Ready! Set! Go!...Beginning my DLL journey
From the very first course to the very last, there was choice, ownership, voice and authenticity in my digital learning. Funny thing is, I did not realize I possessed this power until many courses later. In EDLD 5302, we were challenged with selecting a platform to begin building our ePortfolio. I opted for WordPress, but quickly switched to the friendlier Weebly. This choice was just the first of many that led me to take ownership of my work.
When I first started creating my ePortfolio, I unlocked a whole new world of endless technology possibilities. The plethora of digital resources before me was quite overwhelming. I must admit the overwhelming feelings caused me much anxiety. I knew nothing about ePortfolios and was guilty of using mine as more of a container for my work. I struggled with seeing the big picture of its purpose. When I look back, I was not used to having a tremendous amount of freedom in designing projects. Now, I know that the uncomfortable feelings were necessary to create the many academic stretch marks that I am proud to display.
As I work to prepare my ePortfolio for final submission, I realize how instrumental COVA (Choice, Ownership, Voice and Authenticity) has been all throughout my learning. COVA is a concept that is now a part of me. It will forever shape the way I learn, teach and live my life. From the first course to the last, you will see how COVA has positively impacted my learning.
When I first started creating my ePortfolio, I unlocked a whole new world of endless technology possibilities. The plethora of digital resources before me was quite overwhelming. I must admit the overwhelming feelings caused me much anxiety. I knew nothing about ePortfolios and was guilty of using mine as more of a container for my work. I struggled with seeing the big picture of its purpose. When I look back, I was not used to having a tremendous amount of freedom in designing projects. Now, I know that the uncomfortable feelings were necessary to create the many academic stretch marks that I am proud to display.
As I work to prepare my ePortfolio for final submission, I realize how instrumental COVA (Choice, Ownership, Voice and Authenticity) has been all throughout my learning. COVA is a concept that is now a part of me. It will forever shape the way I learn, teach and live my life. From the first course to the last, you will see how COVA has positively impacted my learning.
Testing the Waters
One of my first tasks in setting up my ePortfolios was to create a space to blog. Blog, blogging and blogger...three words that were of little or no interest to me in my social media world. I thought blogs were for people who were in between jobs, stay-at-home moms or extreme tech geeks with more to say than what 140 characters can hold. I never thought of myself in any of these categories until a chance encounter with a Microsoft program manager changed my mind and my title.
I was working on transitioning my AVID students from a traditional 3-ring class binder to an all electronic binder using Microsoft OneNote. During a Skype meeting with Microsoft OneNote executives and AVID Center directors, a MS program manager asked me if I would like to be a guest blogger for MS OneNote at the South by Southwest educational technology conference held yearly in Austin, Texas. I enthusiastically accepted the invite and immediately jumped into the deep end of the blog pool. It was time to either sink or swim. Checkout the link to my first attempt at blogging...http://blogs.office.com/2015/03/09/onenote-avid-positively-impacting-students-teaching-career/
I enjoyed this experience so much that I created my own blog page chronicling my journey from digital learner to digital leader in the Lamar University Masters of Educational Technology program.
I hope you find the information in my blog helpful. If you are apprehensive about entering the blog pool, don't be. You have two choices: You can dip your toe in or you can do a cannonball. Be fearless, get a running start and make your splash!
I was working on transitioning my AVID students from a traditional 3-ring class binder to an all electronic binder using Microsoft OneNote. During a Skype meeting with Microsoft OneNote executives and AVID Center directors, a MS program manager asked me if I would like to be a guest blogger for MS OneNote at the South by Southwest educational technology conference held yearly in Austin, Texas. I enthusiastically accepted the invite and immediately jumped into the deep end of the blog pool. It was time to either sink or swim. Checkout the link to my first attempt at blogging...http://blogs.office.com/2015/03/09/onenote-avid-positively-impacting-students-teaching-career/
I enjoyed this experience so much that I created my own blog page chronicling my journey from digital learner to digital leader in the Lamar University Masters of Educational Technology program.
I hope you find the information in my blog helpful. If you are apprehensive about entering the blog pool, don't be. You have two choices: You can dip your toe in or you can do a cannonball. Be fearless, get a running start and make your splash!
Becoming a Catalyst for Change
Here is my first attempt at designing a technology project with video and voice overs. I am so green when it comes to producing digital works, but I've never met a digital resource that scared me. In this first assignment, I will be fearless. The purpose of this assignment is to reflect on your experience as a member of a Professional Learning Network (PLN) and decide whether or not you are doing more consuming or contributing to the community. Since I am not a member of any PLN's, my first goal was to research relevant PLN's and join. I decided that I am definitely a not a contributor to any PLN...yet But, I plan to to immerse myself in the benefits of giving and taking within professional learning communities. I want to use the knowledge gained from PLN's to become a catalyst for change in my school and my district.