Today marks the end of my second intensive and I must say that I am thrilled and sad at the same time. Every time I come here to Liberty in Lynchburg, VA I make new friends and refresh previous friendships. It is hard to say goodbye.
Today was a great day and our team's presentation went great! There were two other presentations and they were very interesting and sparked some potential research questions in my mind. Perhaps the most poignant question is about the disparity of technology availability between children whether it be rural vs urban or economic status. The truth is that every child deserves an opportunity to have equal access to technology and the same opportunity to grow and learn.
It was a great week full of learning and right now I am working on my prospectus, a process that I am finding quite challenging. I hope to finish it today so that I can complete this course and go back home where I can enjoy my family and begin studying for my MAT exam.
Closing thoughts: Technology is at the cusp of a major explosion and who knows where that will lead us as a society and a nation. I pray that God guides those creating and inventing to promote the right things with technology.
Friday, December 21, 2012
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Technology and Freedom!
Amazing! It is Thursday already and the day has come and gone. Tomorrow we present our literature review and while I am nervous, I feel confident that I am prepared and the review meets the objectives of the course and the assignment. My team has been wonderful all week long and I could not have asked for better people to work with!
Today was quite fun because we went into the multimedia side of technology and explored video and audio, including the creation of mixing two audios together utlizing a software called audacity. This was certainly fun and quite a learning experience!
Today's revelation in technology for me is all about the concept of freedom and how over time, technology has given a freedom of sorts. I remember being young and a single mother raising a 10 year old child. I had horrible fears about driving long distance to take my daughter to see her grandmother because I was poor and my car would always break down and leave us stranded. We lived in a cold climate and this could be dangerous depending on the month or season. A very good friend of mine gave me my first 'freedom' by buying me a 'pay as you go' cell phone that I cherished. This little phone made me feel free to drive long distance and go to see my mother more and more often which established a closer bond between us and allowed my daughter to become very close to her as well. The second 'freedom' came with my entering school for my RN (Registered Nurse) because this afforded me the opportunity to provide a better life for my daughter and I but also to engage in more education, technology, travel, and experiences. The 'freedom' I experienced today was a sense of independence. I was hungry so I used the internet to find a wonderful restaurant called Shoemakers American Grill in downtown Lynchburg, VA. I used my smart phone to set up directions to the restaurant. I used the blue tooth in my car to provide me with safe travel, great music and the directions being spoken to me so my eyes stayed on the road. I never got lost, not once. I reflected this evening to think to myself......what if I never had gotten that first 'freedom' cell phone or every went to school or today did not have the smart phone, internet, and blue tooth. What then? Would life be that much different? That's when I realize that Technology gives us so much that we are now taking for granted. What if it all should go away today? What then? I hate to even think about it.....
Today was quite fun because we went into the multimedia side of technology and explored video and audio, including the creation of mixing two audios together utlizing a software called audacity. This was certainly fun and quite a learning experience!
Today's revelation in technology for me is all about the concept of freedom and how over time, technology has given a freedom of sorts. I remember being young and a single mother raising a 10 year old child. I had horrible fears about driving long distance to take my daughter to see her grandmother because I was poor and my car would always break down and leave us stranded. We lived in a cold climate and this could be dangerous depending on the month or season. A very good friend of mine gave me my first 'freedom' by buying me a 'pay as you go' cell phone that I cherished. This little phone made me feel free to drive long distance and go to see my mother more and more often which established a closer bond between us and allowed my daughter to become very close to her as well. The second 'freedom' came with my entering school for my RN (Registered Nurse) because this afforded me the opportunity to provide a better life for my daughter and I but also to engage in more education, technology, travel, and experiences. The 'freedom' I experienced today was a sense of independence. I was hungry so I used the internet to find a wonderful restaurant called Shoemakers American Grill in downtown Lynchburg, VA. I used my smart phone to set up directions to the restaurant. I used the blue tooth in my car to provide me with safe travel, great music and the directions being spoken to me so my eyes stayed on the road. I never got lost, not once. I reflected this evening to think to myself......what if I never had gotten that first 'freedom' cell phone or every went to school or today did not have the smart phone, internet, and blue tooth. What then? Would life be that much different? That's when I realize that Technology gives us so much that we are now taking for granted. What if it all should go away today? What then? I hate to even think about it.....
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Just when you think you have climbed Mount Everest!
Today was so exciting! It's 6:30 p.m. and I have yet to leave the seat in my classroom! I was absolutely captivated by the technology of a Webquest utilizing zunal.com that I could not stop until it was completed! I always saw myself as somewhat tech saavy but this week I am learning that there is so much more to learn! My team and I continue to plug away at our group project on Game-Based Learning and stress is not something that has come to us! What a great team they are!
Today, I am walking away with two very important concepts that I have learned. The first concept is that of Community. When I think of community, I think of the city that I live in and the neighborhood that my home is in. I also think of community in terms of nursing and the idea of community nursing. Today; however, I have come to realize that community can be created when 2 or more individuals come together to share, collaborate, and fellowship. The internet provides a wealth of opportunities to enjoy community and today we discussed the importance of teacher communities and sharing resources. The second concept was the statement, "Why is this important?" Dr. Dunn stressed the importance of always asking myself why something is so important and finding the common denominator in importance and why something needs to be researched. I will keep this in mind as I work toward my dissertation and will never stop asking, "WHY?"
Ronnie
Today, I am walking away with two very important concepts that I have learned. The first concept is that of Community. When I think of community, I think of the city that I live in and the neighborhood that my home is in. I also think of community in terms of nursing and the idea of community nursing. Today; however, I have come to realize that community can be created when 2 or more individuals come together to share, collaborate, and fellowship. The internet provides a wealth of opportunities to enjoy community and today we discussed the importance of teacher communities and sharing resources. The second concept was the statement, "Why is this important?" Dr. Dunn stressed the importance of always asking myself why something is so important and finding the common denominator in importance and why something needs to be researched. I will keep this in mind as I work toward my dissertation and will never stop asking, "WHY?"
Ronnie
Technology Glitches But No Stress...
Here we are and it is Wednesday already! I wrote a great blog last night and this morning it is gone...lost in translation across the world wide web or somewhere in the lost land of my computer. But what I am already learning this week is that it is OK and the world will not end. I do not have to be perfect in every way. How I deal with issues that come up is what is important.
Moving on....Tuesday was a great day full of learning experiences in Technology! Explorations into document collaboration, data, and presentations were entriguing and enlightening. Perhaps the most interesting was the exploration into technologies such as WORD, EndNote, Access, Glogster, Animoto, Sock Puppet Theater, DropBox, VoiceThread, PPT, and CamStudio. Where did this exploration guide me to? Information OVERLOAD! How does one acquire all of this knowledge about technology? I even asked this question because I want to know about it all and start using the best resources in technology. The truth is that I have to slow down, develop a community of acquaintances where I can collaborate and share. Just like nursing... Technology can overshelm an individual very quickly.
Overwhelming...let's talk about that. Our group had a simple task to learn how to create a glog using glogster.com with a video technology called CamStudio and we would record an instructional video 'how-to' for 2 minutes and then post it to you.tube. Easy, right? Well, 2 hours into it and we all stopped (thanks to Lakia) and prayed for God's help because everything the could go wrong was going wrong. Lesson Learned? When you get frustrated with technology, walk away, take a deep breath, and come back later. How do I know this? Because I went back to my room, relaxed and then revisited the days information and was able to complete several projects and then go to dinner knowing that I was getting somewhere.
Technology is all about the user and how you utilize and perceive what is available to you.
Let's see what today holds! :)
Ronnie
Moving on....Tuesday was a great day full of learning experiences in Technology! Explorations into document collaboration, data, and presentations were entriguing and enlightening. Perhaps the most interesting was the exploration into technologies such as WORD, EndNote, Access, Glogster, Animoto, Sock Puppet Theater, DropBox, VoiceThread, PPT, and CamStudio. Where did this exploration guide me to? Information OVERLOAD! How does one acquire all of this knowledge about technology? I even asked this question because I want to know about it all and start using the best resources in technology. The truth is that I have to slow down, develop a community of acquaintances where I can collaborate and share. Just like nursing... Technology can overshelm an individual very quickly.
Overwhelming...let's talk about that. Our group had a simple task to learn how to create a glog using glogster.com with a video technology called CamStudio and we would record an instructional video 'how-to' for 2 minutes and then post it to you.tube. Easy, right? Well, 2 hours into it and we all stopped (thanks to Lakia) and prayed for God's help because everything the could go wrong was going wrong. Lesson Learned? When you get frustrated with technology, walk away, take a deep breath, and come back later. How do I know this? Because I went back to my room, relaxed and then revisited the days information and was able to complete several projects and then go to dinner knowing that I was getting somewhere.
Technology is all about the user and how you utilize and perceive what is available to you.
Let's see what today holds! :)
Ronnie
Monday, December 17, 2012
First Day Completed...Praying for a Great Week!
The first day has come to an end! As always, the anxiety leading up to the actual event is unwarranted and an important lesson was learned today. Doing the work up front with my team and spending the time to collect an in-depth literature review has certainly paid off! Instead of feeling stressed and up against the time clock, I am feeling prepared and ready for a great week!
I am certainly praying for a great week of learning! Today was certainly enlightening as we discussed the various learning theories and how each could be applied to technology in education. It was humbling for me as a nurse educator to sit, once again, in the classroom seat and feel 'clueless' as Dr. Dunn began to ask a variety of engaging questions to which I felt I had no answer. Lesson to Learn: It is time to go back and review my learning theories because while I may have understood them at the time, I have failed to retain that knowledge but even more so, I am not easily transferring that knowledge into an applicable form.
As always, our first day was very exciting and the lunch provided by Liberty was excellent! The highlight of my day was seeing Dr. Black again as her class and her spirit changed my life forever as God used her to make such a profound impact on me!
I have just completed doing my team assignment for tonight where I created the framework for our literature review. I utilized Kolb's Learning Theory and Knowles' Andragogy to demonstrate how nursing education requires both of these models to set the foundation for our teaching and learning strategies that will promote safe practicing nurses and critical thinkers at the bedside. I did make an attempt to look for other theories that might fit or be a little 'outside the box' but it was daunting and I finally said, "Why seek to explore something else when what you have works and works well".
Until tomorrow, God's Blessings.....
I am certainly praying for a great week of learning! Today was certainly enlightening as we discussed the various learning theories and how each could be applied to technology in education. It was humbling for me as a nurse educator to sit, once again, in the classroom seat and feel 'clueless' as Dr. Dunn began to ask a variety of engaging questions to which I felt I had no answer. Lesson to Learn: It is time to go back and review my learning theories because while I may have understood them at the time, I have failed to retain that knowledge but even more so, I am not easily transferring that knowledge into an applicable form.
As always, our first day was very exciting and the lunch provided by Liberty was excellent! The highlight of my day was seeing Dr. Black again as her class and her spirit changed my life forever as God used her to make such a profound impact on me!
I have just completed doing my team assignment for tonight where I created the framework for our literature review. I utilized Kolb's Learning Theory and Knowles' Andragogy to demonstrate how nursing education requires both of these models to set the foundation for our teaching and learning strategies that will promote safe practicing nurses and critical thinkers at the bedside. I did make an attempt to look for other theories that might fit or be a little 'outside the box' but it was daunting and I finally said, "Why seek to explore something else when what you have works and works well".
Until tomorrow, God's Blessings.....
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
EDUC 730 First Blog!
Hello!
This is my first Blog for EDUC 730. I would like to share some of my thoughts about technology. As an educator I embrace technology in the classroom because it allows me the opportunity to engage the learner in a variety of activities that do not evolve me providing several boring hours of lecture. It is my belief that learners will learn best when they are engaged in the classroom and technology provides this venue.
My experience with technology in the classroom includes powerpoint (Jeopardy Games), KlickerZ software by Training Masters, YouTube videos, simulation, online games,and case studies. I am very realistic and I know that I have begun to explore what technology has to offer in the classroom and I am eager to learn more.
My view of technology is not all positive. I have seen many educators frustrated by technology that is difficult to use and time-consuming to learn. There is a serious generational gap from those who have basic understandings of computers and technology to those who were raised on technology and would be lost without it. Technology can be intimidating to some, overwhelming to others, a nuisance to some, and an exciting bewilderment to others. Technology is NOT a one size fits all and should not be forced on educators; rather, it is something that should be used as an adjunct to learning.
I believe that technology offers a wide array of avenues to reach learners. My zest for student success drives me to want to learn more about technology to ensure that my students and their learning environment are the most effective with positive outcomes.
Ronnie
This is my first Blog for EDUC 730. I would like to share some of my thoughts about technology. As an educator I embrace technology in the classroom because it allows me the opportunity to engage the learner in a variety of activities that do not evolve me providing several boring hours of lecture. It is my belief that learners will learn best when they are engaged in the classroom and technology provides this venue.
My experience with technology in the classroom includes powerpoint (Jeopardy Games), KlickerZ software by Training Masters, YouTube videos, simulation, online games,and case studies. I am very realistic and I know that I have begun to explore what technology has to offer in the classroom and I am eager to learn more.
My view of technology is not all positive. I have seen many educators frustrated by technology that is difficult to use and time-consuming to learn. There is a serious generational gap from those who have basic understandings of computers and technology to those who were raised on technology and would be lost without it. Technology can be intimidating to some, overwhelming to others, a nuisance to some, and an exciting bewilderment to others. Technology is NOT a one size fits all and should not be forced on educators; rather, it is something that should be used as an adjunct to learning.
I believe that technology offers a wide array of avenues to reach learners. My zest for student success drives me to want to learn more about technology to ensure that my students and their learning environment are the most effective with positive outcomes.
Ronnie
New Beginnings
This is my first BLOG that I am creating as part of a classroom project for my technology course in my Doctorate of Edcuation. I never imagined that I would be doing a BLOG on the internet as I have viewed them in the past as (1) a waste of time, (2) an invasive way for others to voyeur your life, and (3) a sad attempt at creating something eternal. But, here I am, creating a BLOG and I feel excited to be sharing my thoughts with others in the hope that it may help them to grow and learn! So, be patient with me as I explore this new technology and a new way of communicating!
Ronnie
Ronnie
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