Katy+Feeney+Essay+Page

Your essay should contain the following elements:

 * 1) Your Name and place of work (diocese, school, parish...)
 * 2) Title of Project


 * Write a 500 word essay: **
 * summarizing your DDBC experience and
 * how you plan to apply what you learned to your ministry.
 * Demonstrate: **
 * how you have applied your understanding of the ISTE Standards for Teachers and applied them to a faith learning environment.
 * **i**nclude reference to relevant research about technology and learning, especially as applied to faith settings, if appropriate.

== Please post your essay below. Your essay Due Date is December 13, 2016. ==

My experience with the Digital Discipleship Boot Camp has been great. Through the online sessions with the coaches and experts in integrating technology into faith-based settings, I have expanded my perspective and knowledge base. By seeing real-world examples of how social media can be used for positive community building and evangelization, I have changed a previous negative mindset. The DDBC also introduced me to many great resources of which I had previously been unaware. As a former principal who managed a 1:1 iPad program, I have also seen how the ISTE Standards for Administrators can apply to my current religious formation ministry.

//Online Sessions.// Although at times difficult to fit into a busy schedule, the webinars were always worth every minute! Being a “techie” already, there was some previous knowledge I had, but the perspective of the coach and community aspect of the experience was enjoyable and beneficial. I also greatly appreciated the flexibility offered when schedules needed the recorded webinar. I always came away with at least one good idea, and I implemented many of them right away – or they are on my “to do” list! For example, I was able to post my digital story on the homepage of my program’s website. Also, although I had already created the website, the webinar ideas were a constant source of how I could tweak and update the pages to make the website better.

//Social Media.// As a principal in a 1:1 iPad school, I have seen how risky social media can be for children. It has made me wary of it and resistant to its use. However, the DDBC has shown me how this technology can be “baptized” and used for the good! Especially with our millennial generation who are native to social media and use it all the time – we need to be able to reach them where they are. Even Pokeman can be leveraged – and apps developed to take the best parts of that and use them to evangelize and teach. My catechists and I are working on instagram projects as followup to the lessons.

//Other Resources.// One of the things I loved about the webinars was being exposed to the world wide web of resources out there. For example, the royalty free picture site is invaluable! I hope that the resources on the Wiki and blog stay up forever so that I can access them. There was so much to absorb in a relatively short period of time, and I look forward to getting back to a few of the videos.

//ISTE Standards.// As a principal I tried to implement the ISTE standards, but I see how important it is for those of us in religious formation to be visionary leaders in the role of technology. With such limited time with our students, it is imperative to explore how best to communicate the faith effectively to the “Digital Age Learning Culture.” The vast resources available through technology can keep us from “reinventing the wheel!”

There is much more to say, but my word allotment is done! I would add, though, a heart-felt “THANK YOU!” to the team. Bravo!!