It isn’t easy, but I’ll try…
“A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to it’s old dimensions.”
Oliver Wendell Holmes
The ETMOOC http://etmooc.org/ ( Educational Technology Massive Open Online Course) experience has been elevating and I am so grateful for all I have learned. I decided on the very last day to jump into ETMOOC and to bring a few of my colleagues with me as I’d rather take a course with someone than alone. However, little did I know I would definitely not be alone. I would meet people who have changed and inspired me through ETMOOC. I definitely have no regrets. For my first MOOC I could not have chosen a better course.
I have looked forward to every
- Blackboard Collaborate session
- Twitter chat
- Google hangout
- Article or blog I read or wrote
- All the skills I have learned
Educational Technology is not my expertise by any means. I am a School Counsellor who loves using technology. This course was not only educational, but helped me make connections and get help like I never imagined.
ThIs course was:
- Educational
- Exciting
- Fun
- Helpful
- Inspirational
- Interesting
- Phenomenal
- Practical
- Useful and so much more.
The word that accurately describes how I felt going into the course was FEAR. I did not even know the difference between http and https. We’ll I certainly do now and I know so much more.
How do I feel now? I am happy, grateful and inspired to continue my learning journey through technology so that I may be able to help students and especially school counsellors. I am more confident than ever in my technological abilities. I am definitely more willing to take risks.
I am more OPEN. I am less afraid ( notice I did not say completely ) to make mistakes in an open form like a BLOG. I am more reflective. Wish I had done this as a young teacher/counsellor. It is never too late to become what you might have been. Who said that? I don’t remember, but it is true. I so want to continue learning.
Every time and I mean every time I asked for help someone answered my call. ETMOOCERS to the rescue. That was so wonderful. I want YOU ALL TO KNOW I am so grateful (too many to mention individually), but YOU know who you are. Cheers to you all and if we meet someday not in the virtual world, but personally I’d be happy to celebrate YOU! Thank you just not seem enough.
I am so sad that ETMOOC is ending as it has definitely been the best PD ever. I thought twitter was, but NO ETMOOC topped that as it encompassed twitter and so much more. My bucket is full. The friends I have made, the lessons I have learned are worth so much more than I can really express here. It feels similar to my Master’s program in Counselling. I made connections there that have lasted to this day and will last my lifetime. I feel the same way about ETMOOC.
They are Connections that INSPIRE me to DO BETTER … BE BETTER.
Connections that do not care if I am perfect or if I make mistakes or if I ask questions that may seem silly to others. I met people that accepted my inadequacies when it came to technology and guided me through processes to help me.
As a result I have learned so much in a short period of time that I don’t think , no I know I would not have otherwise.
Although ETMOOC is ending I know some of the connections are not
You have helped me to not just make a living , but with all the tools, ideas and connections to make a difference.
My second MOOC is a Harvard MOOC on Justice by Michael Sandel
…the learning continues…
“Change is the end result of all true learning.”
Leo Buscaglia (my favorite educator)
Thanks to all of you for helping me to truly learn …
oxoxo
Counsellor Talk : Creative Collaborative Connections 
Hi Susan. Thank you so much for sharing your reflections and the heartfelt thank you Vlog for #etmooc. I fully relate to the journey you have taken through #etmooc (many of my experiences have been the same) – the wonderful connections, the supportive community, the wealth and richness of learning experiences, the fear and apprehension about learning in the open, etc. I fully appreciate the significant step this must have been to post your Vlog (I have yet to do one). Thank you again for the courage you have shown, and for the support and encouragement you have offered others. I have appreciated your Google+ posts, Twitter chats, the inbox messages, the shared collaborate sessions, the thoughtful blogs, and most of all, the fine example you have set in showing others how to truly care. Thank you, Susan, it has been a pleasure to learn alongside you. Maybe one day we will meet in person. 🙂
This is the best kind of “open” – truly open to exploring and learning. Looking forward to continuing..,
I’m so glad you took the plunge into recording a vlog! It really isn’t easy, you’re right–but I think once we do it a few times, it will get easier. That’s why I decided to to it the first time…so I’d have that out of the way and be able to do it more later. I have enjoyed the connections made through etmooc so much I wanted to connect with people even more through something closer to a virtual “real person” meeting. Thanks for working through the difficulties of doing that yourself!
And thank YOU too for participating in this fantastic community that has helped so many of us understand the value of connections, whether they be virtual or otherwise!
Reblogged this on Erin Luong's #Etmooc Experience and commented:
Teaching them to make mistakes
Susie Q, I am so proud of you. I was bawling watching yours so there is no way I can record myself anytime this week (may it’s like a breakup and I will be able to do it in a couple months….)
I would never have even known about #etmooc if it wasn’t for you. Thank you so much for getting me started (how do I even use google calendar!!!!). Being my go to girl every time you or I learned something new. Editing my posts (Are you sure you want to say it that way?) and over all being the best mentor and friend that I could ever have in the world.
Hey, Susan. The thing I love about you (and your fellow counselor, Erin Luong) is your genuineness, your enthusiasm, and your courage to push yourself to move to a place that is so enriching not only for yourself, but those of us who are blessed to be connected with you. You really poured yourself into ETMOOC and you certainly reaped the fruit of your labors. I’m sure you are a fine counselor :)…that was my first career, believe it or not! Best to you as you jump into another MOOC. I guess I should really take a look at that for myself 🙂 I’m not sure if I want to do that yet, or let some of what we’ve experienced settle in a bit. Thanks again, and look forward to seeing where this journey takes you, Susan.
Great post and vlog Susan. It has been great getting to know you and learning with you in etmooc. I look forward to staying connected and continuing to learn with you as etmooc winds down.
Rhonda