The classroom website assignment really woke me up to my proficiency with technology!
I approached this assignment with too much confidence. I am still not sure if there was an easier way that I could have done it or not. I saw templates just for classrooms, but I felt like that went against the assignment (It would be too easy). So, going with my personality type, I chose one that was more difficult... the one that would make me want to cry!
The problem I had was that I was expecting a simple template to follow to begin with. Google does have MANY templates, but I just couldn't figure them all out. Well, I couldn't figure out how to to customize them without messing EVERYTHING up. Once I finally finished and everything worked, I looked up other sites or services to use for websites and saw what a big problem was: Google sites is outdated and generic. I am used to using things that are very simplifed, but customizable at the same time (Ahem, Apple anything). So, using Google sites took it back a bit. Once I saw that in order to customize everything in the way I wanted, I'd have to use old-school HTML, I figured out my problem. I equate it to being able to solve a complex math problem well with a calculator, but if I had to do some of the stuff on paper, I'd be in bad shape. I just like really cool, simple, and modern sites that are kind of artsy. I couldn't do this with Google Sites (without many, many, many hours of writing codes) and I was SO frustrated.
My lesson about my technology proficienty was this: I only know what it happening right now-- what is common at this very moment. I think that is representative of technology anyway-- and, really, how life is no, too.. However, educational programs are one of the least updated types of programs out there. Also, I know I will be working with many different programs, depending on the task... whether it be for my own development, the classroom, school, or whatever. I need to be more proficient at the very basics. In education, I know that's just going to be part of it.
Also, planning. I'm a master organizer in everything in my life, with the exception of anything with technology. Even though it is built on the premise of being instant, things like this require much planning and organization. Next time, I will do that better. Or, I will pay a small fee to a different provider :)
