Hello World!

So, here it is, my first ever blog post!  While I'm excited to be entering the digital world of blogging, I also have concerns.  Will my entries be worth reading?  Will I look back and say, "what was I thinking?"?  Will I be able to maintain my activity beyond the tech class in which I started?  Yet, even with all of these concerns, I have realized that technology is an integral part of 21st century learning and therefore, it's time that I take the plunge and use this opportunity to learn as much as I can about all of the digital resources at my disposal. 

As a Facebook veteran and a cell phone 'texter', I am familiar with some forms of social media.  Also, throughout my education I have gained experience using PowerPoint for my many presentations.  Still, after my first semester in the Brock Teacher's Education program and just one day in my Teaching and Learning with Technology class, I have learned how many more tools are at my disposal.  Twitter, Sliderocket, Blogger - Oh my!  More importantly, I have learned how important it is that we, as educators, teach students how to use these technologies appropriately.  We cannot simply sit back and expect them to know how to use these tools properly; rather, we must take the time to explicitly instruct our students how to use technology safely, morally, and for their education.

I look forward to further expanding my knowledge of technology usage, both within and outside the classroom, as I continue my journey towards becoming a teacher.  Gaining an understanding of how best to employ these tools in the classroom and how to handle dilemmas, such as an administration that is opposed to the use of certain technologies or parent concerns, are definitely top priorities.