It isn’t easy, but I’ll try…
“A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to it’s old dimensions.”
Oliver Wendell Holmes
The ETMOOC http://etmooc.org/ ( Educational Technology Massive Open Online Course) experience has been elevating and I am so grateful for all I have learned. I decided on the very last day to jump into ETMOOC and to bring a few of my colleagues with me as I’d rather take a course with someone than alone. However, little did I know I would definitely not be alone. I would meet people who have changed and inspired me through ETMOOC. I definitely have no regrets. For my first MOOC I could not have chosen a better course.
I have looked forward to every
- Blackboard Collaborate session
- Twitter chat
- Google hangout
- Article or blog I read or wrote
- All the skills I have learned
Educational Technology is not my expertise by any means. I am a School Counsellor who loves using technology. This course was not only educational, but helped me make connections and get help like I never imagined.
ThIs course was:
- Educational
- Exciting
- Fun
- Helpful
- Inspirational
- Interesting
- Phenomenal
- Practical
- Useful and so much more.
The word that accurately describes how I felt going into the course was FEAR. I did not even know the difference between http and https. We’ll I certainly do now and I know so much more.
How do I feel now? I am happy, grateful and inspired to continue my learning journey through technology so that I may be able to help students and especially school counsellors. I am more confident than ever in my technological abilities. I am definitely more willing to take risks.
I am more OPEN. I am less afraid ( notice I did not say completely ) to make mistakes in an open form like a BLOG. I am more reflective. Wish I had done this as a young teacher/counsellor. It is never too late to become what you might have been. Who said that? I don’t remember, but it is true. I so want to continue learning.
Every time and I mean every time I asked for help someone answered my call. ETMOOCERS to the rescue. That was so wonderful. I want YOU ALL TO KNOW I am so grateful (too many to mention individually), but YOU know who you are. Cheers to you all and if we meet someday not in the virtual world, but personally I’d be happy to celebrate YOU! Thank you just not seem enough.
I am so sad that ETMOOC is ending as it has definitely been the best PD ever. I thought twitter was, but NO ETMOOC topped that as it encompassed twitter and so much more. My bucket is full. The friends I have made, the lessons I have learned are worth so much more than I can really express here. It feels similar to my Master’s program in Counselling. I made connections there that have lasted to this day and will last my lifetime. I feel the same way about ETMOOC.
They are Connections that INSPIRE me to DO BETTER … BE BETTER.
Connections that do not care if I am perfect or if I make mistakes or if I ask questions that may seem silly to others. I met people that accepted my inadequacies when it came to technology and guided me through processes to help me.
As a result I have learned so much in a short period of time that I don’t think , no I know I would not have otherwise.
Although ETMOOC is ending I know some of the connections are not
You have helped me to not just make a living , but with all the tools, ideas and connections to make a difference.
My second MOOC is a Harvard MOOC on Justice by Michael Sandel
…the learning continues…
“Change is the end result of all true learning.”
Leo Buscaglia (my favorite educator)
Thanks to all of you for helping me to truly learn …
oxoxo











