I am currently working my way through my second semester in Ashland University's Bachelor Plus program to earn an Early Childhood (PreK-3) teaching license. This blog has been set up to reflect specifically upon my "Principles of Instructional Technology" class (EDCI 505). This class is also my first online-only course. Ever.
As intimidated as I was at the start of it, I have found this mode of learning surprisingly agreeable. What is more important is I am totally immersed in Web 2.0 technologies that were never a part of my education, even up to my undergraduate experience. I started kindergarten in the late '80s. I remember going to the computer lab in middle school to play "Number Crunchers" or "Oregon Trail." Even in high school, computers were outside of our normal classroom and were usually used for writing papers and, eventually, internet searches for the purpose of research and occasional digital art projects.
I think my personal experience with schooling has made it hard for me to really grasp using these dynamic, Web 2.0 technologies in an elementary school classroom. But it is happening! Check out the wiki project I just created: jdavidstrong.pbworks.com. In it I share informationa bout three emergent technologies: digital storytelling, QR codes, and online flashcards. For QR (quick response) codes, I embedded a video showing an elementary school student explaining how she uses the codes in her classroom. Wow! It's pretty wild--and very novel to me.
Even after only three weeks, I have learned a lot about the power of technology in the 21st century classroom and I'm excited to learn more.
