Reflection1

Reflection for Mod 1

I am pleased to join the Mansfield family, and to begin to experience all that this class promises to offer. One take-away discovery for me was the contributor Doug Johnson, who is saying what I have recently been discovering as I embed myself deeper into my new chosen profession. After working in the engineering field for almost twenty years, I got into the field of education somewhat by accident. I have to say, I was surprised by the overall attitude of resistance to change, especially in libraries. Not about acquisition of new cameras or equipment, but of real institutional change. Doug has articulated my observations as I look around and realize that too many in our ranks do not embrace the changes going on around us, and too many think they will be able to ride out the tide, but instead will be the ones washed away with it. In fields like engineering, re-tooling and re-training are essential job skills we need to be preparing our students for, and what better way than by modeling such behaviors ourselves?

Additionally, I enjoyed Joyce's rendition of the Sally learners, as I can still vividly recall all of the "technolgy" of the Sally Madonna age, like it was yesterday. I am tuned in to most of the new technology that Joyce mentioned, but not having a working library I am responsible for, and not attending many of the in-service workshops, I am behind in the actual use of things like smart boards. I have an ipad, but am still working to find apps that can facilitate my student teaching fall of 2014. It is a work in progress, and I am enjoying being exposed to all of the practical applications that will support my teachers and students.