Week 7 Exit Slip

Today I learned how difficult it truly is to present on technology that I am not an expert on. However, I found that presenting was a wonderful way for me to discover new technologies that I would want to use in my classroom. I learned what went well in our presentation and things we should work on, such as a conclusion. I also learned that a simulation is an umbrella term that includes microworlds, games, and virtual worlds. I wish the book had explained these terms in this manner because it makes so much more sense. Lauren and I were a little confused as to the difference between the four because they appeared to overlap as far as definitions and uses. Additionally, I learned about the benefits (keeping in touch) and disadvantages (character limit) of Twitter. I am actually not not a Twitter user though because I feel that Facebook serves the same general purpose, and is even broader. I also learned that Twitter can be used in the classroom and I never would have considered that. Wordle is another cool tool to use to make word clusters, poems, short stories, etc. and also print it out to put on T-shirts or business cards. Symbaloo is an awesome tool to customize your homepage! I also learned about some important issues in technology, such as online schooling, internet safety, and gaming. Overall, I am now realizing that almost any technology can be used for education, yet can also cause issues. Technology is constantly changing, so educators must continue to research and learn new technology.