End of the Semester

So, we're at the end of the semester and I feel like I've word very hard at infusing my curriculum with technology use. Both my sophomores and seniors have completed creative projects with the help of technology, allowing the technology to serve as a creative medium for displaying knowledge. Additionally, both groups also engaged in the research process using technology, with a focus on the many different research resources, and also determining valid/reliable resources. I feel this has benefited the students.

I was very surprised to see how well the students took the idea of determining resources to be valid and/or reliable. When I would interact with students during the research process I would hear students say comments such as, "I am having trouble finding an Internet resources because the only websites that show up do not look very valid and reliable." With comments such as this, I am confident that no one will turn in a research project with Wikipedia marked as a valid and reliable source, and that really makes me feel pleased. If they can determine the difference between sources when focusing on validity and reliability, that will affect how they look at all sources in their life...how they look at magazines, newspapers, advertisements, how they interact with people, whether or not they are easily persuaded by a scam. I just think it will make them more aware all around in their life.

So, while they have been very engaged in the technology world, I feel like I have driven the Media Center staff crazy. Whether with my seniors or sophomores, I feel like I am always down there. During the first part of second semester, I do need to spend some time out of the lab for the sake of my fellow faculty members. I know that many of them do a research paper second semester, and I should leave that room for them. My goal for next semester is to find a way to bring the technology to them. It's a little bit easier with my seniors because that room now has a projector, but the room for my sophomores is still waiting for its projector. Oh, the cool things I could do with them if we had a projector. I guess we'll just have to wait, and if it is absolutely crucial, I'll bring in one of the projectors on a cart.