ED C&I 831 Ken Meredith’s Blog

I’m amazed that some people consider me to be technologically literate, yet there is so much to learn.  Each class I take, new concepts and technologies emerge.  This class was no different.  Experiencing these new concepts and pedagogies has been a fantastic experience.

The weekly presentations were like going to a conference and having a keynote speaker each week.  What an experience.  It couldn’t have been done without the technology and Alec’s willingness to experiment outside the traditional delivery model. 

The discussions questioned many values and beliefs that I have.  That’s a good thing.  We don’t have to agree with everything that has been said, but the discussions encouraged me to create a picture of how technology could/should be used effectively in an educational setting.

I have always been a strong proponent for technology.  This class has helped me immensely in exposing me to the newer Web 2.0 technologies, as well in formulating a picture of how these technologies can be used in an educational setting.

Web 2.0 tools are quite fascinating.  They are taking the computer hardware out of the mix by becoming web based.  PC, Mac or Linux, it just doesn’t matter.  This is a huge step in progressing technology in schools.  Some of my favourite Web 2.0 tools at this time are Delicious, Slideshare, Voicethread, Google Reader and Docs.

I have struggled with the question of how technology can be used in schools in a sustainable manner.  The evolutional cycle of technology is such that it is difficult to harness its power fast enough to keep up with its changing nature.  This class gave me the opportunity to further reflect on this educational technology issue.  I don’t have the answer yet (if there is one), but I am beginning to formulate a clearer picture of how this could be possible.

Great experience that won’t be soon forgotten.