NING! and Supporting Learning with Technology

Well, we have started our second class for the Instructional Technology Masters.  I am very excited, and once again, have learned so very much on the first day of class.  It was very interesting to set up my own Ning account, use and create a new online presentation source, as well as graphics!  I am going to have to play around with them a bit more so perhaps I can add some fun and entertainment to my blog.

The principal of my school stopped in to talk to me about unrelated matters today, and I took the opportunity to show him what I had learned so far, as well as introduce him to what we had learned last night.  Gosh, it truly is something new and exciting every class period, and that is what I enjoy about coming to class.  Learning something new.

I have just finished reading chapter one of Supporting Learning with Technology, by Joy Egbert.  This chapter works to introduce the reader to the use of computer technology in the classroom, and starts by discussing the different parts and components of the computer as well as the many terms that are used in working with computers.  It also discusses such objectives as why a learning focus is important to supporting learning with technology, the relevant standards and the 21st century skills that ground the learning in this text, as well as defining "educational technology" and other related terms.  There is a lot of information that is valuable thus far in our course and I especially like how there are related statements included from teachers who are already trying to implement these techniques in their classrooms and school districts.  One thing I am disheartened about, however, is that in finishing the chapter, and reading these short blurbs by other teachers, I realized that all of the teachers who commented were either elementary or middle school teachers.  It prompted me to search the rest of the book, in which I found the same result.  There are no blurbs or comments from the 9-12 perspective.  This, I think, makes it hard to relate to the material, as it might for a few of the high school teachers in our program, as we might not have any of these experiences to identify with.  I am, however, looking forward to what other informational pieces this text has to offer.