I am obviously very technologically challenged! I think that is why maybe I have been putting off taking this class until now. However, I am willing to put in the time to learn new things. I do best if I can have one-on-one support, in order to write down the steps, and once I can learn the basics, I would feel more free to explore and experiment with design, format, and content. I like the idea of having an electronic portfolio, but I need to take lots of time to get there. I am hoping that by doing some of the more familiar work first (the assignments that involve reading, responding, etc.), that I will have a little more time to play with and learn the technology better.

I have had about ten years in a classroom environment, so I love being with the kids and learn something new each year about how to better work with them and try to keep them engaged. So far, I have not been responsible to use much of the technology available in our classroom. I need to learn how to use the Smartboard technology, use a new management tool called RenWeb for all kinds of things, like attendance, lunchcount, grading, creating lesson plans, etc., and accessing various awesome websites to use with the kids. There are also websites that the kids are on in our computer lab, and many of them are so much more knowledgeable about the games than any of the adult "experts" monitoring them! It's such an irony! I learn more by watching and asking them questions!

Anyways, I hope that I won't become frustrated or intimidated by creating the Web Portal or other projects that involve using software to design and create a project. Please hang in there with me.

Terri