Murdock_Stephanie_SU2014

Stephanie Murdock 6/23/14  My name is Stephanie Murdock. I have just finished my second year teaching at a transfer HS in the South Bronx. For me, technology is constantly within arm’s reach. I use an iPhone and a computer daily, both at work and at home. I would estimate my use of technology is 75% work-related and 25% entertainment. (I may have some personal bias in this estimate, and I would not be shocked to find a closer ratio if I was really pushed to track it. Also, I am not counting TV as technology in this estimate.)

My dad is a technology teacher, and my mom designs operation systems for schools. Their love of technology absolutely influenced me as a kid. My mom taught me how to speed type in high school, and my dad always kept updating technology in the house. Although I can remember a time before cell phones, and a time before Facebook and even MySpace, I do feel I grew up immersed in technology.

I got my first cell phone as a senior in high school after I had started driving. To text, I remember pressing 1 three times for C before phones with keypads became popular. When I studied in Wales in 2007, I wanted to experience life without a cell phone, but caved after a month and a half. In Japan, I bought an iPhone in 2011 and I have had one ever since. I cannot imagine navigating the Japanese public transportation system without iMaps.

I don’t think of myself as blogger, but I have kept a number of blogs. In high school I kept a blog I shared with friends, and when I lived abroad I kept a travel blog to communicate with family and friends back home. For a short time, I was a paid contributor to an online blog for a study abroad company. Currently, I do not keep any blogs.

I recently had to get repairs done to my phone. Even before I dropped my phone off at the shop, I was nervous. I printed out a map of the area I would be in, wrote down important numbers from my contacts, and tried to anticipate all the things I would be without for the two hours I would be without it. I was scheduled to meet someone for dinner, and I called to explain the situation ahead of time. I arrived at the restaurant early and sat by myself at a table without my phone. I am embarrassed to admit how much self-talk I had to do to reassure myself that I didn’t look ridiculous sitting by myself without even a phone to indicate to passers-by that while I might be currently alone, that I did have people to talk to virtually. My friend arrived late, and once I was with someone else who had a phone to use in a pinch, I felt a small wave of relief. I like to think of myself as independent, and not dependent on technology, but this recent experience affirmed just how attached I am to my phone.

__**Learning Portfolio ~ 7/31/2014**__

I presented my learning from this course in a Prezi, which can be found at http://prezi.com/tozfdb5nfn-t/learning-portfolio/.

I choose an outer space theme and subtitle "Technology, The Final Frontier" as I felt this course pushed me to discover a new domain for professional development. (This course was also my last as a graduate student at Fordham, thus the "final." Of course, as teachers, we all know learning is life-long, and this is also reflected in my learning portfolio with Next Steps.)

My Learning Portfolio Prezi references a wiki I created for this class. If you choose to visit, you will need the following link or join code. Please note this code expires August 5, 2014.

LINK: https://wikispaces.com/join/9TTXMKQ CODE: 9TTXMKQ

The Prezi also contains links to multiple google docs, which you will only be able to view if you are signed into your Fordham student account.