One Last Thing...

TGIF!!! In this case, that means "THANK GOD IT'S FINISHED!!!"
I don't feel like I need a pat on the back for finishing these things, I feel like I need a ceremony, a 21-gun salute, and a medal. I feel like I am suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder from completing these things! It has been a struggle.
Feedback was asked for, so here goes:
First of all, I feel compelled to address some of the parting comments.
It really doesn't take that much time. My instant reaction to that was "You have got to be kidding!" I have been a slave to these 23 Things. It has taken a huge investment of time, energy, and effort to complete them. In the process of completing these Things, I have indeed gained valuable new knowledge to eventually help me save time, but right now, I need more time to perfect my skills in using these new tools. I need to investigate all of the features and practice using them. My nature demands it. I hate doing things halfway. The volume of work did not allow me to thoroughly investigate each thing as I would have liked.
You know you can do it. Yes I do, but I did it the hard way. Without any help. I was thrown into the water without knowing how to swim! Just because we learn from our struggles doesn't necessarily means that's the best way to learn. In my case, I sputtered, splashed, and desperately dogpaddled to the other side instead of sinking to the bottom of the river. How much better if I could have had someone show me the way. Rather than my ugly little dogpaddle, I would have been doing a beautiful breaststroke instead. Vygotsky's zone of proximal development doesn't just apply to kids. Yes, I'm a college student and an adult, and I don't expect someone to hold my hand and spoon feed me. But some guidance is in order. Let me benefit from your expertise! These Things are only easy to complete if you already know how to do them. Imagine, if you will, that we have a child who is struggling to learn adjectives. As a teacher, we don't just tell them, "Go figure it out for yourself or find somebody else to help you," or "Go read War and Peace, and get back to me if you still don't understand." We help them! So, I dislike the whole premise of how the program is designed. And I am going to have the audacity (me-a student-to you-a veteran professor) to tell you how to make it better. Surely, as the blogs are being read, (You are reading them, aren't you? Frankly, I know most of them-mine included-are as boring as....-I'm searching for a good analogy or idiom or metaphor here-...well, just boring. I can't imagine having to read this same stuff over and over, semester after semester!) some note is being taken, some data collected, about which Things students are having the most difficulty with. Take fifteen minutes of the hour and a half of our technology class and go over those areas of difficulty. Head the problems off at the pass! Help us!
It's fun to know and use these tools. I can't argue with you here. You've got me. Yes, after the pure misery of having to figure things out for yourself, it is fun.
We need to keep informed. I agree 100% with this statement. The 23 Things Exercise has truly impressed upon me the need to stay informed and current. However, there is one thing that I think we, as teachers, always need to keep in mind, and I am mangling here a quote from an educator that I read about at the very beginning of the activity: We should never allow good pedagogy to be replaced with bad pedagogy, and not all technology equates to good pedagogy. Everything we do with the technology tools should equate to good pedagogy. It's not necessarily WHAT we use to teach with, it's HOW we chose to use the technology. It should always, always enhance student learning.
Now on to the feedback questions...
My favorite discoveries were Del.icio.us and MyStickies because I found them to be the most useful right now. But I had the most fun with Animoto and Mindmeister.
This program has affected my lifelong learning goals by giving me insight into the need to stay current with changes in technology. I plan to put forth the effort to say current and informed henceforth.
Unexpected outcomes? Yep. That I'm inspired to stay current and informed.
How could we improve on the program? Hopefully, you've already read my rantings above.
What I have learned in this activity has influenced me consider how to best incorporate the use of technology into the classroom. It offers great ways to appeal to the multiple intelligences of students and not leave anyone behind. It also offers ways to use diversity in my teaching methods and keep students from being bored to death during class. Consider Farris Bueller's teacher "Anybody? Anybody?" I want to inspire students!
First I plan to thoroughly investigate each and every feature of the technology that I have learned about by completing the 23 Things, and then I plan to spend (at least ) 15 minutes a day, as suggested, to stay current with new developments in web 2.0. I like that idea. It's manageable, even for a college student taking other classes. I might even (GASP!) decide to complete all of the original 43 things on my own.
Resolution made to use the tools I now know, keep up with new tools, and apply them in my classroom and job. That's now in writing. But NOT to maintain my blog. I'll skip all suggestions related to the blog, thank you. The best reflections are truly reflective, searching, private ones. A mental checklist will do. I'm a private person. I've never liked airing my laundry in public.
And one last Last Thing: Congratulations, Professors. I looked at the four objectives on the "About" page at the beginning of the 23 Things activities. The activities forced this student to meet all four of those objectives. Your mission was accomplished!