As part of the wrap-up for this course, we’re looking back at
some of the first things we wrote in June (Introduction to
WebTools, Setting the Stage, and Guiding Principles for Tech Use
in the Classroom). I don’t know that my thinking/philosophy on
using technology has changed dramatically in the past two and a
half months. I was on-board with tech use in the classroom with
the goal of improved learning and connection, and I was excited
to try out some new tools and learn from a new and diverse group
of educators. I still am. I do have a clearer picture of some
specific tools that I’d like to implement this year in my
classes, and I am happy to have made many new connections in my
continually-expanding PLN. What has changed for me is a renewed
focus on the idea that the best web tools allow us to do
something completely new. I find myself coming back to three
points from Jeff Utecht’s article “Evaluating Technology Use in
the Classroom”: - Does the technology allow students to learn
from people they never wou