Reflection on this Journey

Well, the time is nearing where me and my fellow techies will say goodbye to IT 486. This journey is coming to a chose. But really, all cheesiness aside, I have truly learned a lot in this course. My eyes have been opened to everything Google has to offer, I know how to make an iMovie, and I know to make a website. I am seriously grateful because I was a little nervous about getting ready to teach without being prepared to incorporate some technology. Anyways, it's been a lot of fun! Thanks to you and your patience, Jeff! I know none of us would have made it without that!

....it's just the beginning.....:)

Laura

My First iMovie!!

I present to you my first iMovie! When I was trying to decide what my movie should be about, I realized that the most bright and colorful pictures I have are of my friends and I. So here is a video of my me and my girlfriends! They go all through my college years, up to my best friend Margaret's wedding! I hope you enjoy it!

My Favorite YouTube Video of All Time

GoogleDocs Presentation

This my google presentation of our photo scavenger hunt! I was absent that day of class, but Holly sent me the pictures and I was able to create this slideshow. It's kinda like PowerPoint, but much easier. It was really fun to make, and I really think it's neat that I can post it right here. Enjoy:)

Picasa Slideshow

So today in class we are working with pictures! Here's a slideshow of some random pictures in a picasa album. Enjoy!

Our Relationship with Technology

We have many important relationships in our lives. Our friends, our spouses, even our favorite furry friends. But nowadays most of have someone new in our lives that we spend hours of time with every day : our technology.

This morning I woke up, made coffee and retrieved my favorite french vanilla creamer. I concocted my liquid energy and grabbed my roommate's laptop (my old mac is tempermental). I checked my email and bank account. I facebooked. I twittered...then I showered. I remembered that I didn't remember the location of the restaurant where I had planned on meeting a friend of mine. I sent her a text message to ask where. She sent me one with the location back in one minute. I left the house. I called my mom on my cell on the way there. Had breakfast with my friend. I left. I called my sister. I got to school. I walked into my IT class. Checked my email again....and I know I will check it again and again today...............and I will probably send 30 more text messages.....

We are a people obsessed. This luxury of fast-paced communication has become something I cannot imagine my life to be without. Technology is a huge part of my day. I probably spend most of my time with, not a person, but my computer and cell phone. You could see that I feel naked without my cell phone with me at all times. But are we in danger of being too dependent? Have we become the needy clinger in our relationship with technology? Or is all of this improving our lives? Are we really better off like this?

....just some thoughts.

...until next time

Keeping up with the Technological Jones'

I think something that often comes with technology is the fact that it is getting more and more advanced every day. And with that truth, I am always left feeling like I still have so much to learn. And I do. I'm just going to vent for a little bit: As soon as I learn something new about technology, the next big thing comes right on out. For example, I thought my blog looked pretty good. I used bright colors, I cropped my picture to be the proper size for my profile, and completed my awesome blog with a list of my favorite things on the sidebar (i discovered this on the 'add a gadget' option) Then Jeff shows a really cool looking blog with pictures and videos...and I'm behind again! There's always this pressure to keep with the Jones' of technology. There is always some other, bigger, better thing I can add or learn on this dang computer! I mean, I'm finally on Twitter....some of my friends have been on it for a year. I am often left feeling like a late bloomer every time I finally get the hang of some new technological milestone. How on earth will I catch up?

However, it is a learning process, right?

We keep learning in our education classes that there will be all different types of learners in our classrooms. Students will learn at all different paces and in different ways. So, I must accept my personal speed of learning everything technology.

I shall put on my tech blinders and let myself learn at my own pace. 

until next time...

 

Day 1

...and so the journey has begun.

My name is Laura Rannells and I want to teach. As I seek to complete my education degree, I am taking many interesting courses that assumably create a well-rounded and prepared educator. Only 3 classes stand in my way: which brings me to Information Technology 486.

When it comes to technology, you could say I that I am moderately-equipped. I grew up using computers. I learned to type using AOL Instant Messenger. I love emailing and use it daily. Facebook and twitter is so fun and editing my profile is a fun activity for me. I like technology. However, there are many doors I haven't opened when it comes to information technology....

So here is the blog. Here I will share all the great new things I will learn in this class. I'm pretty pumped.

until next time...