THE END. FINAL. Am I smiling?

I think I'm about done, but I will need our fearless leader to check all my work! About this course. . .

What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?

• My favorite thing was the fish gadget. I want to put it on my computer for my screen saver or desktop or wall art.
• I already knew that I work better with a partner. I'm glad I have a friend who loves to do stuff on the computer! I needed her to talk me through a few things. Then, like the good teacher she is, I had to go back and do it myself. That worked about 90% of the time.
• Setting up the blog was interesting. Now I'm signed up for the blog thing from the district (March 24) so I can figure out how to do one on my web page so kids can discuss the books. At least I know a little more about it now.

How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?

• There are some kinds of things I don't want to learn first hand. I've read and seen TV show about all the evil on the Internet. I know that kids can get into things without meaning to. There were things I didn't want to see or know that I got to see. I saw things by clicking NEXT BLOG that broke my heart. So how has this affected my lifelong learning goals? I want to preach Internet safety to everyone, all the time. I DO want to keep apprised of the up & coming things out there, but I'd rather be shown those that are appropriate for elementary than explore all the world out there. It scares me!

Were there any take-aways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?

• I've never blogged before. I don't 'journal' except for an occasional prayer journal. I hate to write. Always have. So, I'm taking away the verification that writing on the Internet--blogging-- is just as awful for me as writing on paper! I guess I'm not surprised, but I really don't want to read anyone else's blog either. When I do a google search about son's movie, there are all these blog entries. It's not that I don't want to hear what the "common man" is saying, but I guess I really don't. Am I an awful person???


• I'm surprised that so many people have nothing better to do that to blog about the mundane things of life. I feel sorry that they don't have more contact with living breathing people. BUT, it is a great tool for long distance communication! Wish is was available for UNT group projects

What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?

• I will guess I agree with Debe that more feedback would be welcomed. I know Kiera reads our stuff (she has to) and on one hand, I'm glad no ones else reads mine (except Debe), but it would be nice if 1 or 2 others commented on the blogs. I've tried to go in a couple of times a week and comment on somebody's blog - even when Kiera didn't tell us to. It was helpful when we'd get a message in the email (which we see all day long) that someone was having a problem with something. It's nice to know others needed extra help! And when then those who COULD do it chimed in, I knew who to contact to get help.


• The format is fine. I did online masters from UNT, so this concept is not new to me. And I had to PAY for the UNT one. And will be paying right up into the grave. I'm glad we had lots of time to do it and not a 2-3 week course.

And last but not least… If we offered another discovery program like this in the future, would you again chose to participate?

I probably will. Bribes always help. Will I enjoy it? I don't know. I've taken the FLIP VIDEO class 2.5 times and still aren't any good at it. I think I'm becoming technically challenged. Yes, I need to challenge to keep my old brain going.