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More than I expected: My journey into educational technology

Well, we could say that this subject is coming to an end. The truth is that I didn’t expect to learn so much about the use of new technologies. We are from a generation that was born with them, but there were so many tools I didn’t know about and now I will definitely use them in my classroom as a teacher.

Before taking this course, I thought I knew a lot about the topic, but I really didn’t. I used basic tools like Word or PowerPoint, and I could use Excel… I used platforms like Kahoot and Wayground, and AI tools like QuillBot or ChatGPT, but there were many resources I didn't even know existed.

I have learned so much. My learning goes from discovering tools like Educaplay, StoryJumper, Wooclap… which I find super interesting to use with my students; to tools like Symbaloo or Tinywow, which are useful to me as a student, teacher, and person in general, helping me do things more simply and clearly. Besides learning about new tools, I think I have become much more confident when using different digital tools and websites, since we have used many and learned how to analyze them. Tools like QuillBot, which I already knew, I now understand much better and have learned to use new possibilities I didn’t know about it.

If I had to choose what has been most useful for me, without any doubt I would say the GREAT discovery of StoryJumper and Educaplay. They are amazing tools to use with students. StoryJumper is a fun way to learn through stories, and you can even add your voice. And Educaplay is a very complete platform with a variety of games you can use in class.

As for what I found least useful, I would say the Excel activities, not because they are unnecessary, but because I already knew how to use Excel and I didn’t really need those explanations.

Talking about what I enjoyed the most, I would say that it was being introduced to such a huge number of resources to use with students. This allows each of us to choose the ones we like the most, without forcing everyone to use just one tool.

I believe that as we are from a digital generation, we think we have nothing to learn, but we are wrong. As future teachers, we need to know digital tools to work on content in a dynamic way, because traditional classes are strarting to become less popular, and more innovative approaches are being encouraged. In my case, I believe that everything I’ve learned in this class will help me improve as a teacher, especially thanks to the resources I didn’t have before and now I do.

In conclusion, I believe I have learned a lot from this course, and I recommend that all future educators train and explore different tools to work with students, both digital and analog ones.

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