Module+2+Reflection

How the artifacts in your pre-competencies verification reflect your technology use as an educator? In light of your learning about TPACK, identify areas of improvement needed.

**Description**: In the past three weeks I have been collecting and making artifacts for my pre-competencies verification. Some of my artifacts include works from:
 *  Microsoft Excel
 * [|Google Docs]
 * PowerPoint
 * [|ComicLife]
 * [|Glogster]

Some of the artifacts were made as samples, or made as a collaborative effort with coworkers and administration.

**Impact**: From working on a wiki to collect my artifacts, I learned more about using wikis, like embedding widgets and links. I found how useful wikis can be, and really found them to be a creative and fun way to collect information. It actually got me working on another project this week; my resume wiki. I sent out numerous cover letters and resumes this year and did not seem to be noticed, so I thought maybe I should do this a different way and make myself unique. Not much technology is shown in a word document that employers normally receive, so I created a wiki containing my resume, cover letter, letters of recommendation and embedded links to some of the education web 2.0 tools that I am familiar with like [|Edmodo] and [|Google docs]. I also embedded my technology [|wordle], a Slide Show, and a poster I made on [|Glogster.edu]. My thinking was that maybe this would demonstrate some of my knowledge of technology and be different from other resumes. Which is why "Think outside the Box" is stated on my homepage of the wiki. It is also nice because now all this information is available with a simple link, and I can easily add to or update the information and not worry about it being lost or what computer I use.

Another impact from working on my wiki came to me the other night when Brandon was home working on some homework. He was typing a word document for a current event. I asked him what the teacher does with these documents, and he said that he collects them and once every nine weeks you have to share what you found. These are done weekly. My first thought was why not put these into a wiki for the whole class to read? Wouldn't that make more sense? What's the point of typing up a current event every week if nobody else will hear about it? Perhaps if the teacher used a wiki, the students could post what they found, comment on each others, and even include links, pictures or videos that go with it. Then at school, the students would have an idea of all the current events for that week and could choose which ones they found important enough to discuss in class. I believe this would be a great way to get all of the students involved in the assignment. I also believe giving access to all the current events would enhance what they are learning. The students may also think more about what they are typing since all of their peers and teacher would be reading what they wrote.

**Intent**: I intend on sending out my resume wiki to prospective employers and updating it as I learn more and continually trying to make it better. This may be what we do in the future for job seeking! As for Brandon's teacher, I would love to share this idea with him and even help him create a wiki, but I don't want to come across the wrong way. Perhaps I should email him and see if we can meet sometime and I could present him with my idea. Who knows? Maybe the school will find a need for a person like me to help train teachers!

*************** Great ideas Heather! I love your idea for the resume! Great intent...good luck with that Dr. Ward!