Thing #23-Reflections

Wow--here I am at the end of the journey of 23 Things. I've learned so much, but feel like I've just barely scratched the surface of most of these tools. I think I know just enough to be dangerous, and will be going back to revisit many of these tools in the coming school year. I've really appreciated the ability to complete the training on my own time, in my own home. With two young children of my own, being able to work from home has been a lifesaver this summer.

What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?
Loved learning all about the free things there are out there, and really appreciate the people who are willing to share their expertise and innovativeness with the rest of us. I'm excited to have my own blog and our grade level wiki.

How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?
In today's world, you have to keep up with technology or you fall behind. Even with training like 23 Things, my kids still come to third grade with more technical knowledge. I am happy that many of the things learned through this training can be taken into my classroom in six weeks and used immediately. There's nothing more frustrating than new learning you can't use.

Were there any take-a-ways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?
I tend to be easily intimidated by the unknown, so this whole program was way out of my comfort zone. What was surprising is how much easier many of the things were than I thought they would be. I think this is because of clarity in the presentation of information. The Creative Commons videos made some of the more difficult concepts so easy to understand. As I looked at other SBISD teachers' blogs, I was excited to see the wealth of talent and creativity we have the the district.

What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?
The only improvement I can think of is to double check links. There were some (not a lot) of non functioning links scattered throughout the things. It also seems like you've done some troubleshooting over the course of the last couple of years, so I'm sure it's just a matter of going through again.

If we offered another discovery program like this in the future, would you choose to participate?
Yes! A friend is completing 11 1/2 More Things right now...I'll probably do that next summer.

How would you describe your learning experience in ONE WORD or in ONE SENTENCE, so we could use your words to promote 23 Things learning activities?
23 Things is a must-complete training, not just for librarians, but for all educators who want to help children be lifelong, successful learners in the 21st century.