I cannot believe how much I have learned in such a short time. I have never felt such a need to connect the way I do now, not only with students, friends, colleagues, and strangers.
I was just chatting with a teacher yesterday about how "easy" students have it today. I remember well typing and typing away on a paper only to discover I had to edit, correct an error, and basically re-type the whole page AGAIN. I feel as if I could go back to college I could complete it in half the time.
I really have a need for the entire staff, including administration to take this course. I KNOW there is so much that has been presented in this course that could add to their curriculum and their lives.
The major thing I have taken away is that a lot of us are teaching using ancient methods while the world is FLYING by us. I am thinking of a Dr. Seuss quote..."Oh, the places you'll go" for some reason.
Educators need to take a look at what they can and cannot do within their classroom. I think you need innovative leadership to allow teachers to explore all of the instruments that have been presented to us within this class.
One feeling or emotion I suppose I feel is maybe what lottery winners feel when they find out they have the winning numbers. Just stunned at what is out there, knowing there is so much more to learn, and very possibly some of the things I have learned may already be "old."
Although my blog is not creative by any means, nor am I a writer, I feel COMPELLED to blog. I almost feel as though my tiny bit of creativity that lurks somewhere in my mind has been nudged and stimulated to grow. I think I have been really stagnant for a long time and it reminds me of how I felt when I was a new teacher in my 20's.
I will take away the feeling of wanting to explore more than ever and possibly enroll in classes to learn more of the basics of computer technology. I have a very small class of special ed. students for language arts and I am churning over ideas figuring out where I should start!! I also want to take teachers and show them things I have learned. But, because there is no time to do this, I will highly recommend they take this class. PLEASE offer it as much as you can!
I know a lot of hard work went into putting this course together and I appreciate it. It's been a while since I have gotten excited about any course!!
I LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Thing 22
My Wiki.......... http://msladleystudyskills.wikispaces.com I am still waiting for friends to add their .02. Not sure when this will occur, but I knew I couldn't wait forever to finish my assignment.
Well, this is my second wiki. My first one was geared toward retiring in Key West and was just too hard for me to figure out!! I can see that through time you could do a lot with this. I am still not sold on it. I think my brain is on overload with everything that I have learned. I think I am not sold on it because it is not as easy as all of the other assignments. I figured out that the directions provided(even on the site)did not work/apply to me as I was doing them so I learned as I went. It is definitely one of those things where you must work with it quite a bit in order to be comfortable. But, I felt that way about blogging too when I started!!! Ha! Ha! So, being an old dog, I know that learning new tricks just takes time.
I think that uploading and adding to a blog is easier than a wiki. I am also still hung up on people editing things and I realize you can do something about that, but it is just a weird feeling for me right now. In fact, I threatened a teacher/friend not to screw up my wiki and to come get me if she wanted to add to it or edit it!!! :-)
Well, this is my second wiki. My first one was geared toward retiring in Key West and was just too hard for me to figure out!! I can see that through time you could do a lot with this. I am still not sold on it. I think my brain is on overload with everything that I have learned. I think I am not sold on it because it is not as easy as all of the other assignments. I figured out that the directions provided(even on the site)did not work/apply to me as I was doing them so I learned as I went. It is definitely one of those things where you must work with it quite a bit in order to be comfortable. But, I felt that way about blogging too when I started!!! Ha! Ha! So, being an old dog, I know that learning new tricks just takes time.
I think that uploading and adding to a blog is easier than a wiki. I am also still hung up on people editing things and I realize you can do something about that, but it is just a weird feeling for me right now. In fact, I threatened a teacher/friend not to screw up my wiki and to come get me if she wanted to add to it or edit it!!! :-)
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Thing 21
My only experience before this class was Wikipedia. I had always thought that was pretty much it and did not know about other wiki's. This was a total learning experiment.
http://mrsibrahim.wikispaces.com/ This was the wiki I found and actually replied to the 2nd grade class. They did a great job!
My confusion probably came in the form of being able to edit and throw in your own .02 on the wikipedia. Not sure if you can still do that. I am amazed how students will go to wikipedia as though it is the gospel truth/knowledge on everything. I almost BEG them to avoid it and it goes in one ear and out the other. REally.
So, after looking around, I am assuming I am correct in saying that you can keep your wiki private??? Password protected??
I think that having a wiki might have some privacy issues such as will ALL parents allow their child's work to be public? Probably letters of permission have to go home before this occurs and I don't know if this would be accessible on my work computer. That could also be a problem.
Having a wiki as a school staff would be a great idea. I think if teachers could do this at school and as long as they had access it would be a lot of fun for kids to share work and get connected with other classes anywhere in the world. The possibilities are endless when it comes to meeting and collaborating with peers.
I know I am rambling now, but for some reason I might be leery of creepy people seeing what kids are doing too. I guess that could be considered a major stick in the wheel, but imagine someone out there has answers for this. Cool ideas!!!!
http://mrsibrahim.wikispaces.com/ This was the wiki I found and actually replied to the 2nd grade class. They did a great job!
My confusion probably came in the form of being able to edit and throw in your own .02 on the wikipedia. Not sure if you can still do that. I am amazed how students will go to wikipedia as though it is the gospel truth/knowledge on everything. I almost BEG them to avoid it and it goes in one ear and out the other. REally.
So, after looking around, I am assuming I am correct in saying that you can keep your wiki private??? Password protected??
I think that having a wiki might have some privacy issues such as will ALL parents allow their child's work to be public? Probably letters of permission have to go home before this occurs and I don't know if this would be accessible on my work computer. That could also be a problem.
Having a wiki as a school staff would be a great idea. I think if teachers could do this at school and as long as they had access it would be a lot of fun for kids to share work and get connected with other classes anywhere in the world. The possibilities are endless when it comes to meeting and collaborating with peers.
I know I am rambling now, but for some reason I might be leery of creepy people seeing what kids are doing too. I guess that could be considered a major stick in the wheel, but imagine someone out there has answers for this. Cool ideas!!!!
Friday, January 1, 2010
Thing 20
Well, I think I have had a slight epiphany and I could be 100% wrong! I always hear about people listening to NPR and wondering if this is how they listen to it??? Via podcast on their computer??? Ha! Not sure and probably just need to ask them people who write that!!
Anyway, I felt like I downloaded for a year in order to complete this assignment. Truly, I was ready to quit multiple times and thought it would be easier to do on a mac at work!! But, worked through it and am officially subscribing to The Suze Orman Show podcast. I am currently reading Dave Ramsey's Financial Makeover book and was hoping to find him since my cable tv provider does not allow me to watch his show.
My computer did not seem to pleased with the downloading today or it could have been my skills????!!!!!!!
My main concern for this is that I learned many moons ago that I am a visual learner and cannot listen to anything at ALL when I am working on the computer. I have been this way since I was a child and cannot begin to concentrate to anyone talking to me while working. I also do poorly talking on the phone and driving so I don't!!!!
So, yes this has opened up my eyes dramatically, but don't know if I would be utilizing it much???? Not sure. Always willing to give it a try though!
I used Podcast Alley to initially look around. Seemed fairly easy. I am constantly baffled as to where you get the time to listen to all of these things. Saw many things I would be interested in listening to, but no idea when I could.
Anyway, I felt like I downloaded for a year in order to complete this assignment. Truly, I was ready to quit multiple times and thought it would be easier to do on a mac at work!! But, worked through it and am officially subscribing to The Suze Orman Show podcast. I am currently reading Dave Ramsey's Financial Makeover book and was hoping to find him since my cable tv provider does not allow me to watch his show.
My computer did not seem to pleased with the downloading today or it could have been my skills????!!!!!!!
My main concern for this is that I learned many moons ago that I am a visual learner and cannot listen to anything at ALL when I am working on the computer. I have been this way since I was a child and cannot begin to concentrate to anyone talking to me while working. I also do poorly talking on the phone and driving so I don't!!!!
So, yes this has opened up my eyes dramatically, but don't know if I would be utilizing it much???? Not sure. Always willing to give it a try though!
I used Podcast Alley to initially look around. Seemed fairly easy. I am constantly baffled as to where you get the time to listen to all of these things. Saw many things I would be interested in listening to, but no idea when I could.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Thing 19 Podcasts
http://www.internetsafetypodcast.com/
http://www.podcastdirectory.com/podcasts/archive.php?iid=10167 English Idioms and Slang
Not sure if I did this correctly, but I didn't really realize podcasts were out there. I do listen to a radio station from Texas occasionally, but realize now that I could listen to a particular show when I want to and don't have to be home to catch it live the way I have done on vacation.
My thinking on lower elementary students doing podcasts is that it is nothing but learning for them and entertainment for their parents. I can see that for professional development it would serve a large audience and guest speaker doesn't need to travel. I love the teacher notes concept. I haven't seen it truly used in person in an educational setting, but can only imagine what students could do with this. I think it would be a fun way for students to present projects and to view other projects. It would also be a fun way for schools to communicate with other schools and set up a "sister" type school in other states and other countries.
http://www.podcastdirectory.com/podcasts/archive.php?iid=10167 English Idioms and Slang
Not sure if I did this correctly, but I didn't really realize podcasts were out there. I do listen to a radio station from Texas occasionally, but realize now that I could listen to a particular show when I want to and don't have to be home to catch it live the way I have done on vacation.
My thinking on lower elementary students doing podcasts is that it is nothing but learning for them and entertainment for their parents. I can see that for professional development it would serve a large audience and guest speaker doesn't need to travel. I love the teacher notes concept. I haven't seen it truly used in person in an educational setting, but can only imagine what students could do with this. I think it would be a fun way for students to present projects and to view other projects. It would also be a fun way for schools to communicate with other schools and set up a "sister" type school in other states and other countries.
Thing 18
Seasons Greetings
View more presentations from Sven Tumba Sport for Education.
This was very easy to do. I looked through several before coming back to a page and had not seen the one I ended up using. Nice pictures and message so it wasn't too hard to decide. One of the things that has hit me over and over through this class is that there is a population of kids who cannot write or read well, but they are very smart and their gift is in the arts. I can see many students excel with photography or other art forms and getting their work out to the public which would never have happened before. I believe that this is a wonderful way for students to do presentations and not only share with the teacher, but students, family, staff, and the world!!
Thing 17 Online Productivity
Well, I am a person who has post it notes EVERYWHERE. I have two calendars within my visual space as I type at home. I have two calendars on my desk at school. I do not have a fancy cell phone to store anything or simply don't think I have that app. since it is a simple phone.
Between being a single mom of an active son, teacher with meetings, and scheduling activities and appointments I would venture that Remember the Milk and 30 Boxes will be two of my new best friends!! I have TRIED to carry something in my purse. I am forever having to wait until I get home to schedule something at work. I think the 30 Boxes will take care of that need and the Remember the Milk will get rid of post it notes I keep in my pockets, in the car next to my seat, or on my mirror..............
I am thinking I am loving that 30 boxes right now!!!!!! Plus, I think this would be a good thing to have at work. Instead of sending out paper calendars do it all online and update for the staff. Heading back to work Monday with lots of cool ideas!!
As a teacher, I already have a web site for current classwork/homework. Thinking I could do something differently and for no money involved!! :-)
Between being a single mom of an active son, teacher with meetings, and scheduling activities and appointments I would venture that Remember the Milk and 30 Boxes will be two of my new best friends!! I have TRIED to carry something in my purse. I am forever having to wait until I get home to schedule something at work. I think the 30 Boxes will take care of that need and the Remember the Milk will get rid of post it notes I keep in my pockets, in the car next to my seat, or on my mirror..............
I am thinking I am loving that 30 boxes right now!!!!!! Plus, I think this would be a good thing to have at work. Instead of sending out paper calendars do it all online and update for the staff. Heading back to work Monday with lots of cool ideas!!
As a teacher, I already have a web site for current classwork/homework. Thinking I could do something differently and for no money involved!! :-)
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