Blog Post #1

     Throughout my time in the course, I hope to learn more about how to use and apply basic educational resources which will hopefully assist me throughout my time in college and the transition into my future career. I have never had an incredible grasp on common technology and have especially lacked the skills necessary to use such resources fully and efficiently with schoolwork or personal activities. During these first two weeks, I have already become more accustomed to a variety of different educational resources, websites, and creative design spaces. Aside from future personal use, I can also use these resources within my future career as a teacher to engage with students, guide my peers and colleagues through new technological resources, and grow more gracefully beside the changing advancements in technology. For example, throughout this course I will hopefully find resources to propel my future teaching by learning about technology that will aid me in creating resumes, designing classroom worksheets and activities, and finding and completing professional development courses. 

    I have used technology in every aspect of my educational upbringing, the learning resources and technology growing interchangeably with myself as a student. Throughout elementary school, computers were used as busy-work, for spelling and speaking games, and during state testing for a variety of different modes of exposure. In middle school, the majority of my assignments were assigned, completed, and turned in on our personal computers and physical paperwork became a rarer occurrence. This continued into high school, as our technological access as students grew into the need for more online research and resources through which we could complete more complicated online assignments. Because of technology's continual occurrence throughout my educational career, I have become accustomed to the basic educational resources used most commonly in educational settings.

    Outside of schoolwork, I most enjoy learning about music and art. I have played the drums for about ten years and continue learning and growing alongside the hobby itself. To help more efficiently practice, I use both a digital metronome app and an app to find free, drum-less backing tracks to which I can play and create music of my own. The access to this incredible technology is entirely attributed to my drumming instructor. He is an incredible learning resource and a major part of my personal learning network. Both online and offline, because I have access to this incredible skill and technology, I am able to constantly learn and grow as a drummer, becoming more consistent at achieving my goals of becoming an accomplished musician.