Final thoughts

As I reflect back on this past semester, I really felt like the assignments and activities completed for this course are valuable for my future career as a school librarian. It made me wish I was already working in a school library so that I could immediately apply what I learned in this course!

It wasn't just helpful, but also fun to research technology hardware, digital tools, and makerspace resources. I enjoyed learning about my classmates' findings through their blog posts. Hopefully, everyone will keep their blog public so that I can return to them throughout the program and when I begin my journey of a school librarian. I feel like I now have a toolbox of websites, resources, and school librarian professionals to turn to when I need help.

The biggest takeaway for me is the website assignment. It seemed overwhelming at first that I could create my own website. Don't you have to have mad coding skills for that? No, you don't! I chose Google Sites and it was surprisingly easy to design a decent website. Anything that I couldn't figure out on my own was easily solved by searching YouTube for tutorials by many of the school librarians and educational technology specialists I learned about through this course. I still have much more to learn, but I was still proud of creating a website (even if it is for a fake school!). Of course, evaluating other library websites was critical as well. Seeing how school librarians are reaching out to students, staff, parents, and community members through their website can only help create stronger connections between stakeholders and the library.

A smaller, but also significant takeaway was the importance of having a professional social media presence. I have fought against social media so long in my personal life. I was proud of being a "hold-out." Then I had to create professional Twitter and Instagram accounts for another course in this program. I have to say that while the Twitter account has faltered,  I have sort of taken a liking to Instagram. I like that it is a quick, easy to digest form of professional development. 

I have gained confidence in my skills to become a technology leader within my school and that is exactly what I hoped to accomplish!

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