What is Ed Tech? Before taking EDUC 431, I would’ve said something along the lines of, “it’s the ability to use computers and technology.” After taking EDUC 431, I can tell you that ed tech is so much more than this. Ed tech is inclusivity. It’s professional development. It’s assessment. It’s so much more than I can type up in one blog post, but if I were to capture ed tech in one word, it would be PURPOSE.

We started the journey of this course by creating a twitter account. I was excited to create an account for professional development, and did I ever realize the benefits that could come from having a professional twitter account! One of my most exciting moments was participating in my first #bcedchat. I connected with many likeminded educators online who praised me for my participation as a teacher candidate and encouraged me to continue participating. This ability to network with some of the best educators from all around the world made me feel empowered. Through twitter, I feel empowered to connect and network with educators I only would’ve dreamed about talking to had I not created twitter!

Afterwards came my e-portfolio (which is still in the making). I remember being so frustrated with word press that I emailed our professor asking if I could use a different platform. Christine encouraged me to embrace the learning curve of Word Press, and I’m so glad that she did. I stepped out of my comfort zone and started experimenting with the website. I was so excited when I found out ways to put photos into my pages and blog posts, and even more excited when a classmate showed me how to link my twitter live feed to my portfolio! Christine’s words of encouragement allowed me to embrace my growth mindset.

In this class, we’ve had the amazing opportunity to connect with eleven educators who specialize in different areas of ed tech. Yes, ELEVEN. We learned everything from coding without computers to how to create portfolios using Freshgrade. The reason I chose purpose as my word to describe ed tech is because this is the common theme I saw amongst all these speakers. Although there are many great ed tech resources out there, we have to be mindful that we are using them with purpose. These presenters have shown us how to use the resources given to us with purpose. For example, Valerie Irving shed light on using ed tech as an opportunity for learners to participate who aren’t able to physically make it into class. In addition, Sandra MacAulay showed us how to make ipad use meaningful through a unique math lesson that allows learners to explain their thinking in multiple ways. Throughout the repertoire of activities we gained in this class, every single activity provided an access point for all learners. This is so important in order to create the inclusive environment that so many teachers are searching for, little do we know it’s in the palm of our hands through ed tech. I learned that as long as we are placing our learners at the centre of the learning and setting goals for ourselves and our learners, we can make ed tech have purpose.

I am so grateful to have experienced this learning journey alongside my peers. I’m leaving this course with a portfolio I can contribute to for the rest of my life, an amazing personal learning network, a mind full of WONDERFUL lesson plans, and an eagerness to explore and integrate ed tech into my classroom.