Welcome

=Hi..... Welcome To My Wiki =   My name is Debbie Alston and I'm an Instructional Technologist and Videoconferencing Coordinator for Brookhaven Elementary in the Killeen Independent School District. I have been a classroom teacher for many years and have been a CIT for many many more years. With that being said you now know I'm not a Digital Native. I also have a Masters Degree in Curriculum and Technology from the University of Phoenix. When I first started teaching I never dreamed I would be where I am today using so many of the Web 2.0 tools. Actually, I owe that success to the students because they are really the ones that drive me to learn as much as I can in order for me to challenge them and bring relevance to their learning. Truthfully, they are the ones that challenge me, most of the time I'm the one that ends up learning from them.

I'm amazed at how far the world has come with technology and how much we depend on it. I know for me I don't know what I'd do if my cell phone stopped working. Oh wait, yes I do.... It's happened before and it wasn't pleasant! My life line was cut...I didn't know anyone's phone number because they were all stored in my contact list. Yes, I do have my computer as a back up but it's not very helpful if you don't have it with you.

Videoconferencing and Distance Learning, who would've ever guessed you could go to school and never leave your living room or go to Alaska without leaving the classroom. Without videoconferencing would you ever be able to meet and talk to Barbara Bush, interview a renowned author like Jim Stovall, find out what it's like to live on the International Space Station by talking to an astronaut, or visit a classroom in Australia?

In my wikispace I hope you will find information that will be helpful to you as you begin your journey through our technological world or maybe this is a journey you have been on for a while like me. Never the less I hope the information I provide will benefit you as an educator whether it be with videoconferencing, podcasting, moodling or using Promethean Boards to deliver interactive lessons in the classroom.