Learning Framework>Apply>Persist
The field of educational technology is fast-paced and rapidly changing. The past two years has been a time of intense development of knowledge and skills and a building of resources through the MET community of practice. In order to keep current, I need to have a plan in place that allows me to continue to connect, learn and grow even though the course is over. There are two main areas that I will focus on in order to continue this growth: Develop a personal learning network, and contribute back through a blog and my work place.
Personal Learning Network (PLN)
A personal learning network consists of all those I connect with informally in order to learn about a particular topic. I have collected many more educational technology resources over the course of the program than I could ever have time to adequately interact with. Many of these resources are bookmarked in Delicious and Diigo. My goal within the next few months is to narrow these resources down to a few that I will use on a regular basis. I use Pinterest for education, and have begun to use Twitter both as a tool for learning and contributing back. I am exploring Google + and will select a few educational technology blogs to follow. In addition I have joined two nings, CEET and MET in order to interact with others in the field. My goal for this year is to research the concept of Personal Learning Networks and begin to formally create a plan for my own learning and growth.
Contributing Back
Part of the beauty of an online program such as this is the collaboration and peer teaching that goes on. Through the program I have become aware of many new kinds of technology and tools, often incidentally to the actual courses and assignments. My original intention was to showcase and review these tools in a blog as I took the course, but in the end I only managed to work on a few entries. I have set up a new space that I plan to use to review various Web 2.0 tools, some of which I have used already, and others which I will learn to use in order to keep up with what is new and available. This will require discipline on my part, as well as the application of what I have learned during the program in terms of pedagogy. This blog will be part of my professional development plan in the area of educational technology moving forward. It is my hope that teachers at my school and other members of the public will find this space useful in their own practice.
References, Links, and Key Resources
Myer, S. (2013). ETEC580: In search of a PLN. [Weblog]. Retrieved from http://blogs.ubc.ca/smyersetec580/
Penner, J. (2013). The sandbox: Playing with educational technology. [Weblog]. Retrieved from http://playingwitheducationaltechnology.blogspot.ca
Personal learning network. Retrieved August 4, 2013 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_learning_network
Myer, S. (2013). ETEC580: In search of a PLN. [Weblog]. Retrieved from http://blogs.ubc.ca/smyersetec580/
Penner, J. (2013). The sandbox: Playing with educational technology. [Weblog]. Retrieved from http://playingwitheducationaltechnology.blogspot.ca
Personal learning network. Retrieved August 4, 2013 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_learning_network