This is the end,...

• I did not start this class with a lot of excitement.  I knew I was coming in behind the power curve and with no desire to have my computer permanently attached to my body.  I have struggled, these assignments have taken a lot of time with a lot of trials by error.  I understand I need to learn these applications and it is beginning to make more sense.  These assignments showed how technology could be incorporated into the classroom and how it might even make some of the more menial tasks easier to manage.  
• Favorite discoveries- Bubbl.us was my favorite discovery.  Maybe not such an Ah-Ha moment for most people, but this is something that is used in the classroom I work in almost on a daily basis.  Plus , I like to use this format when planning a unit to make sure there is an activity in every center.
• Affect on,lifelong learning goals-Now that I have tried some of these Things, I will try to use more technology in my future  classroom.  It might be painful in the beginning, but I think it will benefit the children, especially children who are visual learners.
• Surprises- What I was most surprised with was that most of these Things did the same thing.  There were different places to go to to accomplish the same task.  Choice is good and different people have different preferences.
• Influence teaching- This was the first year I noticed students who came in with mouse skills did not have great pencil grip strength.  This was also the first year that more than half of the students came in knowing how to maneuver around the web sites and were able to help each other.  I need to catch up with them and take what they know and build on it.
• Keeping up, how-have to-I feel part of my professional development is keeping up with, understanding and using current technology trends in the classroom.  I may be kicking and screaming all of the way, but I will do it.
• Resolution to maintain, time- not there yet- I am not sure if I am ready to make the time commitment to give to the computer.  I still like reading books, ones with paper pages.  I think my cell phone is about five years old and still do not know how to take pictures with it.  Learning a skill to teach others that will continue to help them learn is something that I will keep up with.
• Record what you learned in blog-it would probably turn into more of a personal complaint- I think if I started a daily blog it would turn into a complaint about my life blog.  I am still not convinced I need to do this.  I am still not on Facebook either.
• Re purpose, share, add to email signature line-blog-not there yet-I am not ready for this step either.  I am a very private person and being an educational assistant for so long sometimes I feel like I know my place.  Maybe one day.
• End or beginning?  I just started this journey and I am definitely a one thing at a time type of person.