Personal Reflection on Online Technology

Personal Musings:

• The introductory exercise that we did was enlightening. Anita had asked us a series of questions regarding our technology knowledge and use, and every time you answered yes to a question, you stepped forward. Reflecting on this exercise, however technologically advanced I thought I was, there was far more to know! This exercise was a great way to visually see where I stood (literally) in relation to my module mates in terms of online technology use.


• I realized after the first class that I was not using the technology that I could be – simply because I was not aware of its existence, or because I did not know how to use the online tool. I may have been doing myself a real disservice by often remaining reluctant to try new things and staying in my safe bubble of preexisting knowledge. As a result of this module, I have learned that new technology isn’t scary, it’s fun! Having the opportunity to play around and explore new technology was great, and I think that I am more open to using new technology and applications as a direct result of this module experience. I might even get Twitter! (For professional reasons).


• I really enjoyed all the presentations for this module. I learned a lot from other students about different resources, and it was great to see that everyone tried out a new technology as the platform for their online resource. The range of technology with which our class had experimented was very impressive.


• In the project that I completed along with 3 other students, I learned the significance of trial and error, the value of the “revision history” button (after nearly having a heart attack that I had deleted our project 2 minutes before the presentation), and the importance of patience when trialing a new program/tool, or teaching someone to use a new online tool.
  
  New tools:
  


• I was really impressed by how professional Weebly websites can look, and how easy they are to make. I will definitely look into this new tool in the future!


• Screentoaster is a website that allows you to record your voice explaining something using an image. In our project, one of my teammates explained and demonstrated the location of the nearest coffee shops using a campus map.


• We also utilized Google Sites as the platform for our OT Survival Guide. Google Sites was very similar to a wiki, yet it had different options in terms of format and layout that made it more aesthetically pleasing.


• Igoogle is now one of my favourite new tools. In this module we discovered that there is almost always a gadget for everything, and the ability to use an RSS feed on a database search to send new articles on my 900 topic to google reader was amazing. For one of the first times in my life I actually feel that technology is working FOR me, rather than fighting against me!
  
  
  Kolb’s Learning Cycle:

http://www.ldu.leeds.ac.uk/ldu/sddu_multimedia/images/kolb_cycle.gif

In our module, one of the most useful technology tools that I learned how to use was how to create and edit your own personal igoogle page. I found this technology to be the most useful to me, because it can be a great help to both my professional life (creating RSS feeds to link to databases, having new articles on my 900 topic sent directly to google reader), and my personal life (having gadgets that tell me the weather, the news, popular culture for fun, etc.). I applied Kolb’s learning cycle to my experience of learning how to create and manage an igoogle page, a form of online technology that was very new to me.

Active Experimentation – Jumping right in and creating an igoogle page (after listening to Anita’s tutorial). This included playing, exploring, and personalizing my page by adding different gadgets and changing the banner).

Reflective Observation – Thinking and reflecting on everything I just accomplished!

Abstract Conceptualization – Listening to others’ ideas on how to further personalize my page, observing how to add RSS feeds, etc.

Concrete Experience – Using my new skills to teach my friend how to make her own igoogle page, and teaching my dad how to further personalize his already existing igoogle page by creating RSS feeds.

CAOT Practice Profile Reflections:

http://www.srs-mcmaster.ca/Portals/20/images/profile_ot_canada.jpg

Professional

• In this module, our team utilized the appropriate ethical considerations by utilizing consent forms to get approval to use professors’ pictures, videos and audio recordings for our website.


• Regarding ethics, this module made me really consider privacy when online, and the importance of being aware of your online identity and how it may be perceived by others. Having an RSS feed on your name is very valuable. Anytime your name is used on the internet, Google will send an alert to your email, or your igoogle page, and it will provide a link to the specific article or website. I am very glad that I learned this new skill so that I am always aware of any mention of my name on the internet when I am in practice. Any mention of your name, in a derogatory manner or otherwise, will directly influence your online identity. As a result of taking this module, I have adjusted my privacy settings on Facebook to the highest level of privacy.

Communicator

• In this module, it was reinforced that technology can greatly increase communication. With the use of podcasts, social networking, or skype, there are several new tools that provide opportunities for greater communication.


• In my future career, I imagine that I will not always be able to be available to my clients in person. Technology can help to bridge this possible communication gap, with the use of voice over internet protocol tools such as the currently popular Skype. This way, I would be able to have e-conferences with other OTs or professionals in other disciplines, or even have an e-meeting with a client over Skype, if the client was unable to meet in person.
  

Practice Manager

• Using google sites, we were able to manage our project and edit it from home, which saved us a lot of time. Google documents also allows you this freedom, and I will definitely make use of this tool in future group projects, if writing a group paper or summary is necessary.


• Technology can help me fill the competency of managing my day to day professional practice and career. As I am currently on fieldwork placement at Millard Health (at the time I am writing this), everything from booking appointments to chart notes is done electronically.
  

Change Agent

• This module has ALMOST convinced me to get Twitter for professional reasons. Twitter is a great way to advocate for OT, as is blogging. However, it is always important to make sure that what you tweet or blog is not influencing your online identity, your employer, your clients or OT in any negative manner.


• Communicating the role and benefits of OT can be better achieved and can reach a wider audience when it is done online using social networking tools, blogging, and/or informational websites.
  

Collaborator

• I collaborated effectively with my group to create the OT Survival Guide. Initially we were two groups with a similar idea, however, when we discovered that we were on the same path, we joined forces to create a more comprehensive project.


• Collaboration can be achieved in my future OT career. Social networking sites, collaborative writing tools (Google Docs), and voice over internet protocol applications (Skype) can all be used to collaborate effectively.
  

Scholarly Practitioner

• In this module, we learned how to use an RSS feed from a database such as CINAHL or PubMed. We created an RSS feed to link searches on our 900 project topic, so that all the most recent articles are sent straight to either your email account, Google reader, or your iGoogle home page. This way the technology does the work for you and makes your job easier.


• Bearing this new information in mind, one can definitely see the use of an RSS feed on relevant OT information when I finally enter practice. With the use of an RSS feed on relevant information, I would always have the most current articles and evidence, thus ensuring greater evidence-based practice.