Final Reflection

"Change is a process not an event." (Fullan 1991)... and so it is with the Web 2 experience. I undertook the course not to tick a box or receive another piece of paper, but to find new ways to enrich my teaching and engage the students more effectively in the learning process. However, I was and will always be mindful of the fact that it is the human element which is paramount in the teaching/learning process. Technology is tool, a very valuable tool, but it needs to be kept in that context. As Ian Gamble (The SRI guru) reminds us, "There is no substitute for good teaching."

The whole concept of elearning has broadened the approach to the pedagogy of teaching. Students, more than ever, can learn anything, anywhere, anytime providing they are taught the skills to effectively access this new mode of learning. They should always be cognizant of the fact that the vast majority of information on the internet is subjective and that they need to develop their own inbuilt filters to aid in selecting sites to utilize to use for various tasks. Yes, teachers do matter in ensuring that this learning occurs even though we are now espousing the notion of students being responsible for their own learning.

Web 2 has highlighted for me the benefits of adopting a more collaborative and sharing approach to learning. GoogleDocs and Bubble.us have been a real revelation to me. The sign of a great inservice is to pick new ideas on Monday being able to implement them on Tuesday in the classroom. Such was the case with these tools. Being able to collaboratively plan and construct texts in this manner has produced some of the best student writing I have seen in many a day. Therein lies, I believe, the lesson for us all with elearning, "Hasten slowly." Initially select the tools you feel are most effective, and gain confidence in using them. Don't use them for the sake of 'ticking another box'. To return to my Module 1 gardening analogy, I confess to having a particular passion for using my chainsaw (which can be a tad tricky living in the Blue Mountains!) but it may only be used a couple of times a year when the need arises. Conversely, a weekend would not go by when the shovel doesn't get a run. And so it will be with all these new wonderful tools in my "laptop shed"!

There is little doubt that the Web 2 programs will enrich the learning process and enhance the development of thinking skills as enunciated in Bloom's Digital Taxonomy. Through engaging, evolving and empowering our students, elearning has and continues to forge a new frontier.

Always known for calling a spade a spade (pardon the pun), I believe the Web 2 course will have a very significant impact on my teaching pedagogy whilst still being mindful that it has provided me with fantastic tools but it is not the Messiah!

Again, a heartfelt acknowledgement of the support I was afforded by Matt, Melanie and Roger (ICT Team) in patiently guiding me through the course. The Prophet Job would have been proud of your efforts!!!

Now there is only one task remaining and that is to send Matt Wells my first and last SMS text message to inform him that I have completed the course!!

The more things change.......