Monday, April 4, 2011
One last thing before I move on to bigger things!
This has been a great journey into the technological world. I feel like I have learned so much but I know there is still just so much more to learn out there. I really think my favorite part of this whole experience has just been the overall benefit of being able to say that I have blogged now and discovered so much out there in the Web world. This has made me realize that there is some piece of technology that can be used for anything we do. In the future I will explore the web for tools to help me with projects. I feel that I may now have the upper hand on other people out there and that makes me feel great! As a teacher I will think back to this assignment and experience and look for ideas both to use in teaching and to challenge my students to excel further on their own terms. You cannot truly learn something until you get out there and just do it. I plan to keep up a blog if I can, maybe not this one, I can see myself in the future using a blog in the classroom. I also plan to continue using the RSS feed and google reader to stay connected and up to date on things that interest me. I am glad for this experience because it was both challenging and educational. I look forward to future challenges down the road.
Thing #23, The last thing!
The example I found that shows that the 23 things blog project is based on someone else's work is the credit section that is located on the right site of the page. This section is located on any page of this assignment no matter what links you click through. Creative Commons has made it possible for us to use this adaptation of someone else's work to learn and create from. I will use Creative Commons in the future as a teacher to make sure that I have not taken something that someone does not want to share with others. I will also be able to create something and decide if I want it to just be used by me or who all I would like to share with. I think that Creative Commons is a great thing to have a look forward to using it to my full potential in the future.
Thing #22
Education–reading
I have Reading, How To, and Cooperative Learning. The Reading binder has sources for helping with reading comprehension, finding the main idea, and learning to summarize a story. The How To binder has sources on how to strategies for teaching reading. Lastly the Cooperative Learning binder has sources for was to use cooperative learning in a reading lesson. LiveBinders could easily be used in the classroom to provide students a place to store sites that they have collected. Teachers could also easily set up a separate binder for each student so that it would be easy to modify the lesson to fit the individuals learning style. I think that this site is a great source and look forward to using it to its full potential. This site could also allow parents to keep up with what their student is doing at home and even be able to provide easy feedback for the teacher that could be stored in the students personal binder.
I have Reading, How To, and Cooperative Learning. The Reading binder has sources for helping with reading comprehension, finding the main idea, and learning to summarize a story. The How To binder has sources on how to strategies for teaching reading. Lastly the Cooperative Learning binder has sources for was to use cooperative learning in a reading lesson. LiveBinders could easily be used in the classroom to provide students a place to store sites that they have collected. Teachers could also easily set up a separate binder for each student so that it would be easy to modify the lesson to fit the individuals learning style. I think that this site is a great source and look forward to using it to its full potential. This site could also allow parents to keep up with what their student is doing at home and even be able to provide easy feedback for the teacher that could be stored in the students personal binder.
Thing #21
Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.
I have never actually made a video beside personally recording the footage so this site was a new experience for me. In no way do i consider myself a film expert. Really these videos are just a glorified slide show. You can make it personal by adding your own pictures and even your own recorded song or track. I would have liked to use a different section of the song for the video but I did not figure out how to do that. I am sure if I explore the site more I can learn so much more. I think this site would be great to be used in the classroom both by the teachers and by the students.
Thing # 20
I have always known that youtube can be used in many ways. I mainly use the site to watch or listen to music videos of songs I either really love or songs that I happen to not own. I think youtube is great site and is going to continue to grow in the many ways it can be used. I actually used youtube to enhance an assignment last semester. I need a quick place to upload a video so that I could both use it in a powerpoint and share it with others. With the many privacy options on youtube you can easily protect what you have uploaded.
I love the large variety of videos and categories that they can be placed in. It is very easy to search on youtube and with each video there are always similar videos placed on the sidebar. Having these similar videos is a great way to explore and expand your interests.
I have chosen a video on how to help students on reading comprehension in guided reading groups. Reading is important to me and I want to instill a love for reading in my students. I think it is important to always encourage students and provide positive feedback when teaching, especially when it comes to reading.
I love the large variety of videos and categories that they can be placed in. It is very easy to search on youtube and with each video there are always similar videos placed on the sidebar. Having these similar videos is a great way to explore and expand your interests.
I have chosen a video on how to help students on reading comprehension in guided reading groups. Reading is important to me and I want to instill a love for reading in my students. I think it is important to always encourage students and provide positive feedback when teaching, especially when it comes to reading.
Thing #19
Visit TeacherPop
I really liked this TeacherPop website and am excited to continue to use and learn from everything that it can provide. Social Networking sites while a distraction for me personally from school work are a great resource and can be used in so many ways. A teacher can use Social Networking sites to connect with fellow teachers and interact so that ideas can be exchanged and brains can share amazing knowledge. Until this blog post I had no idea that you could join the site imdb.com. I love this site, I use it all the time to look up actors or movies that I am seeing or have seen. I am a movie kind of person, I love seeing movies. Being able to join this site has opened the ability to share my interest and communicate with other people who love movies or T.V. shows. The site whatsonmybookshelf.com also caught my eye as an intriguing site. I look forward to exploring this site more and maybe taking advantage of all it has to offer. I love books and reading so I think that I could use this site in the future, although it is all about trading books and it is hard for me to let go of books.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Thing #18
Well I have both a Facebook account and a Twitter account. Now while I am on facebook pretty much everyday I do not use Twitter in the same way. I have actually recently decided to distance myself from facebook because I have begun to realize just how much I actually use it on a daily basis. I have already started following some teachers and educational based people on twitter and am excited to get information from their posts.
It is important for educators to know how Social Networking works so that they will be able to keep up with the times. This will allowing teachers to be able to communicate in so many different ways with their students. It will also provide different ways of understanding their students. To understand how the social networking sites are run and work teachers will be able use this to reach and get their students to work in the classroom. I really did not learn anything new about these sites since I have been using them for sometime now. This is not to say that I will never learn anything new from these sites, things are always changing and we learn new things all the time. I really like how it is so easy on both site to stay connected to people and how easily it is to keep everything to yourself by only sharing with certain people. On both sites it is easy to customize your profile and set it to private. I really think that Facebook is most useful in the long run. With twitter you can only share so much and communicate with people. With Facebook you can share more at once and the layout lets you share more than just words or a short link. I really do not think that either of these sites should be used in the classroom. The experiences I have had with these sites have been great and I will continue to use them but not in my classroom. Facebook is only a distraction from what needs to be done. I often find myself on Facebook for too long when I should be doing school work or something else that is productive. By bringing either of these sites into the classroom we are just asking for failure from our students. We all know how easily students are distracted and Facebook and Twitter would just make that distraction worse. All of these reasons do not even touch on what else could be seen on these sites when it should be time for school work.
Facebook and Twitter have their place in the world but that is not in the classroom.
It is important for educators to know how Social Networking works so that they will be able to keep up with the times. This will allowing teachers to be able to communicate in so many different ways with their students. It will also provide different ways of understanding their students. To understand how the social networking sites are run and work teachers will be able use this to reach and get their students to work in the classroom. I really did not learn anything new about these sites since I have been using them for sometime now. This is not to say that I will never learn anything new from these sites, things are always changing and we learn new things all the time. I really like how it is so easy on both site to stay connected to people and how easily it is to keep everything to yourself by only sharing with certain people. On both sites it is easy to customize your profile and set it to private. I really think that Facebook is most useful in the long run. With twitter you can only share so much and communicate with people. With Facebook you can share more at once and the layout lets you share more than just words or a short link. I really do not think that either of these sites should be used in the classroom. The experiences I have had with these sites have been great and I will continue to use them but not in my classroom. Facebook is only a distraction from what needs to be done. I often find myself on Facebook for too long when I should be doing school work or something else that is productive. By bringing either of these sites into the classroom we are just asking for failure from our students. We all know how easily students are distracted and Facebook and Twitter would just make that distraction worse. All of these reasons do not even touch on what else could be seen on these sites when it should be time for school work.
Facebook and Twitter have their place in the world but that is not in the classroom.
Thing #17
Before even looking at the Del.icio.us site I am already excited and know it will be a great and useful site. So many times I have wanted to access a site when away from my computer that I have book marked and I can't. I can definitely see this as a great tool for the classroom. This site is great not only for that on the go person who wants to access something quickly but it is great for the classroom. Students can all create an account and each class can have a group on the site. This site would give students the capability to share something with the whole class. If the whole class is doing a project on tree frogs then after searching for their own sites students can share and collect new resources from the Del.icio.us site. Teachers can easily use this site as well. It would be easier for teachers to share a link for a homework assignment for the whole class in one easy location.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Thing #16!
Well I have already stated in a previous that I have made iGoogle my homepage since I discovered its many resources. It appealed to me because it was so easy to make personal and at any time I can go in and add or delete what shows up on the main page in order to receive new and different updates. Online calenders can be useful because we get on and use the Internet everyday and it can be set up to send you updates and reminders about upcoming and important events. This would be great for everyone from the busy mom to the stressed student. In some ways to-do lists can get out of control. If you spend to much time create a to-do list when are you supposed to get the work done?
Although most computers already have a process for searching to find a document I found Google Desktop to be an appealing application to use. It seems these days I am all things Google. But who is to say that is a bad thing? I think organization tools will always be important and a great thing to share with friends, colleagues, and students.
Although most computers already have a process for searching to find a document I found Google Desktop to be an appealing application to use. It seems these days I am all things Google. But who is to say that is a bad thing? I think organization tools will always be important and a great thing to share with friends, colleagues, and students.
Thing #15
Being able to just enter a site and have the freedom to either create something new or edit an existing feature is a weird feeling. The Internet has changed so much even in the past years since I have been using it for school more. I don't know how I feel about someone having the ability to change what I have done and I don't really feel it right to go in and change what someone else has done. I think a wiki would be a great place though for students to be grouped by class. In these groups students could post papers or homework assignments and have them peer reviewed. This is a great way not only for the student to get help but have the chance to reach out and help someone else. I really just find it interesting that anyone can log in and make a change to what someone has posted, that is still mind blowing almost to me. Someone could have worked hard on what they posted and anyone can come in and make changes.
Things #14 Brainstorming
Brainstorming for projects in elementary school was always a fun part of class. Working with other students and making list of things or words that related to the main topic we were discussing. Flow charts are really a flow of how one idea progresses. It can have different directions but it usually flow into one or two answers. A flow chart is a great way for students to chart out a story line. Mind maps to me are a little more complex in how they work. Simple brainstorming can lead to so many different terms and a mind map allows students to start with word and branch out and group similar things together. Flow charts tell more of a story while mind maps are a great way to collect ideas on a topic.
I chose to use Gliffy for a flow chart because it seemed to have more tools for creating and experimenting with changes. It was a great experience to create a flow chart on a computer. I am so used to the old paper and pencil method. For a mind map I chose to use the bubbl.us site and was surprised at how easy it was to generate the new bubbles. These sites have made flow charts and mind maps more exciting and I can easily see how students would have fun creating and individualizing their own creations on sites like these.
I chose to use Gliffy for a flow chart because it seemed to have more tools for creating and experimenting with changes. It was a great experience to create a flow chart on a computer. I am so used to the old paper and pencil method. For a mind map I chose to use the bubbl.us site and was surprised at how easy it was to generate the new bubbles. These sites have made flow charts and mind maps more exciting and I can easily see how students would have fun creating and individualizing their own creations on sites like these.
Things #13
Zoho writer is a great site. Being able to write papers online and have others view them and make comments or suggestions could be a great tool in the classroom. Students could have papers online for not only peer review but even for the teacher to be able to grade. This to me would be a great way for students to easily work on their paper without having to worry about changing locations and always having the paper with them. If it is out on the web it is always there.
Google Docs was just as fun to use. I chose to make a drawing because I really have a passion for art. I think that Google Docs is yet another great tool that will allow students to create and share what they have created. I personally enjoy being able to create a drawing and easily sharing it with others. This would be a great tool for students to use for a homework assignment.
Having a way to access work anywhere on any Internet able computer is just another great reason to love the Web 2.0 tools. As to which of these to specific tools is better I would have to say that I cannot choose. They are both such great resources and could both be used for some of the same reasons but also have great differences. I really look forward to taking advantage of these tools not only personally but in my classroom in the future.
Having a way to access work anywhere on any Internet able computer is just another great reason to love the Web 2.0 tools. As to which of these to specific tools is better I would have to say that I cannot choose. They are both such great resources and could both be used for some of the same reasons but also have great differences. I really look forward to taking advantage of these tools not only personally but in my classroom in the future.
Thing #12 Google!
Once again before reaching this specific thing I have already explored the iGoogle tool. I believe i created one when I set up my Google Reader page. I have since then made it my homepage so that the add-ons I have selected will be there for me to few first thing on opening my Internet browser. I really think that iGoogle is a great resource to have because it can be made so personal to fit each person. I have also chosen to explore the Picasa web albums tool. I really enjoy photos and I thought this would yet another great place to share and enjoy photos.
I think that both of these tools could be a great asset in the classroom. Having an iGoogle for the class would be a great way to have favorite news updates all in one place to discuss maybe at the beginning of the day. This discussion would be a great way to connect what is taught in the classroom to what is happening in the outside world. With the Picasa tool the class could have a place to store and share personal photos and photos used for class projects.
I think that both of these tools could be a great asset in the classroom. Having an iGoogle for the class would be a great way to have favorite news updates all in one place to discuss maybe at the beginning of the day. This discussion would be a great way to connect what is taught in the classroom to what is happening in the outside world. With the Picasa tool the class could have a place to store and share personal photos and photos used for class projects.
Thing #11 Finding Feeds
Having a RSS feed circle is important and different for each person. Who wants to waste their precious time searching through things of no interest to them. I am very glad to have created an RSS feeder and have the ability to find everything in one place the is specifically of interest to me. I found using Technorati to be the easiest to use. This site was of interest to me because of the easy to use tabs at the top of the page that would easily take me to specific topics of interest. It was easy to use and navigate around this site. The search tool on this site was also the one I found the easiest to use. It is a great relief to find so much information in one easy to use location. I found the Syndic8 website to be the most difficult to use. I found some useful feeds about current trends in news and in education as well as some more off topic about arts and entertainment that I find of a personal interest to me. I mostly just used the search bar and some extensive clicking on links to find the feeds that were of interest to me. I think it is important to find just what you are looking for and I look forward to keeping up to date on the new feeds I have started to follow.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Thing #10
I discovered the Google Reader site when I searched and followed the educational blogs in the first few things for this project. Although I had already discovered this site I had not really learned how to really use and take advantage of its many uses. I really like that fact that I will now be able to access so many posts and updates all in one place. It is a great idea to help those people who want and need quick and easy updates to news. I think that having a reader for the classroom or just to follow educational blogs would be great to have as a resource. Being able to access many sites that could provide insights or ideas all at the same time would be great for teachers because we all know how limited of time teachers have between teaching the students and all the other work there is to do to prepare for the students. As far as a personal life it would be nice to have a place to access sites that of a personal interest to you and even news sites. For my own Google Reader I have both various educational blogs and sites and also some sites such as craft sites that I am interested in subscribed to and learning new things from. I am excited to have this easy access and continue to learn and expand the many sites I subscribe to.
In school this would be a great place to have students all keep a page that they each want to follow and be able for both them to be able to access easily and be able to share with classmates. If there is one site for each of the students to access it would make it easy for the teacher to follow along and observe what the students enjoy. Having posts all in one location will both make it easier to explain to students how to access the pages, but it will also make it easier for them to follow along and understand.
In school this would be a great place to have students all keep a page that they each want to follow and be able for both them to be able to access easily and be able to share with classmates. If there is one site for each of the students to access it would make it easy for the teacher to follow along and observe what the students enjoy. Having posts all in one location will both make it easier to explain to students how to access the pages, but it will also make it easier for them to follow along and understand.
Thing #9 Generating
For this post I explored Image generators that I searched for though Google. For the first one I found a site to create RSS feed buttons. I chose to explore and use this site because I had browsed future things and saw one about creating an RSS feeder page and I thought it would be a good idea to create one. It was a easy site to follow along and create something. It was easy to follow along and create a personalized button that can be displayed on a blog.
Next I found a site that would allow you to create a warning sign. I thought this would be a fun thing to create and personalize to use in the classroom. There are three sections to make this image your own and so many ways to make it an original. Many different fonts, sizes, and colors can be used.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Thing #8 Mashups!
I have been excited to do this post for a while now. Being able to create a mashup of photos just seemed so exciting to me. I think that a mashup could be used in the classroom to accent an assignment and make it look more fun to the students. A photo mashup at the top of the page would be an eye-catcher. Students are not going to be interested in a boring assignment so as teachers we need to keep learning fun and productive. For this blog I chose to create a puzzle of a picture of one of the other dogs we have at my house, our little four year old english bulldog. I think it is really cool how you can just submit a photo and it can be created in to a puzzle. A puzzle picture would be great for an assignment were the students have to work through clues and find the answer or bigger picture. To me sharing photos online is something that you should do with caution.
Thing #7 Flickr
I have visited the Flickr site many times before but have never really gotten the full effect. Mostly when I visited it was to just have another site where I could look up pictures of the latest celebrities or find photos for a school project. I was excited to get the chance to take another look at the site. I chose to upload some of the pictures of the pets we have at my house. Pets and animals are important and close to my hear. These are some pictures of my dogs who have been in the family for ten years now. They are brothers even though they might not look like it and they mean the world to me. The top picture is of Bowinkle and the bottom is Rocky.
I think that Flickr would be a great resource to use in the classroom. It would be appropriate only if the right restrictions were placed on the account being used and the students were supervised. I think that if a teacher or even myself once I am a teacher would want to keep the educational Flickr separate from a personal Flickr. There are many ways to share personal photos on Flickr and many ways to keep those photos private and most people want to keep them that way. An educational Flickr would be used to research photos that would be used to further the education in the classroom.
The only other place that I have ever upload pictures onto the Internet is Facebook. This experience was different because these photos are not really for everyone to search but more for just your friends to see. Also with Facebook you cannot search and find as much of a variety of photos as you can on Flickr. Both places that I have uploaded photos have been relatively simple in the how-to process. I think that since any photos you choose can be placed as private than the ones that I choose to leave public I would have no problem with. I am somewhat cautious as to what I leave for just anyone to see. You never know who is out there reading what you say or looking at what you post.
I think that Flickr would be a great resource to use in the classroom. It would be appropriate only if the right restrictions were placed on the account being used and the students were supervised. I think that if a teacher or even myself once I am a teacher would want to keep the educational Flickr separate from a personal Flickr. There are many ways to share personal photos on Flickr and many ways to keep those photos private and most people want to keep them that way. An educational Flickr would be used to research photos that would be used to further the education in the classroom.
The only other place that I have ever upload pictures onto the Internet is Facebook. This experience was different because these photos are not really for everyone to search but more for just your friends to see. Also with Facebook you cannot search and find as much of a variety of photos as you can on Flickr. Both places that I have uploaded photos have been relatively simple in the how-to process. I think that since any photos you choose can be placed as private than the ones that I choose to leave public I would have no problem with. I am somewhat cautious as to what I leave for just anyone to see. You never know who is out there reading what you say or looking at what you post.
Thing #6
For this blog I chose to explore the Web 2.0 tool Remember the Milk. This site is a place where you can create tasks and lists in order to make life a little more organized. It provides many ways to keep up with your lists without even having to go back to the original site. One way that really caught my attention was through an app available on itunes for an iPod touch or iPhone. Once I looked up this app I discovered it was free. Remember the Milk was easy to sign up for and has many was to learn how to us the site. I think that this sire would be acceptable for an older group of students or just for teachers to keep up with tasks and assignments. I find a great since of accomplishment when I can successfully mark something off a to-do list I have made. This is a great feeling and students need to learn to want that sense of accomplishment because it will help them be productive in everything that they do.
Upon exploring the site more I discovered that there is a blog and even a twitter page that you can follow and get more insight on how to us the site. This seems like a great site for helping teachers and students be more organized. Who doesn't need more ways to organize their life? The more I explore this website the more interesting things I find about how it can be used. There is a way to have a map and track your tasks that way. I really look forward to exploring more and even using this site to help my be more organized in the coming months and years.
Upon exploring the site more I discovered that there is a blog and even a twitter page that you can follow and get more insight on how to us the site. This seems like a great site for helping teachers and students be more organized. Who doesn't need more ways to organize their life? The more I explore this website the more interesting things I find about how it can be used. There is a way to have a map and track your tasks that way. I really look forward to exploring more and even using this site to help my be more organized in the coming months and years.
Thing #5
School 2.0 to is just the beginning of what education will be as technology develops. The way technology changes has affected education so much in the years I have been in school. Thinking back on elementary school I do not really remember much time spent on computers or learning anything about them. That is not the case in today's classrooms. Just last semester when I was observing in a Kindergarten classroom I noticed about 5 computers in the classroom and was amazed. I have never really thought about how a child at such a young age could use a computer in an educational way. Even in the past couple years of my own education computers and the Internet have become such a vital role in the way we learn. Society could not survive without the Internet. School and Web 2.0 will help students learn how to master the Internet and technology that will need to know once out in the real world. People today use the web for so many things it would be a shame to not include technology into education. Web 2.0 is making it possible for people to stay connected easier and be able to share information. There is no escaping the fact that technology is there. There are so many ways to use it in the classroom in order to provide different and more creative ways of learning.
I like what the article Web 2.0 is Not About Version Numbers or Betas had to say. Web 2.0 is not technically a second version of the web but just a new way of working the old version. With Web 2.0 normal people are able to use and create on the web. It is a great and easy way to use and learn on the web. With the web easy yo navigate through it becomes easier for people to teach young children or any non-technically literate person. The other article that I really enjoyed was Web 2.0 A Guide for Educators. Web 2.0 is not going to go away so we need to embrace it and take all we can from it. Social networking sites are just one great thing that we use. Blogs just like this one are a great way for people to easily express feeling, ideas, and opinions all with out having to figure out how to format a website. I for one do not know how to format a program on a computer, not that I am against learning how to do that.
I believe that by having School 2.0 at our fingertips we as educators can use technology to our full advantage. Schools in the future will definitely become centered on technology. There is no reason for students not to learn by way of technology because technology is such a major part of society. I cannot imagine the world with out the Internet, and in the future society will become even more dependent on technology.
I like what the article Web 2.0 is Not About Version Numbers or Betas had to say. Web 2.0 is not technically a second version of the web but just a new way of working the old version. With Web 2.0 normal people are able to use and create on the web. It is a great and easy way to use and learn on the web. With the web easy yo navigate through it becomes easier for people to teach young children or any non-technically literate person. The other article that I really enjoyed was Web 2.0 A Guide for Educators. Web 2.0 is not going to go away so we need to embrace it and take all we can from it. Social networking sites are just one great thing that we use. Blogs just like this one are a great way for people to easily express feeling, ideas, and opinions all with out having to figure out how to format a website. I for one do not know how to format a program on a computer, not that I am against learning how to do that.
I believe that by having School 2.0 at our fingertips we as educators can use technology to our full advantage. Schools in the future will definitely become centered on technology. There is no reason for students not to learn by way of technology because technology is such a major part of society. I cannot imagine the world with out the Internet, and in the future society will become even more dependent on technology.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Thing #4 Commenting
The idea of commenting to me is the same as keeping a flow going in a conversation. Bloggers will assume that no one is reading their blog and might get discouraged to continue posting. No matter the age of a blogger no one should be discouraged to express themselves. I think that commenting is important in maintaining a connection to ones blog. Without the feeling that you are reaching someone with what you write than what is the point of putting it out there in the first place. I believe that everything happens for a reason. I also feel that writers write for at least two reasons. Reason one is to express themselves and share with the world their view on something. Reason two is to reach people and maybe give them something to believe in or something that lets them see another side of themselves. Comments and reviews on someones writing is just as important as the writing.
Something that caught my attention when reading about commenting on blogs was relating back to your own blog so that the blog you comment on will become aware of yours and a connection and communication can begin. I think that this is a great idea. If you find a blog that shares ideals with you then you should want to put in you 2 cents about what they post and hope maybe that they will do the same. Just like conversations are not fun if they are one sided neither is any type of communication. A blog without comments or reaching out is much like a conversation with yourself.
One source says that bloggers want the comments. If we did not want people to read what we have to say and create opinions on the subject than we would not be sharing with the whole world out here on the Internet. Comments rather constructive or augmentative all matter and will give the blogger some assertion that they are being heard.
The classmates' blogs that I have chosen to comment on are Theresa Green, Michelle Wieser, Amy Rutledge, Kala Burch, and Jesse Brewer. I chose their blogs mostly at random to provide various points of view for me to read but upon reading many posts I found some similar ideas to what I have had. I look forward to following their posts and continuing to learn their views on educational tools.
The two outside blogs I chose to follow and comment on are Creating Life Long Learners and The Center for Learning and Performance Technologies. I chose these two blogs because they provide such good insight into both teaching and using technology in teaching. I again look forward to following these blogs and learning more even after this class is over.
Something that caught my attention when reading about commenting on blogs was relating back to your own blog so that the blog you comment on will become aware of yours and a connection and communication can begin. I think that this is a great idea. If you find a blog that shares ideals with you then you should want to put in you 2 cents about what they post and hope maybe that they will do the same. Just like conversations are not fun if they are one sided neither is any type of communication. A blog without comments or reaching out is much like a conversation with yourself.
One source says that bloggers want the comments. If we did not want people to read what we have to say and create opinions on the subject than we would not be sharing with the whole world out here on the Internet. Comments rather constructive or augmentative all matter and will give the blogger some assertion that they are being heard.
The classmates' blogs that I have chosen to comment on are Theresa Green, Michelle Wieser, Amy Rutledge, Kala Burch, and Jesse Brewer. I chose their blogs mostly at random to provide various points of view for me to read but upon reading many posts I found some similar ideas to what I have had. I look forward to following their posts and continuing to learn their views on educational tools.
The two outside blogs I chose to follow and comment on are Creating Life Long Learners and The Center for Learning and Performance Technologies. I chose these two blogs because they provide such good insight into both teaching and using technology in teaching. I again look forward to following these blogs and learning more even after this class is over.
Thing #3 Blogging and Teaching
There are so many ways that a blog could be useful in the classroom setting. As much as people use the Internet on a daily basis having a classroom blog would be a great way to reach parents. Instead of sending letters home all the time or sending tons of emails a blog could be created for every parent to read. Also a blog would be a quick way for parents to reply and provide feedback to what is going on in the classroom. I think that for an older group of students blogs would be a great way for students to find their assignments or even post personally reflections about assignments.Most teachers are required to have a up to date website. Websites are great for providing links and displaying the classroom environment. Blogs to me would be easier for teachers to update.
Besides the many ways that a blog would be useful for the classroom and teaching there are many other ways a blog could be useful for a teacher. Blogs could create an easy way for teachers to communicate with each other. Teachers could communicate with the teachers they work with our even have contact with teachers all over. An educational blog like that would be a great way for teachers young or old to share stories or insights and be able to help each other.
Besides the many ways that a blog would be useful for the classroom and teaching there are many other ways a blog could be useful for a teacher. Blogs could create an easy way for teachers to communicate with each other. Teachers could communicate with the teachers they work with our even have contact with teachers all over. An educational blog like that would be a great way for teachers young or old to share stories or insights and be able to help each other.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Thing #2 Creating a Blog
The world of blogging is new to me. I never imagined myself the type to have a blog and now here I am with one. I decided that it would be best to just use my full real name as my postings name so to not have any confusion and keep it simple. I think for a personal blog a creative fun name would be appropriate there. For my blog name I just chose Melissa 3040 so that it will say who I am and the purpose for this blog. It is not very creative but sometimes simple is better. I could end up having a creative day and changing my blog title, I just thought I would leave it simple to start off since I am new to this whole blogging world.
I do many things on the internet on a daily basis so setting up a blog really was no different than just registering for any other website. Creating this blog was really not that difficult it was actually more exciting than difficult. I had fun making it my own and changing the theme and the background. Knowing my changing style and mood I am sure the theme and background will change often. I like the idea of creating something out there in the internet and hope that someday I will have a better knowledge of how to create things and use them to my advantage both personally and academically.
I tried to make my avatar look as much like me as I could. I think the avatar reflects my laid back personality. To me a simple t-shirt and jeans outfit is one of the most comfortable things to wear. I really think my avatar expresses this side of me. I chose not create an avatar totally different from who I am because I think it is best to be who you are not try to be someone else.
I do many things on the internet on a daily basis so setting up a blog really was no different than just registering for any other website. Creating this blog was really not that difficult it was actually more exciting than difficult. I had fun making it my own and changing the theme and the background. Knowing my changing style and mood I am sure the theme and background will change often. I like the idea of creating something out there in the internet and hope that someday I will have a better knowledge of how to create things and use them to my advantage both personally and academically.
I tried to make my avatar look as much like me as I could. I think the avatar reflects my laid back personality. To me a simple t-shirt and jeans outfit is one of the most comfortable things to wear. I really think my avatar expresses this side of me. I chose not create an avatar totally different from who I am because I think it is best to be who you are not try to be someone else.
Thing #1 Lifelong Learning
People always say that you learn something new everyday and I really do believe this is true. One person can not possibly know everything there is to know especially since something new happens everyday. I think that especially as a teacher it is important to be a lifelong learner so that we are learning alongside our students and not just teaching the same thing all the time. As we learn new things we modify how we teach and therefore how our students learn.
I always like to think about what is going to be the hardest part of a situation first. To me the hardest habit of the 7 1/2 habits would be having confidence. The confidence I have does not travel further than the inside of my head. I often find myself not confident enough to be more outgoing in my personal life as well as my academic life. This is something I am working on building. My future as a teacher and a lifelong learner is dependent on me becoming more confident in all that I do.
The easiest habit for me would probably be to use technology to my advantage. In this day and age there is not a day that goes by that we do not use technology in some way. The way I see is it is if technology is there for me to use it then I should use it to the full extent possible.
I am very excited to be starting my journey in using the Web 2.0 tools. I hope that working in this class will teach me new things and open the world of technology for me. I am most excited about just learning all the ways that I can use technology to further my students learning once I am in the classroom. Technology is never going to go away in fact it will never stop growing. Learning how to use it and then having the ability to adapt to the changes will make teaching with technology so much easier. Students are going to be subject to many things everyday that will demand there knowledge on technology.
I look forward to this blog being both educational and a way to help me learn to open up more and be more confident. Here is to new experiences and good times!
I always like to think about what is going to be the hardest part of a situation first. To me the hardest habit of the 7 1/2 habits would be having confidence. The confidence I have does not travel further than the inside of my head. I often find myself not confident enough to be more outgoing in my personal life as well as my academic life. This is something I am working on building. My future as a teacher and a lifelong learner is dependent on me becoming more confident in all that I do.
The easiest habit for me would probably be to use technology to my advantage. In this day and age there is not a day that goes by that we do not use technology in some way. The way I see is it is if technology is there for me to use it then I should use it to the full extent possible.
I am very excited to be starting my journey in using the Web 2.0 tools. I hope that working in this class will teach me new things and open the world of technology for me. I am most excited about just learning all the ways that I can use technology to further my students learning once I am in the classroom. Technology is never going to go away in fact it will never stop growing. Learning how to use it and then having the ability to adapt to the changes will make teaching with technology so much easier. Students are going to be subject to many things everyday that will demand there knowledge on technology.
I look forward to this blog being both educational and a way to help me learn to open up more and be more confident. Here is to new experiences and good times!
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