The Catch-up and the Wrap-up on ETEC

     Wow!  There is a lot that I have been trying to comprehend and get comfortable with in ETEC.  I felt like I was fairly computer literate before, but this class has introduced me to some new things, and allowed me to work with and get comfortable with some that I knew about but hadn't previously tried out.  Take wikis for example:  I knew what they were, but I hadn't tried to make my knowledge personal.  I can see a HUGE potential for wikis as a teaching tool now!  I'm very technology-minded, so this is like finding a whole new playroom in the house that you didn't know existed! 
     Social bookmarking is another tool that fits right into what I already do.  I do as was talked about:  I add tons of sites to my Favorites list and then occasionally I cull them out.  This is an awesome way to organize and make sites more useful.  Frequently, I can remember something about a site, but can't find the actual site when I need it, so this was a welcome addition to my repertoire of web knowledge.
     As far as ePortfolios go, I can see how they could be useful.  However, I am 48 years old, and so far, I have yet to go to an interview where they wanted to see such a thing.  Maybe as technology progresses, or if I interview for a position as a tech teacher, I will be able to use it to showcase my abilities.  I intend to keep working on mine after this class, though, because it really IS a good way to pull it all together and present a professional face.
     We learned about Multiple Intelligences and Bloom's Taxonomy last week and created a lesson plan utilizing both.  In some ways, this is information that am familiar with, even though it hasn't been presented exactly as each of these were presented.  To me, a lot of this is common sense, but lining it out like this makes it much more usable.  Having specific learning styles listed out makes it easier to make sure you are incorporating it into your lesson plans.
     Well, that's kind of a catch-up on what is happening in class and what we are learning.  I am excited about incorporating these tools into a classroom setting.  Having raised three kids, I can speak from personal experience and tell you that how kids learn today is very different from how I learned in school.  My youngest is 16 and his education is very different from his older siblings in just the short amount of time that they are separated.  He is more technologically bound and I cannot imagine successfully teaching him and his peers without incorporating technological tools.  The wrap-up on all of this is that I look forward to the future with eagerness!  (And I didn't even mention digital story-telling, which is something I am VERY excited about using!)