Thing 23: The End of One Journey...The Beginning of a New Chapter

Hello one and all.

I have been bothered since my last post that I was unable to remember how to directly link my new wiki the other night. I was thinking that I have failed this class with something so simple.
So I am trying to correct my mistake to get you to my wiki in Web 2.0 style:

http://tslimonthlynotes.wikispaces.com/

I was making the process to complicated. I will be able to sleep better tonight........

I was BLOWN AWAY by the video in this Thing. I watched it twice, pausing to take notes for future reflection and Web exploration trips. There was so much Web content in that video. It shows me that this course has given me a peak and some initial experience in the world of Web 2.0. But there is so much more to be done and explored in utilizing the Web personally and professionally for enrichment and interactions with others.

Prior to this course my use of the Internet was strictly for information gathering and email. I am now a converted believer of the potential that exists to enhance relationships and educational experiences for my myself, colleagues, and my students with Web 2.0. I now have the tools to introduce and teach others how to access and create a varied range of Internet resources. Whether it is blogs, RSS, or links of digital media, social bookmarking, etc, I now have the ability to use and lead others down the Web 2.0 path.

Detroit Public Schools has been making strides to incorporate technology and the infrastructures to support them into its' buildings. It will now be my responsibility to investigate and see how I can bridge my learning into my daily practices. As with all, change is difficult, but as this course has shown me, change can be rewarding. I have invested much time completing and growing in this class. Initially I thought this class would take 1 to 1 1/2 hours per Thing, but I invested considerably more time and effort to be successful in each Thing. I may have less sleep because of this course, but I am excited about what I have learned.

Thanks Carol and Jacki. This was a great experience. I have not taken an on-line class before and had some reservations. I was afraid that I would be unmotivated and find on-line education to be a sub par method of learning compared to a classroom setting. How wrong I was. On-line resources offer everything---text, articles, video, pictures, support, etc. I was also surprised to find that I felt connect with my classmates and facilitators while completing the Things. What do you know, another enlightening part of this experience.

Thanks again and I look forward to crossing paths with everyone in the future. Gregory Jacoby