4_Lessons+Learned

Lessons Learned are like Bridges Burned You only need to cross them but once... // (Lyrics by Dan Fogelberg) // || The Information Inquiry (Media Literacy) for Teachers course has been invaluable to me, both personally and professionally. Prior to this course I had considered myself relatively computer savvy and literate, staying up with the general population in the area of technology.
 * [[image:http://www.uscg.mil/history/img/lessons_learned_small.jpg width="334" height="428"]]

After having completed this course I feel like I am just at the tip of the iceberg. Computer, internet and digital technology is ever changing and at a far more fluid pace than I realized, and I’m on the computer every day! This course reminded me that the educational paradigm has shifted from teaching to learning, which I think is a good thing; students need to be responsible for their own learning, as do teachers!

The Information Age has and will continue to have a profound effect on how education happens. Control is shifting from the providers of information to its consumers. The explosion in technology and information systems has changed the face of “formal education” permanently. It is no longer either possible or necessary to store all available information within the human brain. This in not to suggest we stop using our brains, we just don’t have to try to store all of the information we might need for a lifetime in it anymore!

Bottom line is that the field of Education MUST adjust accordingly. Education now needs to be geared towards the //management// of data rather than the //amassing// of data. Students need to be taught how to //process// information. The 5 Frameworks for Analyzing and Evaluating Media was a great tool that I will use with students in the future. Students need to have the tools and skills to make good decisions for themselves on the media messages they see and in todays world, sadly, they are confronted with just about every conceivable content one can imagine.

From a practical standpoint learning to build and create Wikispaces for Educational purposes has and will be very useful to me in my professional practice. Students need access to skills and knowledge when and where they want it, as educators we need to be able to provide that medium. I’m not suggesting we abandon academic excellence and effective instructional strategies in favor of Internet / online learning – only that media literacy be incorporated into the teaching of all subjects.  ||   ||
 * Other than our Creator, the only constant in life is CHANGE. || ||  ||

NOTES TO SELF: >hurry = < speed. The more hurry the less speed. Lost several pages not doing the "RENAME" function correctly. :-(

[] - Awesome site

For Video Widget - embedded html vs. url.... seems to be no difference.

Easier to work directly on Wiki page for Text and even some images than to import a Word Doc.

Big AH-HA for me, I was use to using Web Development Software in the past, (Frontpage, now somewhat outdated of course), but by Wiki space pages didn't want to play the same way, found myself getting frusterated times, only because I'm under the gun on some other projects as well. Overall however, I love the "ease of use" of Wikispaces and think they are ideal for any type of collaborative working space and especially effective as learning/ teachings spaces.

The Internet and How it works Tabs: Search Engine, FTP, HTML, Domain Name, Portal, Email, Emoticons, ISP endless interlocking system of highways and roadways.