Final Post

Final Post

Before stating my reflection on the experience I had in this class, I want to state the reason that motivated me to study Instructional Technology. Below is a graph provided by the following link  http://www.conferenceboard.ca/hcp/hot-topics/worldinequality.aspx

The graph compares the average income gap between developed and least developed countries. Notice that the gap started increasing drastically after 1983 (with the advancement in computer technology). If you extrapolate, you will notice that the gap is increasing over time. The sudden increase in the inequality in average income  is clearer on the second graph from the same link.

Whenever I see the graph, I imagine an arid land with poor communities and large space ships (like those in Star Wars) hovering over. The people in these communities lack the education and technology that those in the space ships have. I imagine the future of our planet like that in the image I just described. Because the technology is advancing at an exponential rate; there will be a time where those who do not keep up with education and technology will never be able to catch up. Learning Web 2.0 tools (part of technology) is a necessity so I do not fall through the cracks.

Learning instructional technology is essential to provide our students with quality education and to help maintain the status of our country as the top producing country in the world.

The setup of the class helped me gain lots of experience with the web 2.0 tools. By reviewing a tool every week and reflecting on three colleagues reviews, I gained the necessary information and sufficient experience to seek more knowledge about these tools on my own. The collaboration among us the students through commenting on each other’s reviews and the common projects helped us learn from each other.

The mini-research that we reviewed every week was based on the “Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education”. The same apply to the Web 2.0 tools. So, learning the tool was based on a solid knowledge of the principle behind its use.

Upon trying some of the tools, some fell short of my expectations and hopes. I already created a journal for Web 2.0 tools that include my reviews; in my spare time I will review the rest of the tools and keep it as a resource for Web 2.0 tools.

In short my experience during the two classes was rewarding. The least to say is that it matched my reason for learning about instructional technology.