects throughout the semester.  Now, my site is nearly finished and has come together quite nicely.  It features a section about the teacher (myself), a supplies section, a resources section with interesting websites for students, pages that display my tech projects, and a page that shows examples of completed Web 2.0 projects.

I think that the experience of using Google Sites and making a classroom website will be very valuable in the near future.  When I finish school and go out into the classroom I think I will already be comfortable with creating my own classroom site and will already have some good resources that I can put onto it.  Who knows, I may even be able to edit this page and actually use it as my classroom site.  Either way I know that I will be equipped to communicate with my students and parents online.  

I am posting a link to my classroom site below so check it out and leave me your thoughts!

https://sites.google.com/site/mrbrownselementaryclassroom/