Ending Thoughts about EDM 310

My job title for the last three years has actually been a "Word Processing Specialist" (even though I do a lot more than that) so I guess you could say that I wasn't too enthused about having to take a class about word processing. I wasn't sure that I would learn anything at all that I didn't already know. Although there were some things that I already knew well, I did learn a lot of technology resources that I hope to use once I become a teacher. Below are those things:

BLOGS:

Although I had dabbled in making a blog in the past, I never thought to use a blog as an educator in a classroom with students. I really like the idea of having a class blog and allowing students to post assignments there. I also really like the idea of having a central place to posts things that I want parents to know. With mostly everyone having a computer with internet access these days, I really think having a place like that will help keep parents involved with their kids in their classroom.

GOOGLE DOCS:

Although I don't believe I'll use Google Docs for every thing that I would need such a program for, I do see advantages in using website that can hold documents that I can have access to over the internet. Some information I can store on Google Docs that I might need to be able to easily pull up on a public computer or even my smartphone that has internet access. One such thing would be a book list that I could pull up on my phone while walking around a bookstore. These could help in not having to rely soley on such things as flash drives for everything.

PODCASTS:

I really like the idea of podcasts. I'm not sure how I'll be able to use them in an early elementary school class. I'm not sure if the equipment that would be needed will be available. But if the resources are available, I really like the idea of a podcast, especially doing them WITH the students.

ALEX:

I didn't knew that ALEX even existed before this class. I really do believe that I will absolutely use this website. A place to find the specific Alabama initiatives and a place to find approved lesson plans really helps take a little bit of the stress of first going into a classroom.

What I would have liked to learn/What I wish I hadn't learned:

I'm not sure of what else I would have liked to learn from this class because I have basic skills and a little more complex skills already. Not that much more complex, but I do feel like what I learned from this class was just good technology programs and concepts to use in my classroom. As for what I would have not liked to learn, the only thing I can think of is Delicious. I see the idea of being able to collect important links, but I don't know that I will ever use that. I know the point it is be able to share link with others, but I just don't see much use for that personally. I can keep my links/bookmarks on my own personal computer.