6 months ago I considered myself to be computer illiterate. Like many younger women, I found myself proficient using Hotmail, Msn, Facebook, Microsoft Word and had basic internet skills. Becoming aware of the prevalent use of technology in schools during my pre-internship experience at Jack Mackenzie (which is an affluent school), made me recognize the need to learn more about technology beyond my social networking and programs for writing University papers. So I volunteered for the Digital Internship Project, a research project run by the university.

During my internship I attended several Digital Internship in-services where I was introduced to theories supporting the use of technology in schools, ways to effectively incorporate technology into the curriculum, and how technology can be used to enhance learning (not used just as a frill), and was also introduced to various programs and internet sites to use during my practicum. I tried incorporating some of the things I learned into my classroom and had many successes. A few of the things I did:

• I created my own class website where each student had their own blog, had students use their blogs to demonstrate learning, practice peer editing and to communicate with their pen pals
• we made a podcast
  
• I posted monthly newsletters and calendars on our site
• I created/posted hotlists of interactive games for various units we studied
• Used interactive sites as part of math/reading centers
• Used the data projector to instruct, show videos, sites, etc
  
• made a digital story on dvd for each student as a good-bye gift.
  

Having had the opportunity to learn more about technology, I have developed an appreciation for it and a desire to learn more. I feel I have barely scratched the surface on how technology can be used in schools, and want to explore programs/ideas in more depth.