End of an Era

Image Source: Tenor

I wanted to start off with my new and improved GIF, because I think it speaks a lot to the transition that has occurred over the last eight weeks of this class. At the beginning of any new class, semester, life experience, etc. I always feel very overwhelmed. I tend to look at the big picture, rather than breaking things up into more manageable pieces. However, by the end I am feeling much more like Kristen Wiig in this GIF. I am so excited I cannot even stand it! 

There are many reasons for my excitement levels being sky high, and the first one is that this class was a really great experience. I feel like I was introduced to so many resources that I was previously unaware of. The week that we talked about accessibility allowed me to explore so many different extensions for Google Chrome, that I have begun to incorporate into my own lessons. I also loved coming up with a curated collection of things, websites, podcasts, books, etc. that I enjoyed, and sharing it with everyone else. I enjoyed clicking through my classmates' collections as well, I plan on using them as a resource in the future! Finally, I loved creating my own website! I always thought it would be an awesome resource for my classes, but I was too nervous to create one myself. Now, I have a website that I can use as a baseline to share important information with my students presently and in the future.

Additionally, my perspective on technology in education has shifted slightly. I have always thought that technology is key in order to enhance learning. However, I never thought about how being part of a professional learning network could improve how I use technology in the classroom. I am going to continue to network and learn more about what free resources are available, what fun activities I can include in my own lessons, and how I can make my class more engaging and active. Overall, I think this class has encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone into new and exciting lessons!

One other aspect of the class that I absolutely loved was the assignment tracker! It helped me to stay focused and organized. It also helped with my anxiety, because it was nice to see what I needed to get done on a weekly basis. I think that in the future I may implement this with my own students! I think it will be a great way for my students to take ownership of their learning! It will give them more responsibility and prepare them for the real world!

Finally, on a personal level, this is my second to last grad school class possibly ever! While I love to learn and expand my knowledge on various topics (especially educational technology), I am looking forward to taking a break! I will take all the amazing things I have learned throughout this experience and, hopefully, use it to amplify student learning!

It’s the end of an era…

Image Source: GIPHY