Capstone+Essay+Diane+Kledzik

Capstone Essay Diane Kledzik Diocese of St. Petersburg 6363 9th Ave. N. St. Petersburg, FL 33710 727-341-6839 dmk@dosp.org

The Summer Institute for Technology in Ministry 2011 was a course that I was hesitant to register for. Do I really need to know these topics being covered? Do I know enough to skip a few? Will there be much work and do I have time for this? What if I am not available when the webinars are being offered? What if I don’t know enough and am way behind the others? How will this benefit me and those with whom I work?

Needless to say, once I took the plunge, with coaches in tow and with the support of my fellow classmates and colleagues, my desire to learn new ways of taking in the world and communicating God’s message with the world has greatly expanded. My fear of using technology that is unfamiliar to me has drastically reduced. Prior to this course, I believed that I just didn’t have what it took to influence the world or learn through new media, and now I am commenting on blogs, creating wikis, meeting online and encouraging pastors and colleagues to embrace social media.

I have applied ISTE’s NETS•T by communicating relevant information and ideas to my constituents and colleagues through Facebook, Wikispaces, Animoto, GoToMeeting and Constant Contact, especially as I publicized, informed and trained small community leaders for //Lifting Up Our Hearts//. I have begun modeling effective use of current and emerging digital tools through these same methods and through the use of a GPS, digital camera, Glogster, and Geocaching in my Capstone Project, Catholic Geocaching Pilgrimage.

In learning to use new media, I have spent hours trying to grasp the nuances of different programs and devices, and as I go, I am realizing that I am saving time and money in the long run (Google Docs, Doodle, Skype, GoToMeeting, Google+), that I’m providing a more professional product (Wikispaces, Constant Contact), that I’m more respectful of those with whom I am communicating (Constant Contact), I am saving paper (Google Docs, Wikispaces, Glogster), I am learning more about almost anything (YouTube) and that I am using some creative juices that I didn’t think I had (Animoto, Glogster, YouTube, Geocaching).

I am a digital immigrant and I am becoming skilled at living and communicating effectively in this participatory culture. I firmly believe what is stated in the introduction to the guidelines for //Social Media at the Bishop Larking Pastoral Center of the Diocese of St. Petersburg// that “…we must put out into the “deep waters” of the internet, and in a special way into social media,” as “there the Church will be able to connect…and answer the command to spread the good news.” I do have something to offer others and if I want to reach those on the fringes of faith as well as those who are engaged, I must be where they are and be willing to learn the language and the culture.

I jumped in, I am swimming and I can’t wait to learn new strokes!