Welcome to Breanne Quist's Personal Webspace (B.Ed)
  • Home
  • My Learning Journey
    • Where Have I Been?
    • Where Am I Now?
    • Where Do I Want To Get To?
    • How Am I Going To Get There?
    • How Will I Know When I Have Arrived?
  • Community Connections
  • Resources for Learning Online
  • Blog
    • 501 (Introduction to Online Learning)
    • 502 (Digital Learning Continuum)
    • 503 (Online Communication)
    • 504 (Learning Systems)
    • 505 (Open Educational Resources)
    • 506 (Social Media)
    • 507 (Cloud Computing)
    • 508 (Mobile Learning and Gaming)
    • 509 (Emergent Environments and Technologies)

Critical Thinking Questions - The Beginning

1/11/2014

4 Comments

 
For this OLTD 509 course we are asked to consider two critical thinking questions. 1 – “How can you select emerging technologies which fit your developing philosophy of education?” and 2 – “How can you inspire, initiate and implement sustainable integration of emerging technologies in your own practice, and in the practice of others?”

I am writing this post at the beginning of this course – well to be honest, at the beginning of the second week. The reason for this blog post is twofold, one I want to get my thoughts out on paper where I can see them and actually work through them and two, I want to see how my thoughts and answers to the two questions will move and change over the next five weeks. I wish I had started this blog sooner, but now is as good a time as any...

First, when I am looking at emerging technologies that fit with my philosophy of education, I cannot simply look at a list and pick and choose. It is not that simple. That would be like ‘choosing a book by its cover’ so to speak and not finding out enough to make an informed decision. For any informed selection to take place, I need to at the very minimum look into descriptions of certain technologies and in a perfect world I would have time to explore what is being done with them currently and use them myself for a short period of time to get to know the ins and outs of it. I am a very hands on learner so for someone to simply say “this is what is does” only does so much for me, I need to do it for myself.

I think something else that needs to be considered when selecting technologies to use with your students, having a backup would be advisable. We are constantly learning that each student is unique and does things and learns things in their own unique way. What will work for some students, may not work for others. If we are talking about different forms of technology, what works for some students, may not be available to others in all honesty and sometimes you will come to a point where permissions are not granted to use what you want to use so having a plan B is a good idea.

As for the inspire, initiate and implement sustainable integration of emerging technologies in my own practice and the practice of others is something that I am still trying to figure out. For now I know that telling others about it, and showing what I have been able to do will open some doors and start conversations about it. Once the conversations have started that’s when I feel people are engaged and they will listen more intently about what you are talking about. I have learned that the more I show enthusiasm about what I am learning and I am willing to share with others – the more I am asked questions about it and asked to share it with my colleagues.

I want to leave you with this thought: Be excited about what you are learning and how you are teaching, others will see your enthusiasm and it will be contagious.



4 Comments
Tracy Cameron
1/12/2014 03:45:26 am

Hi Breanne,
I too looked at how to inspire and implement sustainable integration of emerging technologies in my blog post and we seem to share some similar thoughts. I felt some key areas of implementing were sharing a plan and purpose for the technology and having feedback from all involved and ongoing conversations. Something that didn't cross my mind which you shared was the simple idea of sharing your enthusiasm what your particular technology can do! This is something so simple and yet so effective! This really is the first step in an implementation plan. You have to make people aware and curious to explore the new technology.
Thanks for sharing!

Reply
Breanne
1/13/2014 11:30:48 am

Hey Tracy,
I have found we have had similar thoughts on a few things throughout our time in OLTD so far. I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that we graduated around the same time and are around the same age? Maybe it is a generational thing? It would be interesting to know. I have found that a lot has opened up to me when I share my enthusiasm. I have been able to attend conferences in Manitoba through VIU funding and present there as well as other things within my school. It's amazing what happens when you put yourself out there :)

Reply
Andrew Ferneyhough
1/13/2014 11:13:29 am

Well said Breanne. I like how you have stepped back and tried to narrow your focus to what you believe and know about yourself rather than try to make predictions about specific technologies. As you say, even if a peer of yours has jumped up and down about a particular program, until you try it yourself, and with a certain batch of students, it is very hard to say if if will fit your style and needs.

I learned a few years ago that blogging was just not for me at that time. I spent many many hours learning from a local colleague who was training a bunch of us on the ‘miracle’ of blogging. I was determined to not let her be the only blogging Guru in the district. About 10 months later I finally threw in the towel and said, “This is not for me.” I struggled with this for quite some time. Was I lazy? No, lazy is not generally a term that people associate with me. I think in the end it was the type of man-hours that I was putting in (usually reviewing posts before they got published) was simply not where I wanted to be spending my time.
What is ironic is that three years later, in a very different learning environment, with a much more user-friendly program (weebly). I am right back looking into jumping into that same pool. After all of that internal debate and self-reflection I learned that it’s not just about who you are, it’s about who you are at any given time and what are the current circumstances around you such as grade-level, admin support and software and hardware capabilities.

Thanks for making my first ‘comment’ and easy one,
Andrew

Reply
Breanne
1/13/2014 11:27:53 am

I agree Andrew. Timing seems to play a key role in technology. I am learning that not only through personal experience but also the timing at which certain technologies are introduced - if it isn't at the right time, you can't force it to BE the right time.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Breanne Quist is a student completing the Online Learning and Teaching program at Vancouver Island University.

    Archives

    February 2014
    January 2014

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed


Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.