Reflections on Our Class

With everything finally reaching an end, now is the time for a more thoughtful reflection.  I can't believe everything I have learned since September.  When Darryl asked us if we knew what a web 2.0 tool was, I might as well have been floating around in a Google cloud.  I was a Google Doc waiting to happen, or a Prezi emerging from one project and zooming onto the next.  It is amazing how much there was to digest in two short classes.  Although I have often felt perpetually two steps behind the pace, I made it to the finish line.  I am glad that I will have the summer to sit back, experiment and try on all these tools we have been introduced to for the past six months.  I am grateful for the opportunity to have taken these courses, and feel that the knowledge I have gained will serve me well in my professional development.  And blogging....who would have guessed that I would love it!  I am not sure if others benefited from my blog (I realize that at times I whine!), but writing for me is a catharsis that frees me from stress and cleanses my spirit--a form of meditation.  I have decided to keep blogging, but I am not sure if I will blog for myself or with my students.  Maybe I will endeavor to keep up with both!  On the last day of school, a substitute teacher, Jen, came to tell us she accepted a position teaching English in Thailand.  What a great opportunity for her, but also for the Compass Program as well, because she will be blogging about it for the next year.  Without this class, perhaps I would not have been as excited about her blog.  Truthfully, I would not have really understood what a blog even was.  My blogging experience was limited to a minute exposure in the movie Julie and Julia watching her post her blogs.  But all that has changed,  and I hope I will continue to soak in all the information my brain will allow me to absorb.  Have a great summer, see you in the fall.

Last Day of Class

It is here, the last day of class.  How did it go so fast?  I had a great weekend with a party at my house for my supervisor at Compass, who is retiring this year.  I look back at the last 14 years and think, how did it go so fast?  Time is so intangible.  The same amount of time can appear fleeting to one and at a snail's pace to another.  Whatever the perspective, we did it; we reached the end of another journey together.  Life is full of journeys; some small and some much grander.  This journey we have taken together  falls somewhat on the grander side.  I just went online and there are eight people working today finishing their projects and getting ready for the end of the class.  Four more days and we will be finishing grades and getting ready for the end of school.  Then aahhhhhh!  A bit of repose for the weary.  Some of us have work this summer, but I hope that we will all be able to rest, relax and enjoy the summer.  Here is a Youtube video to start the relaxation.  I love to meditate; it helps me focus when I start to get out of control and feel pulled in a million directions.  I don't do it often enough, but it really does bring you to a better place.  I want to thank everyone for all they have shown me and helped me with this year.  It has been  a wonderful experience and I am glad to have shared it with all of you.  Until September!

Heading Toward the Finish Line!

We are almost there.  I really enjoyed all the presentations, and not just the ones this week.  I have gotten so many ideas that I will be working on this summer.  I liked Podomatic, Mindomo, Blabberize, Cacoo, Tagxedo, Zunal and Devolver to name a few.  Soon I will have some time to think about how I can use them in class.  Summer is always rejuevenating and allows me the time to put together ideas at a pace that is more conducive to creativity.  I really enjoy being creative and when I am stressed, I cannot be as creative as I would like to be.  I also really enjoyed seeing everyone's projects.  It is always helpful to see how other people are using tools.  I just found another mapping tool I am trying out called diagram.ly.  Mapping tools are always hard, because they don't create exactly how you want them to create.  I think that maybe I will use them all and each one may be able to fit the project I have in mind.  I was trying them out for my PLN.    One more week to go and it sounds like a fun week.  I guess the last week of school has to be good, even if it is hectic!

A whirlwind at the end of the year!

Typically, the end of the year is always has a hustle bustle kind of feel.  This year is undescribable.  I have had my mother have open heart surgery, my son have a baby, my son get married and I have decided to take these graduate courses all at the same time.  I knew that it might be very difficult for me, but I decided that this was the first masters program that really interested me.  The program turned out to be something that has certainly interested me as well as being extremely useful to my work.  I love the classes and the people.  I love the projects and everything new I am being exposed to in class.  After the first class, I knew that I had to make a decision whether or not to continue with the program.  I was overwhelmed, and I know that it is my own choices that overwhelm me.  I have three jobs and a family that I am very involved with to occupy my time.  But nonetheless, I have to weigh out the benefits over the disadvantages.  The biggest advantage is that I really enjoy the classes and do find them useful.  The biggest disadvantage is that I feel like I am not putting full effort into anything I am doing.  I was very disappointed this weekend because I have not taken care of my garden and the lettuce has already gone to seed and is too bitter to eat.  It seems like there is some kind of metaphor in there somewhere.  I was thinking about our multi-tasking conversation and it really can apply here as well.  How much is too much and how much is detrimental to everything.  Oh well, I guess I use this blog as a sounding board for my inner thoughts--a kind of diary to help me unravel what I am really thinking.  Not sure if that was its actual purpose, but class is starting soon, and I will have to sign off.  I really enjoy the presentations, and am sure I will find some more useful tools tonight.  I really loved the Zunal webquest that Vicky presented.  It was easy and you end up with a nice product.  I created one on The Dust Bowl.  I just keep thinking, if I don't come back, what will I be missing?  And there is the probable answer to my dilemma.