Week One Reflection

I found this week very challenging, having to set up a Wiki and a Blog seemed like an overload. After struggling to navigate through both programs I found myself backtracking and searching for more guidance. To my surprise it was all there on the moodle site, clear instructions to follow, and a step-by-step tutorial. This reminded me that when using technology, it is worth taking your time and going over all the instructions before diving in. It made a big difference, saved me time and ended up not being as complicated as I first thought.
Once again I am amazed at how well you can learn over a computer, how someone from else where and at a different time can set up such a clear guide with voice over and graphics to teach you in your own time and place. The reading on connectivism illustrated to me how by sharing our knowledge through networks such as blogs and wikis we benefit our own learning, as the more input and resources shared the more knowledge we gain. My first thought about participating in the wiki was at how time consuming it may be, but after reading the article I realised that the wiki will actually save me time, as instead of reading all the articles individually, we are able to divide them up within the group and inform one another in our own words what the article was about. Therefore, not only are we just extracting the important parts of each reading, but also gaining a range of perspectives of each topic. Also as Danielle shared with me "The best way of learning is by teaching someone else". I found that by reading the article on connectivism and then going and summarising it in a PMI I myself gained more understanding from what I had read about.
The readings for week one highlighted to me the importance as a future teacher of staying up-to date with ICT's; as the student's we will be teaching have grown up in a digital culture and the way they best learn is influenced by technologies, therefore it is our responsibility to keep in touch with the culture and language of ever advancing technologies.