Sunday, February 15, 2009
#7
I would never have imagined myself as a blogger. Not only am I putting my thoughts out on the web but I am commenting on others blogs. This is a huge jump for me. My technology skills have not progressed much past e-mail and powerpoint up until now. It really is empowering to participate in this PFK. I really do feel these skills not only improve my professional skills, but it also adds knowledge that I will use in my personal life.
#6
It is cracking me up reading other people in the classes posts. I am seeing a new side to people I have worked with for years. Not only do you see the funny side to people, but you also get to see their professional interests and where their passions are. I think it will also allow me to get access to blogs and sources that I would not have found on my own. It truly creates an environment to share ideas and resources more quickly. We are always encouraged to work smarter not harder. Using technology is another way to achieve that goal. Everyone in education strives to meet the goal of working smarter.
#5 RSS reader
I am going to love this RSS feeder I can already tell. As I started exploring some of the readers features I found an article about web services to help the disabled have access to books on the web. I can see that in a world where I rarely get to the Sunday paper, RSS is going to be valuable. We all have good intentions about staying up with research and latest ideas in education, but somewhere along the way life takes over. I can add this feed to my iphone and then I will be able to stay up with things as they come in. I am going to feel so on top of it. My goal is to not get caught up with every little piece of info that comes in and just focus on the items that I have a true interest in. Wish me luck!!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Thing #4
I really enjoyed several of the blogs that was recommended on 23 Things. The class that blogged about the duck nest on their playground was greatness. I can imagine an entire class standing around a computer as they composed their classes adventures for others to share with them. I love how their personal artwork was included. By the power of one classes blog an entire campus was mobilized and got in on the project.
I can see where blogs can be a positive outlet for students to discuss their feelings about their education. I was very impressed by a fifth graders ability to speak so clearly about their goals and feeling about their education. He had clearly decided what direction his education was going to take. He also felt so definite about it that he intended to share those feelings with the world through his blog. Having students share ideas and feelings is definitely one genera for a blog. I think I enjoyed that genera best.
It is interesting to read colleges thoughts on education and what they are doing with students. I can see where this definitely generates ideas for others. I am a big believer in not reinventing the wheel. Just taking the wheel and improving on it. There is so much out there on the web!!
I think reading blogs is certainly different that reading a book. Blogs are interactive and ever changing. When you read a book it is one dimensional. It is the writers thoughts alone on the page. A blog gives you the unique ability to comment on another persons thoughts and expand an idea that is started thousands of miles away.
Blogs would definitely facilitate learning for students. In a blog students can learn in a style that they feel passionately about. They can be creative with technology and express their ideas with their peers. Their peers being the world at large. That would be extremely motivating for any student I have ever known
I can see where blogs can be a positive outlet for students to discuss their feelings about their education. I was very impressed by a fifth graders ability to speak so clearly about their goals and feeling about their education. He had clearly decided what direction his education was going to take. He also felt so definite about it that he intended to share those feelings with the world through his blog. Having students share ideas and feelings is definitely one genera for a blog. I think I enjoyed that genera best.
It is interesting to read colleges thoughts on education and what they are doing with students. I can see where this definitely generates ideas for others. I am a big believer in not reinventing the wheel. Just taking the wheel and improving on it. There is so much out there on the web!!
I think reading blogs is certainly different that reading a book. Blogs are interactive and ever changing. When you read a book it is one dimensional. It is the writers thoughts alone on the page. A blog gives you the unique ability to comment on another persons thoughts and expand an idea that is started thousands of miles away.
Blogs would definitely facilitate learning for students. In a blog students can learn in a style that they feel passionately about. They can be creative with technology and express their ideas with their peers. Their peers being the world at large. That would be extremely motivating for any student I have ever known
Thing #2
I really enjoyed the videos. It is amazing to think in terms of all the technology young people have access to today. The fact the kids are training for jobs that do not exist yet is amazing to me. The article talked about all the ways that the web can be used in education and truly make it interactive between teacher and student was way beyond anything I had ever really considered. I have to admit that I am embarrassed by that statement, but it is a true statement just the same.
I work in special education. I am a coordinator so a great deal of my time is not longer hands on with kids, but I want to try and share some of these ideas with the staff I work with. Special needs learners are often some of the most difficult kids to motivate. They have tried for so long but it does not come easy so they no longer see value in what education is trying to sell them. Would it not be much easier for them to tap in if we spoke their language. I don't know a kid one who has a disability who does not love technology. It gives them a voice and often an even playing field.
I hope to model some of the ideas teachers could use with students by using those same ideas to communicate with teachers. I am going to kick around the idea of a blog with the other special education coordinators. I also need to use other people's blogs as a reference for myself. That is not one of the items that are usually in my tools box when I go to learn something new. I am rather excited about my new green toolbox with all my new technology tools I am gathering. Home Depot hadnt seen nothing yet!!
I work in special education. I am a coordinator so a great deal of my time is not longer hands on with kids, but I want to try and share some of these ideas with the staff I work with. Special needs learners are often some of the most difficult kids to motivate. They have tried for so long but it does not come easy so they no longer see value in what education is trying to sell them. Would it not be much easier for them to tap in if we spoke their language. I don't know a kid one who has a disability who does not love technology. It gives them a voice and often an even playing field.
I hope to model some of the ideas teachers could use with students by using those same ideas to communicate with teachers. I am going to kick around the idea of a blog with the other special education coordinators. I also need to use other people's blogs as a reference for myself. That is not one of the items that are usually in my tools box when I go to learn something new. I am rather excited about my new green toolbox with all my new technology tools I am gathering. Home Depot hadnt seen nothing yet!!
Thing #1
Technology scary and wonderful. I am not a tech person but I can get by. I am looking forward to what I can learn in this on-line class. Tech people have always amazed me. They can create another world through the use of technology. My goals are not that high!!! I am excited at the possibilities and how this definately will stretch my life long learning.
Lets examine the most challenging habits I will need to develop in this class. Viewing problems as a challenge, well there we go. I have to admit the "Rocky" moments in life where our curve balls create new character is a stretch for me. We all loved the point in the movie where Rocky gets to the top of the steps and dances around the statue, but have you ever noticed that no one else in down town Philadelphia seems to see him. I think I might have noticed a guy dancing around a statue in downtown Dallas, but thats just me. I have trouble being motivated for my own personal growth. This is an area I am going to have to work on.
The easy part is doing things I enjoy. I think all the new tricks I will learn will make me a happy girl. I am green and new to all of this but I think I can hang in there. I loved the part about keeping "the end in mind". I have to be honest, I don't know if I have ever created a personal plan for myself and really envisioned the end in mind. Maybe when I was in college and I wanted to see that diploma and my first paycheck, but much past that I don't think I have.
The habits that will be most important for me to develop will be the habit of carving out time in my day to get it done. Like everyone in education we come in early and stay late. I have a personal issue of enjoying sleep that I will need to work on. People laugh at me but I have the bedtime of a second grader, I admit it! I am going to have to carve out time and just sit down and do it whether I am tired from a long day or not. Maybe I can turn it into one of those "Rocky" moments. I can be dancing around my computer after a long day of creating on the web at the wee hours of 10:30 pm.
Green and Giddy
Lets examine the most challenging habits I will need to develop in this class. Viewing problems as a challenge, well there we go. I have to admit the "Rocky" moments in life where our curve balls create new character is a stretch for me. We all loved the point in the movie where Rocky gets to the top of the steps and dances around the statue, but have you ever noticed that no one else in down town Philadelphia seems to see him. I think I might have noticed a guy dancing around a statue in downtown Dallas, but thats just me. I have trouble being motivated for my own personal growth. This is an area I am going to have to work on.
The easy part is doing things I enjoy. I think all the new tricks I will learn will make me a happy girl. I am green and new to all of this but I think I can hang in there. I loved the part about keeping "the end in mind". I have to be honest, I don't know if I have ever created a personal plan for myself and really envisioned the end in mind. Maybe when I was in college and I wanted to see that diploma and my first paycheck, but much past that I don't think I have.
The habits that will be most important for me to develop will be the habit of carving out time in my day to get it done. Like everyone in education we come in early and stay late. I have a personal issue of enjoying sleep that I will need to work on. People laugh at me but I have the bedtime of a second grader, I admit it! I am going to have to carve out time and just sit down and do it whether I am tired from a long day or not. Maybe I can turn it into one of those "Rocky" moments. I can be dancing around my computer after a long day of creating on the web at the wee hours of 10:30 pm.
Green and Giddy
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