Back in the Classroom Again!

It felt strange, yet I was very excited about interacting with my fellow classmates in this face-to-face setting. Meeting some of them Sunday night was strange after only being able to interact with them online. Yet it felt as if I knew them after sharing information online.

Having to spend an entire day in class was a bit overwhelming. The day was frustrating as I was unable to get a wireless connection established on my laptop and getting comfortable using an Apple computer took a bit of time. There was a great deal of information that we had to take in and understand in a short period of time. Having no prior knowledge of some of the tools and their uses caused me to realize that there is so much that I don't know and now I have an opportunity to learn technology that will be beneficial to me as a I continue my education and work.

It was exciting learning and being provided information on Twitter/TweetDeck, Diigo, Jing, and, iGoogle, and Google Docs. We were required to download these sites and work within groups using some of them. With the group assignment we had to complete today, having to carry on a conversation within a group using only the key board proved to be a challenge. You automatically want to take about what you are thinking and doing with the other members of the group--was truly about online collaboration.

The lecture by Vicki Davis, author of the CoolCatTeacher blog, provided great insight into the uses of PLNs and caused an AhHa moment for me. All the tools we discussed today (Monday, June 14) will allow me to build PLNs in my personal life and/or in the higher education/corporate setting.

I am looking forward to the remainder of the week.