Initial Reflection on PLNs, Assessment, and Twitter

Whoa.

I think these readings made my brain spin around a couple times and land on its back.

But in a good way.

Media Project 21 sounds simply amazing. Reading about this practice of integrating so many different forms of technology and creating a collaborative learning atmosphere that engages students in learning (and assesses them authentically!), while causing them to critically think about the way in which learning has traditionally occurred for them (whether they preferred this new experience or not) expanded my conception of technology in the classroom. What challenged my preconceptions the most was the idea that English classes may privilege certain types of texts, while marginalizing others, such as Tweets, simply because they do not occur in the traditional format of a textbook or paperback. This made me realize that just as the learning model of transmission of information was so engrained in some of the students that it was hard for them to accept this new model of learning, my conceptions of what literature (and the role of technology) is—or should be—can limit the learning of my students and my own effectiveness as a teacher.

Wow.