Thing #6

I am going to start by adding the link that I should have added in Thing #5. As I began Thing #6 I read the post from cool cat teacher about creating our circle. This article is one i will need to refer back to many times. I tend to get overwhelmed with so much information when I am learning something new that I get off track. This article was well written and to the point about choosing blogs to add to your reader. Now off to find some blogs to follow! I'm back to finish the post. I have searched the google blog search and found some blogs to follow. I actually took some advice from others in the class on great blogs to follow. As I find blogs to follow it leads to more blogs. I have spend all morning reading blogs!

Thing #5

I have spend a great deal of time looking at websites to find things to add to my google reader. I'm still not sure I understand all that is involved with the reader. I guess I will learn in time. I have not found anything interesting to link to on the blog from an article on the reader. I mostly have news feeds right now because they were easy to find. I have enjoyed reading other people's blogs more than reading through the feeds on the reader. I have been reading the newspaper and catching up with the morning news shows on-line so I guess I can add those to the reader and scan articles and news stories easier each morning. I can see how my daughter will benefit from using the reader for research this next year. She can find websites that she will use for a topic and then scan those quickly for the information she needs. Also this feature can help with students "surfing" the web. As a teacher, I can add the feeds that I want students to read.

Thing #4

I'm a little late in getting thing#4 posted. I did read 5 of the posts from the lesson. The posts I read ranged from a reflection on research to a personal entry. Two of these were written by teachers/adults and the others were entries from students. One of my favorites was the post on SSR time. I can see where reading blogs would hold the students interest and want them to continue reading each day. Students could connect the blogs to real people. With all the social networks out there people are very interested in the lives of other people. For many, blogs have taken the place of a personal journal. I also liked how another teacher used the blog to explain to parents about his views on homework. The blog can now take the place of the weekly classroom newsletter. Parents also have the ability to reply, make comments, or ask questions and get a quick reply from the teacher. The other posts I read were student created. These posts were maninly about class assigments and writing activities in class.

Thing #2

I think I am a little overwhelmed after reading the article. There was a lot going on as far as technology was concerned. So much can be accomplished by using the podcasts and blogs. There is really no reason that students and parents can say that they don't know what is going on in the classroom. Parents can actually listen to classroom discussions and lessons. Even when a student is absent he/she can have assignments and notes from class. Classrooms have come along way from 20 years ago. Twenty years ago when I began teaching, computers were used to supplement to curriculum or used as learning stations. Now computers/technolgy are the classroom. Classrooms from around the world can be connected at the same time and learn from each other. I liked some of the quotes that described web 2.0 as connecting people and ideas. Students today have so many resources to connect with and expand their learning environment.

Thing#1

I've created a blog. This is something that I have been wanting to do for awhile. even though this blog is for a class I am still excited that i know how to set up a blog. I will be setting up a personal blog for my family in the next few days to share with family and friends that live out of town. The only thing that "scares" me about blogging is that eveyone can see what I post. I have been reluctant to share my ideas and thoughts so freely with the world. So I am stepping out of the box and sharing with everyone about my learning experience through this class. I heard about this class last summer while some friends were taking it. I thought I need to catch up in the technology world so I decided to sign up. one of the challenges that I will face will be viewing problems as challenges. I tend to view a problem as a crisis. I know I will not be able to complete most of the "things" easily or quickly so I must be patient and do some research and learn by trial and error. Being a busy mom, I will not have hours to spend playing around so I must stay focused and get my assignments completed and then play. I am a person who makes lists and likes to cross things off the list. So setting goals and accomplishing them will be easy for me. I like that the class is very organized and I know what is expected in each week. As I go through the next few weeks I need to remain confident that I can achieve the goals I have set. I am in control of my learning and I am able to revise and edit goals as needed.