C4T #3

In his blog,The Thinking Stick, Jeff Utecht introduces a project that has gotten students and even teachers involved in their own technological enlightenment.  His Become A Google Apps Ninja program provides an opportunity to enhance research proficiency on the internet.  By taking tests designed by Mr. Utecht himself, participants search for the answers on Google.  At least an 80% is required before the test taker receives a widget of a belt colored appropriately for the amount of tests completed to be displayed on their blog.  The highest achievement identifies the participant as a "Google app ninja".  This project is an excellent way for anyone to perfect their technological skills.  As the old adage goes, practice makes perfect, and this is what Mr. Utecht has offered through friendly competition and self motivating habits.

Another post on Mr. Utecht's blog that has allowed me to view technology and everything I have learned in EDM 310 in a different perspective is Technology: More Than A Tool, A New Skill.  In this post Mr. Utecht lists a couple of sayings he has vowed to eliminate from his vocabulary, including referring to technology as "21st century" as we are 11 years into the century.  Another one that resonated clearly for me was referring to technology as "just a tool".  Just about everything that I have read and watched as a requirement for EDM 310 has had a continuing theme that technology is a tool used for education and not just entertainment.  Mr. Utecht takes this a few step farther and says that technology is a skill rather than just a tool.  He is 100% correct.  The tools technology has to offer are no good if the skills required to function are not intact.  This has enlightened me and has offered new thoughts on the approach that I must take when introducing these technological tools to my future students.