WOW, How Far I Have Come

     As I have reflected back on what I have learned over the past several weeks, I have done things that I never dreamed I would do.  I began as a digital immigrant who knew enough to get by.  However, this digital immigrant has learned so much more.  I have learned why I am a digital immigrant and what makes a person a digital native.  I have a better understanding of why my own kids can pick up any kind of technology and run with it and I am left sitting in the dust.  Even my two year old granddaughter can get on the computer and "type", she can watch videos and understand how to load her DVD's and start her movies independently, and the shocking part, she picks up cell phones to go through the motions of texting and knows how to get to the pictures that she wants to see.  How amazing!   She is living proof that the knowing and understanding the 21st century skills are going to be important in life and that we as educators have be assigned with extraordinary tasks to be sure these students are instructed accordingly to build a good understanding. In order for us to do this, we need to have a good, strong understanding of 21st century skills. We have to be adaptable to change and we have to be able to take risks.  We have to understand that is okay to fail.  I always felt I could adapt to change, but risk taking was not one of my strong points and failing, that was never okay for me.
 
I have made the realization that I use more technology in my classroom than I ever thought.  I utilize the web, I have used Google maps, I have used Audacity, as well as a document camera, powerpoints, a digital camera and many more technology tools.  This class has introduced me to so many more ways of using technology in my classroom.  I was so excited to make my movie and my digital storytelling piece and will use them again!