Personal Case Study

Gail Corbett Dandelske

IT&DML Personal Case Study

When I enrolled in the graduate program for Instructional Technology and Digital Media Literacy, I thought I was fairly good with technology and was eager to get started.  Within 1 week I realized I was way in over my head.  What I thought I knew was an infinitesimal amount in an ocean of technology. There was so much information to absorb including acronyms, and tech terms, concepts, laws, best practices, moral issues, and lots of stepping out of my comfort zone to use new technologies, tools and apps.  (Am I the only one who associates Apps with food?)

I went from being a typical middle aged professional who was only versed the PC/Microsoft/Windows world to mastering the world of Google, Twitter, Blogging, Instagram, Snapchat and even set up my own website. Through this coursework I have found an audience to share my passion about early childhood education, improving Public Education toward global competence and gamification of curriculum. I've participated in an online poetry journey in #WalkMyWorld and completed my first MOOC through the DLMOOC http://dlmooc.deeper-learning.org/.  I've learned and changed so much through this process.

At the end of last semester I was nervous that I did not have enough hands-on experience with today's technology and tools.  But we have covered so much ground this semester, that I no longer feel that way, however, I realize that if I do not remain diligent about staying informed about the new technologies developed, seemingly daily, that I will become as outdated as Windows XP. I'm old enough to remember playing music on 8 track cartridges in a tape deck in my first car, and I started college typing on a Smith Corona electric typewriter. I know obsolete!

As a Site Director for an urban Pre-k program, I see young children coming into pre-k with mastery of hand held devices (though I do not think that is a good thing for brain development.) I've see my own son accomplish great digital feats as he curates, collaborates, creates, narrates his own YouTube videos, and games online.  I know the children today have an ability, a connectedness to technology unlike any other generation. Instead of a silver spoon in their mouths, children today are born with an electronic devise in their hand.  Technology is 2nd nature, like a 7th sense to many kids.  They multitask at a rate that makes me feel like I am standing still.  If we are to teach these students; if we are to prepare them for the future, we must have some mastery of these technologies.

 There are two videos from this semester that I really resonate with and have shared via Twitter, Facebook and Google+:

Marc-André Lalande: Failing Superman

Sir Ken Robinson: Changing Paradigms

He has several powerful Ted Talk videos all worth your time.

The journey through my first MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) was with DLMOOC. Each week we were introduced to a panel of junior high and high school students at schools such as High Tech High and City Arts and Tech who shared their learning experiences through an online panel discussion.  Many of us thought these students were too good to be true, as they were so articulate, confident, knowledgeable and composed during the live sessions. But I knew better, as my own son had participated in a panel hosted by Verena Roberts on Minecraft and Gaming in Education. Verena had seen this video on my son's YouTube Channel and asked him to participate.

  

Each week the DLMOOC inspired me to think deeper, discuss and research topics in education such as: Deeper Learning, Student Voice and Choice, Mindsets, Assessing Deeper Learning, and the Curation and Exhibition of Student work. I came to love curating resources in a "Storify" each week for the DLMOOC. My conrributions can be found at:  http://storify.com/CorbettGaco2580  One week Karen Fasimpaur, one of the leaders of the MOOC, posted a suggestion on my assignment that I submit my Storify on Mindsets to earn an Open badge...  I earned my first Open Badge 2 weeks ago!  In a recent Storify I explained how I initially dismissed badges as glorified stickers-like the ones we give young children in school, and admit I was an idiot. Now I am excited to have actually earned one through my coursework.

Participating in the two UNH Courses: ED722 Distance Learning: Trends, Issues and Practices; ED726 Global Literacy. as well as the DLMOOC, has been a life altering experience. The coursework has opened my mind, widened my perspectives, and given me hope for our children's future. It has been such a positive experience to be able to hob nob online with such great minds, and be included in professional communities. I have truly enjoyed sharing my thoughts, concerns and interests with like minded professionals. I will continue to engage in conversations at this level and encourage my teaching staff to get involved in professional communities as well. The experience fed me, buoyed me, carried me beyond  the typical late nights and brain drain of grad school. I am exhausted, but on fire. I can't wait to rest, but can't wait to start next semester and see what else O'Byrne has in store for us.