Reflection on First Reflections (Like a Mirror facing another Mirror)

So after further inquiry, I've realized my first post may not be substantial enough  . . . content wise.  Well, I thought I was just supposed to reflect on class.  There is a lot that happens in class completely unrelated to content.   But with that said, in this post I will do my best to reflect on the "content of class."

Much of class I was thinking about how technology can create the type of social dynamic that can enhance motivation.   (To me, the bio teacher used technology (technology as a tool, not a solution) to create a more interesting social dynamic to lab work)  Some people will tell you that the relationships we have in life are the most important things.  If these relationships are important to us, if we care about how we fit in, if we care about conversing then it seems very clear that establishing a type of forum where we can relate our work back to a social context would be an attractive concept to people.  Some students may feel like their relationship with the teacher is important enough that they will do their best just for this.  (As most often work is only seen by the teacher)  Others will not be motivated by this - they don't/won't place emphasis on their relationship with the teacher but they are more likely to value their relationship with their peers.

That is why the photo taking caught their interest.

It is like, what if I had a facebook for all my schoolwork . . . hmm.  All of my work would be shown to all the world.  Would I be more motivated to do better?  I think so.  Grades never really motivated me and only the best teachers inspired me to give them my best work, but this online portfolio of work concept would definitely motivate me.

It's like writing a novel.  It's much more difficult to spend all those long hours writing if you don't have any idea of who will read it.  It becomes easier if you have a small group of friends who are eagerly waiting on your next draft to help critique it.  You write it for them.  

Teachnology <------ whoops, I just accidentally misspelled technology as teachnology but I like it so I'll leave it.  What I was going to reiterate is that technology is a tool and the possibilities it can enhance motivation and learning in a classroom are endless.  I look forward to learning in this class how to implement the right tool for what I'm trying to do in the classroom.

"You're going to need a bigger boat."