Reflection

Digital Self Portrait Reflection

            Creating my Digital Self Portrait (DSP) was one of the most rewarding, yet challenging experiences in my education history.  To see the outline of the course and the course site click here.  I was not technologically savvy when I entered this course; I had never made a video, used Twitter or any educational tools online, or made a blog.  The whole process was very new for me.  While creating my blog, I learned how to integrate information into my blog that I was concurrently learning in class.   For example, Bitstrips was one of my favorite activities we did in class.  I thought it was engaging and a really great way to get kids involved with things they are learning in the classroom (such as digital citizenship).  After I made my Bitstrips comic, I screen-captured the image and posted my comic to my blog.  I think it was a great way to share what I did in class to the outside world. Another engaging part of the course was looking at the resources my classmates liked and blogged about.  Here are the links to two of my classmates' blogs; click here and here to take a visit!

            As well, my Personal Learning Network (PLN) has grown dramatically this semester.  I went from not knowing what a PLN was to being an engaged citizen in the digital world.  My PLN is a learning place where the learner (me) interacts with people all around the world, often in the digital world, about education.  My PLN consists of social media such as Facebook, Pinterest, as well as Web 2.0 tools such as Bitstrips, Noodletools, and Voki.  I love the fact that I have a PLN and I can engage with educators across the globe about different and interesting teaching methods. 

            As I finish this course and look at my blog, I am very proud of my work.  I am walking away with resources that will assist me next year in my professional year, as well for when I am an Ontario Certified Teacher.  This course had taught me about the importance of staying engaged and up-to-date with teaching and educational information and programs.  I hope to be able to incorporate much of what I have learned into my teaching practice.