This happens to be my last blog. I can honestly say that this class was by far and away my biggest challenge in these last 4 weeks. I have never felt so out of my element and so unsure of what to do. I have to say without my classmates I would have not passed this class. It has been an interesting and frustrating ride this term I remember the first few days how everyone seemed so foreign. How everyone seemed to be people I would never get to know. How wrong I would be. Although I “know” very few of my classmates, I feel as though they know how I feel about this program because they are going through it as well. This “trial by fire” has been eye-opening. Working with the instructors as well as my classmates, I have learned what it is like to have to concede on certain things in order to get a project done. Sometimes having to assert myself in order to get my point across and never being afraid to voice my opinion.
I don’t know where the next chapter takes us in this year-long job interview. I’m certain many of us will find this to be the most exciting part of this journey. We get a taste of what it is like to truly make a difference in the lives of young people. I know I’m looking forward to student teaching and the next step to being a teacher. I hope to see some of you, in the upcoming fall term. Have fun!

I was noticing the other day while using my computer that it was not running quite as quickly as it used to. When I talked to my wife she had mentioned that maybe there was too much information on the hard drive and that’s why it was taking so long for the software to load up. After pondering this idea for a few moments (that’s married speak for we argued like cats and dogs) I sat at the computer terminal and began to ponder what programs to delete from the computers memory to create a faster work environment. This was not an easy task. Which to delete? I have to be honest, I felt a little like God! I was becoming the “yes or no” guy. Feeling very powerful, I perused the files. Having the ability to pick and choose the programs I wished to delete was actually fun!! I was able to see what files had been opened recently and which files and not been opened in quite some time. As I was strolling through the control panel I noticed the encyclopedia program. Not only had it NEVER been opened, it was a HUGE file. To delete or not to delete? Before one deletes a program one must think about whether or not they are ever going to use that program? I thought long and hard about this…. Don’t we just use google? Wow!!! We as a society don’t even need encyclopedias anymore. The internet has rendered them obsolete! Thousands and thousands of door – to – door salesmen will be out of work. The horror!! Over that!! Time to move on to the next world to conquer!!

I find myself needing to rant but I have been told” it’s not a good thing”. So I will go into the reasons why educational technologies are necessary. The short of it is, YES! They are necessary! They do serve a purpose! I could share with you what I really think of technology, but that might take awhile. So I will digress!! The needs for technology are many and different for every need you can think of. As someone who is going to be an educator, the needs for a technology based curriculum is not as needed in a health/pe setting, as in a social science type of classroom. I believe the need for the computer in every classroom is a need that is true and definitely warranted. I can see the need for students to compile research and do projects outside the class. I also see how much more easily I could have finished my undergraduate education if I were more computer literate. This to me is the true reason for the need for greater technology in the classroom. This is for the generation of students who will need this skill to be successful in the working world. My generation is also benefiting from this technological advancement. The ability I will have to better my classroom is limitless. For this reason, I am trying to better understand the capabilities of the technology I have to use in order to stay ahead of the curve so my future students can be successful.