Open Waters - Reflecting and Going Beyond
The prospect of heading out on my own in the open to theorize about educational technology was quite exciting. I truly felt I needed to go beyond and reflect on what I was learning. Possibilities seemed endless and so did the questions.
First Vlog: Exploring Vlogging as a mode of communication and Reflection
I introduced this mode of reflecting in ETEC 511. It permitted me to reflect and build on my learning. In this first vlog, I explore my participation using the SOUL system in this course.This reflection motivated me to write about online asynchronous forums in relation to learning. Based on my personal experience, I found imposing specific times, word limits, and suggesting formats for posts limits creativity and hinders the flow of learning.This vlogging led to further research and creating my scholarly essay: Online Communication Forums and their Influence on Learning, which I later presented at the India-Canada conference in Mumbai, India. An experience I describe under the section: New Horizons. This vlogging session also led me to reflect on the idea course design needs to encourage different ways to communicate beyond text-based formats.This inspired the DLG 11 presentation of Spirituality and Technology.
project, presented in the section: Sailing with the Crew, to take on a more creative aspect in the hope it would foster participation and lead to deeper discussions.
project, presented in the section: Sailing with the Crew, to take on a more creative aspect in the hope it would foster participation and lead to deeper discussions.
Second Vlog: The Children of TelStar
This reflection was essential in shaping my philosophy of educational technology, and understanding how technology fits into our lives. I think this is the moment in the MET program when I realized how much technology has become part of my life. I also realized that this MET program really reflected the times, it was almost impossible now to think of education without a technological element playing some kind of role. Reflecting on the Children of Telstar (Moody 1999), also made me aware that as an educator I have the responsibility to guide students in how to use technology, and also to question media.This reflection would begin to foster my interest in how media shapes our identities.
Third Vlog - Dialogue on Cyborgs
This reflection was again extremely important, as I questioned if I view myself as an extension of technology. My idea about being a cyborg mellowed and evolved after discussing the idea with peers. I realized that my computer has indeed become an extension of myself, particularly as a tool for learning and creating. Coming to terms with the term 'cyborg' has been an ongoing process, and I feel I still need to tame the idea that the computer is now an integral part of who I have become. This reflection also made me realize that I have to recognize that my students are also becoming or already are 'cyborgs' and that I need to integrate technology within the classroom.This led to my interest in using technology to integrate authentic materials in class, and also the idea of 'bring your own device' (BYOD) concept, which became an integral part of a presentation I gave in Slovenia, and which I showcase under the section circumnavigation.
Since beginning this MET program, I had explored many technological tools and increased their use within my teaching practice. It was time to go down those not so familiar channels and explore dark corners. I needed to ask questions - challenge myself about the use of technology, certainly there were benefits - but what about dangers? Sherry Turkle's video http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=oyHZYqgRY4k on 'Big Thinkers', was an eye opener. I really began asking myself questions about the use of technology and how it affects our lives.
Do Computers enter our personalities and identities? Do technologies construct us and our times? Does our experience with computers structure the way we think, talk, and write? Do computers satisfy our need for affection, communication, and a need for a relationship? How do children use computers – objects of nurture: is the question more what is technology doing to them rather than what children are doing with technology?
These questions planted the seed that would later grow in ETEC 532, when I created an arts-based inquiry project investigating the effect of media on identity making under the section: Making Waves.
These questions planted the seed that would later grow in ETEC 532, when I created an arts-based inquiry project investigating the effect of media on identity making under the section: Making Waves.