Reflections Blog

I'm back online now from 25+ hours without power. Downeast Maine got slammed with a heavy nor'eastah. Ayah! Dang it! Over 140K home were without power. Absolute 19^th century living; cooking on a wood stove (at right, yes), putting snow in 8" cake tins to keep the refrigerator cool, melting snow in 2 kettle pots for dishes and washing-up water, washing up in a wash basin, and keeping the wood stove going through two nights. And, let's not forget those wonderful oil lamps. If you live in the Northern Kingdom, you're bound to have a couple, at least. We were lucky and blessed. NO frozen pipes. Thank you, Jesus! Everything stayed copasetic.

I learned so much about the web and the technology tools that are available for teaching. I'm convinced, as Jeff wrote, in time "everything will start to click. The new classroom that comes standard" will be "engineered with more than students in mind." Teachers will have at their finger tips (pun not intended) "everything from 3D maps to over 700 voice-activated information sources."

1. Is this class worth offering? Is this a serious question? YES, of course! There is so much that educators do not know about Web2.0 teaching and technology. Just the Google search tips video was enough to boggle the mind. My word! I had no idea there were so many ways to do a search. It is definitely worth something to pass on to students.
   
2. What can Jeff do to improve the course? Umm… be more helpful in creating podcasts? I mean, can he give us more clues or YouTube tutorials on that one.

There are just so many web-based educational sites. I signed up on Facebook, and now my gmail is overflowing with requests to accept them. I know, I know, I a little slow with this web computer thingy, but once I get started – watch out… no problem.

It has been a journey that has added to my computer knowledge, and given me more tools in my tool box. Currently, I have added a dozen plus web sites to sign-in for. Blogging was fun. Especially uploading pictures (Sam and Bugs), and learning how to embed YouTube videos to it.

I'll try to keep updating computer learner, and will probably add a blog about Lakoma Ministries. This may be a venue that keeps me busy. One Facebook friend cautioned me, "it's addicting."

I've met some wonderful people in this class. Even though we may never meet face-to-face, we have a report that has been collectively built by this class. For us, it can never be "Good-bye," (unless my computer crashes or the whole internet system really does have a Y2K cardiac arrest), but au revoir. Till we meet again in our blogs.

My gmail: carld59@gmail.com.

Facebook: Carl T. Dumont

And one more time for you guys, Dang bust IT!

Yosemite