Final Reflection

I thought that I was pretty adequate in the digitial realm before coming to the class... and as I delved into this class I realized that I knew very little about what it means to be digitally literate. I used the internet to read the news, check e-mails and keep up with friends on facebook. I never used any othe applications that were presented in class.
I was actually very nervous about making a wikipage, twittering (tweeting?), using jing, making a prezi, creating a digital photostory and editing my final project was the most nerve-wracking. I realized because this class was pushing me out of my comfort zone... adults don't like things that they are not used to it. I was defensive, but I knew that I had to do these assignments to receive credit for the class... if I failed I would be out $1000. So instead of running away from it, I had to embrace it, and I feel more competant because of it.
I felt very confused and lost as I first started tinkering with the applications. I even cursed out my computer a few times when the applications were not cooperating with me. But then I fell into the algorhythm of the internet, and the applications became easier to use the more I used it. I had to teach myself to be patient so that I can learn how to be proficient. The one thing that I can say is a saving grace is that there is a "how to" forum on anything that I have a question about and offered solutions to my dilemmas.
I did use facebook as a teaching tool, but I'd like to incorporate prezi and blogs to my teaching tools as well. I really enjoyed making the prezi and I think that my students can benefit from it as well because of how interactive it is, and one can be really creative with it. I feel as if blogs for the class would be great too, because it would have the quiet students who don't like talking to be active contributors, and also for my students who have low attendance, they can still receive credit for participation.
I feel most appreciative about the final project... I always had wanted to do some type of informative piece and voice the issues I have with the nyc education dept. But I always found some excuse to not do it, or I didn't make it much of a priority in comparison to other endeavors I had. With this assignment I couldn't avoid the fact that this was my chance to finall make that video. Now that I am familiar with my video editor I feel as if I can continue to create and inform people about issues that I find important.
The assignments coupled with the class readings most definitely challenged my skills in creating on the web but also my understanding of the web is. I thought most everyday people just consumed the internet and was losing touch with reality. But I was wrong, a lot of people are using not only to consume the internet, but also to create and share information and ideas with eachother on a much larger scale than we can in reality now. Information is only a click away... And the internet is a vast horizon on possibilities for people being acknowledged for their creations.
Leaving this class I can say that I've tried new things, created new things, and learned how to create in the digital realm, and I can take what I have created and learned and apply it to my teaching methods and my political intentions :)