Tapped In!

This semester I was so lucky to be apart of my EDUC 330 class. We were exposed to many different people on the online community, learned how to use technologies we had never heard of, and found out we had more talents when it came to using technology then we had thought. One of the most memorable experiences in this class, however, was our mentorship that we had in tapped in. Tapped in which is a gated online community where in our group of tech-enhanced learning members responded to threads about education. I was so scared on my first few posts to write anything because I was afraid that my opinion wouldn't be accepted or people would disagree with what I had to say. Basically I didn't want to cause controversy in my posts. My hesitations didn't change until I set up a thread about Multiple Intelligences and experienced educators had different opinions about the Multiple Intelligences Theory put forth by Howard Gardner. Educators on both sides of accepting the theory had links and facts to back up their opinion. I came to the realization that this experience in tapped in is for the collaboration of ideas and points of view. Posting wasn't about being right or wrong, which is something I have carried though from my elementary and secondary schooling. Which needs to change!!!! Being honest and willing to share your ideas I found to be way more beneficial for myself posting and reading posts. I learned how to articulate my thoughts better, and felt confident in my ideas from them being supported and more important learning how to improve or enhance them! I was exposed to many sides of arguments that go on in the education world that I never even thought of. I don't want to go into too much detail of what was discussed to preserve the importance of our thread not being available for the public to read, but each post of mine and every thread I read was beneficial and important to me. I realized what a special opportunity being involved in this community really was. I was exposed to new ideas, new ways of thinking about education issues or issues in general, expanded my resources and tools to use for the classroom, and enhanced my perspective of education. I really hope that the threads continue, because I have learned a lot from the experience as I hope others have as well!