Yeah, my tech class is over, and done with!!!!

I can finally breathe!!!!  I made it through.

I Made it Through

Well, this is it.  My last blog for Principles of Technology.  I am so relieved.  I have learned so much from this course, but it was very stressful for me.  I know that quite a bit of my stress came from trying to complete my assignments while working full time in an autistic unit. Being a full time mom, and dealing with preteen issues.  This has been a very hectic year to begin with, and then the stress of trying to navigate my way around a computer has led me to many glasses of late night wine.  As much as I have complained through this entire course, I am glad that I took it.  I came away from this class with so much more knowledge and confidence.  I will definitely use many of the technologies I have learned from this course in my own classroom.

I'm On Overload

I've always prided myself on being a minimalist.  My motto has always been, "I'd rather have wings than things".  I've never been one for keeping up with the latest technology.  I was probably one of the last people to get a cell phone or a digital camera.  I like simplicity.  I like developing my own photos in my darkroom.  I like not having a phone ring, or sing while I'm driving or shopping.  I like writing in my journal, and reading real books not kindles.  All this technology flusters me.  At this point in the course I feel like I'm on overload. My stomach turns every time I open a new module, but then I get so excited when I finally finish the project, and feel like I've accomplished something outside of my comfort zone.  As much as I hate to admit it, this class has been good for me.  It has opened my world, and my eyes to a whole new way of teaching.  On one hand, these projects we have been assigned appeals to the artist in me.  I love exploring this new form of creativity. 
I really enjoyed exploring the many different programs we were encouraged to use for our wiki.  I even made my own video on the Animoto site.  I also loved making the movie, and uploading it to Youtube.  I shared my movie on my facebook page with all my friends, and received many compliments, and comments.  Everyone who knows me, knows that technology is not my thing, so they were amazed and surprised.  Once I figure out how to create a webquest, I'm sure that I will like it, and use it in my classroom.  I really like the idea of a webquest.  I like that it doesn't waste paper, and kids can go at their own pace. 
Even though it sounds like I'm resisting technology, I really am embracing it in my own way.  Who knows, by the end of this class, I may be completely conformed.