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| GIF source: Giphy |
It turns out, I did not include a GIF on my first blog for this class (oops). However, if I had, it would have been this one above which reflects how I (duckling) feel about technology (spider). Re-reading my first blog, I can hardly recognize myself as the author. I wrote, rather defensively in retrospect, that I am an ardent supporter of hard copy, tangible books and their transformative power for children in school libraries. That hasn't changed-I love books and I love introducing them to kids. There is something about story times with a picture book, seated cross legged with the children, turning the pages, maybe a puppet in hand, something that I feel reaches them in a different way than turning on a YouTube video of the author or others reading the story on the screen.
I like to work with felt boards to animate stories. But now I recognize, this is a tool, no different than other types of technologies. Sure it may be low-tech, but it is still just a tool. After these weeks in Library and Information Studies (LIS) 724/Education 776, I understand better that integrating technologies into the classroom and library is simply choosing from tools that can help students learn, and help me teach, better.
And of all places where technology needs to be in a school setting, the library has to be front and center. After all, the teacher librarian's mission is to reach all the students in all the grade levels, and to help improve their literacy however that may be accomplished. This may be through readers' advisory, in which we recommend the perfect book for a reluctant or voracious reader. After our lesson on Trends in Educational Technology, I can now use TeachingBooks.net to guide these students and to help me locate diverse titles. The lesson on Technology for Accessibility opened my eyes to the idea of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and the ways to help students with dyslexia including do's and don't. I am a big fan of Active Learning and found many ideas from the slide show we put together including the Gallery Walk and Human Scavenger Hunt activities.
Probably the technology I was most wary, and least knowledgeable about, was Artificial Intelligence. After this week's module, and taking Khanmigo for a test drive, I not only feel more comfortable with AI, I also am looking forward to exploring AI technologies in the library with my students. I see it as something that can enhance learning and teaching, and not as a threat or an impossibly complex enigma.
I think the one educational technology area where I remain conflicted is putting myself out there, creating a broader and stronger Personal Learning Network, and a sharper and clearer Digital Tattoo. This is something I need to reconcile in today's digital world. I need to discover how to do this while maintaining a degree of privacy that I'm comfortable with.
My professional web presence is flawed, but a huge leap forward from the one I created when I first joined the graduate program. I will turn it in knowing that I want to tinker around with it, refining and making it more attractive and professional, after this class is over.
So what GIF should I use to replace the scared duckling & scary spider GIF above?
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| GIF source: Giphy |
Relaxed. Swimming in technology's deep end. Educational technology tools are my friends (or at the very least, intriguing acquaintances).
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