I'm 4 days late with this reflection and I originally intended to sum up what we saw on Friday. I'm now going to scrap that plan, and reflect on the whole course. What is my perspective now? Coming in, I was riding in an IT bubble that was about 5 to 10 years old, depending on the topic. Even though I had been exposed to some of the technology that we all sampled over the last 2 weeks, I didn't really understand the principles behind it or how it could be implemented in a workplace or classroom situation. I viewed it all as being recreational activity. I've just completed my first year of teaching. Holland College is implementing The SAM (Angel) LMS this fall and I had intended to avoid it until next year. My rationale was; I wouldn't have time to learn the system properly while trying to complete the other changes that my program requires.

I now realize that this is not a very good plan. Jumping in as quickly as possible is the only plan that makes any sense. An LMS of any kind will make program management and curriculum development much easier. I'm a poor manager of paper, so electronic media is the best way to go for me. This blog has proved it. I have not embraced any kind of reflective journal until the last two weeks. Somehow, the blogging makes it easier.

Many of the applications that we have used over the last 2 weeks can be used in conjunction with the LMS to keep our program content current and relevant. The concepts of social networking, online collaboration, wikis, forums, blogging, and aggregated content are established and transferable to different applications.

Thanks to Dave and classmates for sharing the experience!

KenM