Now, how has my view changed?

I don't think in my studies I have "changed" my opinion about the way I, personally, learn. I have had many years to practice and experiment on what works for me. I am still a visual/auditory learner. But I do see where my connectivity has enhanced and expanded my ability to provide support for things I want to understand to a deeper extend or maybe don't understand quite fully. I even now will search out Youtube videos after I read to support my learning and provide me with that 'mode" of delivery. I still have to "see" and "hear" things. This made me a very predictable learner in class. I fit very well into the traditional lecture model. Although, I have to say, after I learned it, if I didn't use it...I don't remember it. I can see now where a different instructional approach may have saved that understanding in a manner that would have enabled me to retrieve it later for a different application. I know that we were taught concepts in isolation and they had little meaning in context sometimes. Socialization was discouraged in class, and now it's expected professionally. Perhaps they and "we" should take our own advice for a change and "begin with the end in mind"

Technology has not just become an integral part of my learning, it's finally my friend, and my co-teacher as well. I can't begin to think I can predict what my students will need to know ten years from now in technologicaly, but I can offer what I can in reasonable and practical applications of existing technologies and web based features. I can attempt to keep up with trends in emerging devices and content applications through professional learning communities, blogs, and forums. I understand where I can go to get information, and how to find resources if I need them. These skills I will pass along to my students, in authentic, project- based lessons for instruction. And as for that thing that I always hated to put together,"group work"- I think I shall have to take a second, third, and fourth run around it to see if I can wrap my mind around the possibilities and benefits.

Yes, my view from here is beginning to change, maybe ever so slightly, but it's a start. I have a feeling before its all over, many things will take on different perspective and that's very exciting. Hopefully, I too will create designs that can engage students and give them an excitement to learn, even if it's just to learn something new just for the heck of it. Lifelong learning, here we come.