The Tea on Technology

What is "ThingLink?" and how does it stack up to the "Old Fashioned" way of learning?? There are several new technology apps that provide ways to interact with others, especially during trainings. It really is amazing to see how technology has evolved, and what is available to help convey ideas or theories to students/learners.  ThingLink is a platform that allows users to create interactive images and videos. You can add links, information, and multimedia content to specific parts of your image or video, making it engaging and informative.  Although this app can be utilized in many different educational scenarios, the one scenario that grabbed my attention was virtual fieldtrips!! How in the world is this possible?? I come from an era that thrived on school field trips!!  Is it possible to provide the same experience virtually? I guess it depends on how you look at it. I think the whole idea of a field trip is to get away, to share an experience with your class...

What is a PLN, and why do we need one? I will admit that I was a bit confused when hearing the term "Personal Learning Network" or "PLN." What in the world was a PLN and why are they important? First of all, PLN's is the network that you, as a professional, are surrounded by. This may be intentional, or unintentional, or even some of both. Bottomline, networking is a BIG DEAL! Networking is significant in personal and professional success for several reasons. First, it allows individuals to establish valuable connections that can lead to opportunities such as job offers, collaborations, and partnerships. Networking also promotes the trade-off of knowledge and information, allowing individuals to stay updated regarding business trends and developments. In addition, a strong network provides encouragement and guidance, allowing personal and career growth. In today's connected world, networking is a large part in building a strong, yet adaptable foundation for ...

 Making a blog post interesting is hard enough, but when discussing technology it can be difficult. After reading over some blogs this week, it seems like the blogs that caught my interest more had or provided the following: They used words that caught my attention in the heading. Words like "master", "surprising", and "ultimate." When using words that lead a reader to feel a sense of urgency or cause them to be curious, they will likely continue reading. Having a clear topic and content within the blog helps keep the reader interested. When blogs began discussing more than one topic within the content, it can get confusing and may lose interest quickly. Having an organized flow may help with keeping the reader interested as well. Providing bullet points, and or numbered lists also helps keep them on track while reading, providing structure. Providing images or videos can also be helpful, however, too many images may make the blog less interesting or even ...

 Follow me as I gain an understanding and "serve the tea" on the technology tools I learn about this semester. I am hoping for a better understanding on the ever changing tools of technology, as well as gaining insight and feedback from others. Technology tools is an area that I can improve on, and will improve my abilities, both personally and professionally. I plan on sharing the tools I find helpful, the tools I still have yet to understand, and my honest opinion on all of it!