After my discussion with Darren Kuropatwa last week about improving my technology knowledge and awareness, he gave me a piece of advice that keeps reiterating in my head. I asked him how he got started in this evolving technology world, and he mentioned he began to blog. I feel technology could open doors to educators with new ways of teaching, job opportunities, and advancing careers. For me, if I embrace blogging, it will lead to new relationships that interest me. I love teaching and I want to provide my students opportunities that will help them succeed. Technology is the key!
Since Darren stated that it was his blog that opened doors for him, I thought I would asses how my technology educational blog is since there was a rubric to assess. Before this class, I did not have a blog. In fact, I had to ask Allie to help me set up a blog. Allie was excited to add a description and write up once we had our blogs established. I, on the other hand, just wanted to get it over with. I didn’t imagine that I would continue the blog after this course if It wasn’t required. I knew why I was feeling uncomfortable with blogging and I didn’t want to expose myself. But if I want to succeed in life I have to face my weakness and practice. That is what I tell my students all the time and why am I not following my on advice? I think my first issue with blogging is that I am uncomfortable putting my thoughts together in words. I can hold a conversation with anyone. But when I sit down to type or write I struggle with putting my thoughts together. Writing and spelling are my weakest subjects and I try to avoid them at most cost. By continuing to blog I am confronting my weakness head on.
With that being said, I decided to evaluate my blog for this course as a self-evaluation. Please review the rubric marks of my blog. According to the rubric, my scores are on the low side. I commented on each scoring area. One way to improve the overall use of the blog would be for me to promote it more via my school website, my family and friends, and emails. I remember my sister asking me for my blog url and I wouldn’t share it with her because I was too embarrassed. So my sister being my sister contacted Allie was able to see what I was writing. Why I wouldn’t share it at first I don’t know. Since then she continues to follow the blog so I know I have an audience of at least two, besides Steve Dembo! If I want to be taken serious and supported in the field of technology, I need to promote and advertise my blog. My reflections need to appeal to my audience more so they want to leave comments on what they read. I will continue to work on this. I look forward to having my first comment that is not anyone from this class or my sister!
The rubric reflects areas I can improve upon, but not necessary representative of my learning. I think that could be true with any rubric. Rubrics help guide us to be enhance the quality of the product. We are always learning new ways to improve yourselves and our work. One way a rubric could be supplemented with a one-on-on conversation demonstrating what you did and how you went about it. Maybe tying in Voicethreadas a narrative response that others could comment to the piece to reflect your true learning experience. What I do for my students and what this course did to help modified with showing both good and bad examples of a project. Sometimes its helpful to see what is expected, but that can also hinder creativity. I am not sure which is the best. Another way a rubric could be modified would to have a checklist for students to make sure every piece was included.
After scoring my own work, I know what I need to improve upon. To make sure that I am doing that consistently, I should reevaluate myself monthly to make sure I am following through with expectations. I look forward to blogging in the future and hope my visitors can see an improvement in my writing and my use of technology. Thank you again for this opportunity.
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