WizIQ: Didn't feel like a wiz at times

This week I spent a great deal of time familiarizing myself with Moodle, wiziq, and using the DF. I also set up this blog, a wiki and a personal web page. I like how user friendly the tools are that I chose. There is step by step guidance to create each of these applications. There was a great deal of exploration going on. It was also helpful to reflect on my level of technology and even though I was confused a lot this week the survey helped reassure me I know something about using a computer and the Internet. I was pleased to learn how to turn a Word document into a PDF. This is a helpful skill to create professional looking documents and a reliable means to share important documents.

Our group met and struggled at first with wiziq, became frustrated, but then got the hang of it. It was exciting to all have microphones and webcams. It is amazing how technology brought us together in such a real way, despite all being in different towns. We learned the hard way that everyone can't have their mics on at the same time, because there is HORRIBLE feedback if some of us don't mute them. It was helpful to have classmates share the process of becoming familiar with the expectations of the class and having people to answer questions. We certainly found strength in numbers. If someone didn't understand something, someone else was there to guide them.

LoTi has good goals as it helps prepare for the 21st century, but certainly requires a shift in the operation of the current classroom. LoTi helps shift from how many current classrooms operate to creating student centered learning environments that promote higher level thinking skills. This is ultimately trying to make learning more meaningful. In order to prepare ourselves for this shift teachers have to be open to the idea of relinquishing control as they become more of a guide on the side.