Final Reflection

Valuable things I learned This blog post comes from my iPad. For some reason, I am not able to enter text into the "compose" tab of the new post window. But, I am able to type into the "edit HTML" tab. I wanted to make the first few words be italicized, and because of what I learned in this class, I know how to make the words "valuable things I learned" italicized using HTML rather than having Blogger do it automatically for me.

Another important thing I learned is how easy it can be to steal my information and that I should be careful use secure websites and up-to-date Internet browsers to keep my information secure. I hadn't thought about updating my browser, but it is pretty important. A few weeks ago, I had my browser open for a few days because I was working on a website that I couldn't leave. (No, I was not downloading the entire Disney movie library, or anything else, for that matter.) After about a day, Chrome told me that it had some security updates to install on my browser and that Chrome had to close it in order to effect those updates. I knew that I was at risk in this cat and mouse game between Chrome and hackers, and that I needed to be on Chrome's side in order to stay safe. So I hurried and finished what I was working on and closed the browser to that the updates would protect me.

Some Useful Technologies As I speak more and more with educators, I hear from them that the effeective use of technology is the single most dynamic and important skill to have as a teacher. People in general, especially young people, are drawn to technology and as I use it in the classroom, I will be able to connect with my students that much easier and keep them more engaged. Besides the aura of being tech-savvy, technology adds a dimension of learning and realization of new concepts that were not otherwise available.

For example, have you ever looked at the Glen Canyon or the Aswan Dam using Google Earth? Zoom in really far and you can see how big the dam is compared to the cars driving on top of it. But zoom out further and further, and compare the size of the dam with the reservoir that it is holding back. Before long, the dam all but disappears and you only see a mass of blue. That tiny piece of concrete is plugging up a river, making a huge, man-made ocean! That kind of scale and perspective would not be available without technology.