These first couple of weeks, I have spent a lot of time just trying to figure out some of these new technologies which I have never used before. I had never started a blog before, so getting one started did take a little bit of time for me. Overall, I have found the process of starting and writing posts on a blog fairly easy. I like the blogger site and feel it is user friendly. I really did not have to venture from the website to figure out how to post and layout my blog. I have also spent time just exploring technology and how it is being used in education. This has been so fascinating to me and I am finding so much crossover from NUGR 533-Teaching Strategies, which I am also enrolled in. The reality seems to be, students learn better with use of technology. I found two very interesting articles which I bookmarked on Diigo regarding technology in higher education. I really found the article from Education Technology very informative and gives an excellent visual to how technology is the future of academics. The article is actually described as an infographic article, basically the whole article is graphs and visual aides. The data for the infographic is taken from the ECAR Study of Undergraduate Students and Information Technology, 2012. I have also bookmarked the EDUCAUSE homepage, which is the nonprofit organization which published ECAR study.
The last couple weeks have really gotten me interested in the use of technology in education. In addition, I have discovered that I do not really mind playing around with new technologies and there are numerous resources out there if I really do not understand something. I was having a very difficult time with Diigo, but a simple Google search gave me all the help I needed and I feel pretty confident using Diigo now. As far as evaluating technology, there are also numerous resources to evaluate different technology. I do think it is important to have at least one evaluation tool which is used by all education staff at given institution (much like the tool we are working on). This will allow for some consistency in a program. The multiple websites and tools which are available to evaluate technology are a real benefit. This allows for someone to evaluate technology in multiple ways to ensure the material and technology being used is the most effective. Overall, the first weeks have been a learning experience for me and I am looking forward to building on the skills I have acquired these first few weeks.
Here are links to articles and websites discussed and also a short video I found on EDUCAUSE. The video is a short introduction to technology in higher education and how advancing technology can improve higher education.
Greetings! I will start with my work life. I currently work at Riley Hospital Downtown as a Nurse Care Manager, I am the float care manager, which means I fill in when people are on vacation or if one unit is very busy. I really enjoy this because it has allowed me to learn care management in many different areas and my day is different everyday. I have always worked in pediatrics, I started as student nurse at Riley in 2002, continued there when I graduated and then worked at IU/Riley North from 2005-2013. I often get asked, how I can work in Pediatrics, but I honestly feel privileged. Those little ones have taught me many life lessons and in my heart I believe pediatric encompasses all levels of nursing, since you are not just treating them but also their families.
I'm hoping after obtaining my MSN in Nursing Education to start a career in the academic setting. I would really love to start by teaching some clinical nursing courses while I continue my job as care manager for a few more years and then forge into classroom setting. I'm particularly interested in teaching caring in undergraduate nursing students especially if technology allows for the development of caring behaviors. With all the changes in nursing, it really worries me that caring may take a backseat in both nursing education and nursing practice. This is alarming since there are numerous studies which link caring behaviors to increased patient satisfaction. Last semester, I wrote a literature synthesis on this topic and am really hoping I am able to turn this into my NURG 590 project.
A class which I think would help increase caring behaviors in undergraduate and practicing nurses would be a cultural competency class. Objectives for this class would be 1. Intervene in social and cultural issues. 2. Identify different cultures and their views on healthcare 3. Navigate technology to find resources on cultural competent care. The use of technology in this type of class would allow for various perspectives by use of skype and even the possiblity of connecting with healthcare workers in different parts of the world. How exciting!
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I will end with a little about my personal life. I am a born and bred Boilermaker (I prefer not to think of myself as a Hoosier), I graduated from Purdue in 2003. I have been married to my high school sweetheart, Craig, since 2001. We have 2 children who are completely different, which makes our household very interesting. Kayleigh is 8, she enjoys dance, basketball, and American Girl dolls. Keaton is 3, he enjoys Legos, Scooby-Doo, and loves Katy Perry. We enjoy traveling, our most recent trip was to Disney World in October and the kids are preparing for a Spring Break trip so San Diego with Grandma to visit their cousins. I also enjoy reading, cheering on Purdue, and have a guilty pleasure for reality TV, especially the Real Housewives. I feel that my love for Downton Abbey makes up this mindless TV watching.
I'm really looking forward to this class especially with my interest for my 590 project in mind.
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