Digital Technology - Final Reflection

My journey through digital technology has definitely been eye-opening. My previous experience with technology use was very limited. I was nervous about delving into different webapps and tools and felt uncomfortable at first with trying new things. There was this constant fear of not understanding how to use the app or tool. Once I got started, I realized there was nothing to fear. As a future librarian, it is our responsibility to stay up to date with new technology and have a clear understanding of how to use it as well as what it could be best used for, so that we can share it with others.

I have gained a better understanding of the importance of technology in education, especially when it comes to helping students to become life-long learners in the 21^st century. There are so many ways to incorporate technology across the curriculum and I am looking forward to sharing what I have learned with my colleagues as well as using these apps and tools in the library.

Some of the technology tools that I explored included social media apps, screencasts, YouTube videos, creating comics and QR codes, as well as creating a book trailer. I was most fearful of the YouTube video. I had no idea what I was doing when I began. I also wasn’t sure on how it could be used in education. As learning how to create and upload YouTube videos, my worries were gone, and I had a better understanding of its use in education. Students can create their own YouTube videos based on a topic they have been working on. It’s a way for them to be creative and demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the topic.

Also, creating a book trailer made me nervous. I had never done it before and didn’t know what to expect. I used Animoto to create a book trailer for Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Once I got started, it was one of the easiest programs to navigate and I found it a lot of fun. I also really enjoyed using Easel.ly and creating infographics. I can see myself using infographics as a librarian to create posters that address the rules, expectations, and procedures of the library. I can also see students being creative and using it to demonstrate their understanding of a lesson or topic covered. One of the great things about infographics as well as any of the other tools I used is that they can be incorporated into any lesson for any subject.

A new discovery for me was how easy creating QR Codes were. I had thought about how fun it would be to have QR Codes put up around a classroom then have students go on a scavenger hunt to find the information to complete a graphic organizer. Students love being on their phones and this would be a good educational way for them to use them. As a librarian, I can also create QR Codes that link students to a book trailer, a book review, or additional information about the author or title. Again, QR Codes can also be used across the curriculum and are so simple to create.

As far as one tool being most beneficial for students, I really can’t say. There were too many that I feel can benefit students as well as teachers. They all give students the freedom to be creative and demonstrate their understanding in a fun way. Using any of these tools will put the students in a position to gather information, analyze it, and create something that demonstrates their learning and understanding. It is so much more engaging than paper and pencil and students will remember what they learned a lot more than “sitting and getting.”

I used to avoid technology as much as possible because it felt foreign to me. Outside of using Word, sending emails, and creating PowerPoints, my knowledge of technology use in education was limited. I am proud of myself for facing my fears and taking risks. Technology is not going away. It is only going to grow, and it is important that us, as librarians stay on top of it so that we can help educate others and give students the tools to be creative and become life-long learners. Even though I started off really scared when it came to this course, I have found it to be one of the most enjoyable. I can walk away from it knowing that technology isn’t so scary after all and that you just have to dive in, play around, and see how it can be used in education to benefit the teachers and students the most. I am excited about what the future holds for me as a librarian and can’t wait to discover more tools that I can introduce to others.

Below is a video I created using Animoto that recaps my exploration of Technology in Education. Please take a moment to watch. Thanks!