What I knew—how to email, use Facebook, how to blog, send photo attachments to email, and how to use the new grading software Infinite Campus.
What I wanted to know—what was out there, what students knew that I hadn’t yet heard of, what kinds of resources were out there that would add variety to my teaching.
What I learned since 1st week of class—this isn’t even a fair question! How can I possibly explain what I have spent nine weeks and over 100 hours learning? Instead of a list I would just like to offer some comments about the journey—please prepare yourself for stream-of-consciousness writing below.
I remember how excited I was about RSS feeds. Now this seems like a good place to start with my students. Then there was Social Bookmarking, where I kept to Delicious because Diigo looked too much like Facebook. Then I found out how to put YouTube videos on my blog. SO cool. And then podcasting was awesome. Heck I could make tracks all day long about whatever comes to mind! Then when my brain started filling up to critical mass, we took a break to focus on edublogs and listening to podcasts. Really it has been a roller coaster of uncharted territory for me.
I remember having a couple of meltdowns early on because I didn’t know what I was doing, and my husband (whom I go to for all minor and major crises) couldn’t help me because he has never been exposed to any of this Web 2.0 business. In that small way, I found an area where I have more expertise! I can be the expert here—my husband is very smart and well read so I often feel that he knows more about so many topics. He is a great resource to have around and he always answers my questions no matter how obscure, but this time I had to figure it all out by myself. Hence the meltdown. I had to learn to calm down and sit at my computer and figure it out. He didn’t even know about my webcam because he had never had one. Luckily I didn’t encounter too many computer glitches, or if I did along the way, I worked them out and put them out of mind.
This class has made me want to become a leader in my department. Now that I am forth from the top (in seniority) because of many retirements last year, I really want to be seen as a resource. I want to help the new teachers find these online resources. I will be a mentor for one new teacher this year so this might be a good opportunity for that, but I really want to finally be considered a wealth of knowledge in some area. Since no one that I have talked to had ever mentioned Web 2.0 maybe this is my chance.
What I would like to do is start two Wikis (one for American Lit. and one for Newswriting and Photography) and I’m a little scared about that. So far I am avoiding it because I don’t know how much work it will be. Where do I start? How do I make mine to look half as cool as Lena’s? What would be the easiest program to use? I want to be a part of this technology; I am looking for the right door to open. If anyone has any pointers about this I would love to know where to get started. I still have a week before school starts (granted it is filled up with last minute appointments and to-dos but nonetheless, it is still a week).
I want to thank our teacher Kim and all of you for being such an inspiring community of learners and wonderful resources. I look forward to reading your blogs in the years ahead, and I hope that I will update mine from time to time as well. I guess I’m not ready for all of this to end, and I’m happy that it doesn’t really have to; we will still be out there together and able to communicate.
So I guess I will say “adieu” with hopes to continue what we started here.
I wish you good lessons and good times in the year ahead.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Week 8 Blog 2 free choice
This is the first time I’ve used a stamp all summer. Okay, so I was late to the whole “online bill paying” idea. I was convinced that something would happen if I didn’t write checks, lick envelopes, and place stamps on all of my bills. But since June when I finally converted, and as I have been more entrenched in online tools, using my computer for almost everything, I actually forgot what my life used to be like. Today when I had to print out the Student Evaluation of Instructor and Course I got a little perturbed but then thought, uh oh—is this why the USPS is doing so poorly financially?
I am conflicted. The USPS provides amazing services, but the reason I started using online bill payments was because stamps just kept getting more expensive and I was sick of having stamps around that did not have the correct postage on their face. Even the Forever Stamp had its price raised. That was the final straw.
So how spoiled have I become that I am annoyed to WRITE instead of type? I know that I type faster than I write. Grrr. Before I got too agitated, I realized that I should live in the moment and appreciate that this is a chance to dust off that pen that has been lonely, since its only use is now grocery lists. I got the chance to dig through a drawer to find a stamp, and luckily it was a Forever Stamp. And maybe I should do this more often so that my post office does not go out of business.
Is this a sign of the times? It seems the more paperless we become, the more services will eventually change. Like the way online news has caused many print newspapers to close. Hey, as we all learned in this class, Shift Happens!
I am conflicted. The USPS provides amazing services, but the reason I started using online bill payments was because stamps just kept getting more expensive and I was sick of having stamps around that did not have the correct postage on their face. Even the Forever Stamp had its price raised. That was the final straw.
So how spoiled have I become that I am annoyed to WRITE instead of type? I know that I type faster than I write. Grrr. Before I got too agitated, I realized that I should live in the moment and appreciate that this is a chance to dust off that pen that has been lonely, since its only use is now grocery lists. I got the chance to dig through a drawer to find a stamp, and luckily it was a Forever Stamp. And maybe I should do this more often so that my post office does not go out of business.
Is this a sign of the times? It seems the more paperless we become, the more services will eventually change. Like the way online news has caused many print newspapers to close. Hey, as we all learned in this class, Shift Happens!
Monday, August 17, 2009
Week 8 Blog One
How flat am I?
I would have to say much more flat, hopefully getting flatter by the day (if only this were a metaphor for my abs). Before this class I only vaguely knew what a blog was, but now with RSS feeds and Google Reader I have literally been at my computer reading and absorbing information for 2 hours when I finally realized I should probably start writing this entry. I sat at my computer and went through dozens of resources at powerpoint-search.com scribbling notes about which ones I would use during the study of the American literature novels I teach. I am running through my brain all the ways that this new information could help my journalism students.
I quickly added the PBS Teachers site to my bookmarks so that I can return to it frequently during the school year, and with my Google Reader, the information is all set to come to me. I am hopeful that fresh ideas will just arrive in my “mailbox” and these will keep me invigorated throughout the year.
Take a look at just a few that I found today…
Bubbl.us—a tool to help brainstorming and mapping
animated and narrated glossary of grammar terms—anything that will make grammar more interactive is great in my book
Grammar Ninja
Writing in the 21st Century
And a little inspiration for why we teach…
Making Learning Whole - How Seven Principles of Teaching Can Transform Education
I guess I do feel much flatter because I am better able to find and use tools that will help me be more successful. I hope that this new knowledge will help me to stay inspired because I will from now on be SO connected.
I would have to say much more flat, hopefully getting flatter by the day (if only this were a metaphor for my abs). Before this class I only vaguely knew what a blog was, but now with RSS feeds and Google Reader I have literally been at my computer reading and absorbing information for 2 hours when I finally realized I should probably start writing this entry. I sat at my computer and went through dozens of resources at powerpoint-search.com scribbling notes about which ones I would use during the study of the American literature novels I teach. I am running through my brain all the ways that this new information could help my journalism students.
I quickly added the PBS Teachers site to my bookmarks so that I can return to it frequently during the school year, and with my Google Reader, the information is all set to come to me. I am hopeful that fresh ideas will just arrive in my “mailbox” and these will keep me invigorated throughout the year.
Take a look at just a few that I found today…
Bubbl.us—a tool to help brainstorming and mapping
animated and narrated glossary of grammar terms—anything that will make grammar more interactive is great in my book
Grammar Ninja
Writing in the 21st Century
And a little inspiration for why we teach…
Making Learning Whole - How Seven Principles of Teaching Can Transform Education
I guess I do feel much flatter because I am better able to find and use tools that will help me be more successful. I hope that this new knowledge will help me to stay inspired because I will from now on be SO connected.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Week 7 Blog 3
Free Choice
Where does the summer go?
I always get a little melancholy about this time of year, thinking that the summer has gone too fast, but this year I really feel it. So much of every summer feels like a “to do list.” Places to go and people to see that somehow I don’t have time to squeeze in during the school year. It is August 13th already and we are nearing the end of this class. Some of our classmates are finishing up next week’s blogs, and the final evaluation so it makes me realize that school really is right around the corner. I feel like I need more time with this new world of technology I have discovered. I need more time to read and prepare before I am ready to go in the halls of SHS and get back to my classroom. There is nothing so constant as change. So I guess I must try to slow down my thoughts a little more and really savor these last days. Go see those places I haven’t visited yet this summer, body surf the waves in Ogunquit, eat more steamers and butter. Maybe one or two more twist ice cream cones with sprinkles.
Ah summer, how I love thee.
Where does the summer go?
I always get a little melancholy about this time of year, thinking that the summer has gone too fast, but this year I really feel it. So much of every summer feels like a “to do list.” Places to go and people to see that somehow I don’t have time to squeeze in during the school year. It is August 13th already and we are nearing the end of this class. Some of our classmates are finishing up next week’s blogs, and the final evaluation so it makes me realize that school really is right around the corner. I feel like I need more time with this new world of technology I have discovered. I need more time to read and prepare before I am ready to go in the halls of SHS and get back to my classroom. There is nothing so constant as change. So I guess I must try to slow down my thoughts a little more and really savor these last days. Go see those places I haven’t visited yet this summer, body surf the waves in Ogunquit, eat more steamers and butter. Maybe one or two more twist ice cream cones with sprinkles.
Ah summer, how I love thee.
Week 7 Blog 2
Assessing Technology
I came across Unlocking the Toolkit in my earlier web searches for this course so when I saw it again this week, it made me realize the challenges I will face when I return to school at the end of the month. I am actually quite worried about being able to use any of the tools we’ve learned about because at my school downloads of any kind require an “administrative password” and well, you might as well be asking for classified documents at the White House. I can’t even download an update for Adobe Reader for crying out loud. But I digress…
How do we assess technology?
Usually I evaluate the technology in terms of:
How easy is it to use?
Will it contribute to my intelligence?
Does it make my experience with the computer more positive?
Does it save me time?
Does it enhance my learning?
I just don’t think my school has invested any time into evaluating the technology we have vs. what we need. I found this great article, Emerging from the Smog: Making Technology Assessment Work for Schools and realized that there are people out there thinking the same thoughts I have. We need to assess what technologies are working for us and which ones should be left behind because they do not improve learning in a significant way. Now I feel like I need to find the technology committee at our school (we must have one) and be a vocal member.
Happily for us, students are usually tech-savvy and will pick up a lesson on technology and be up and running by the end of the block. They are truly sponges and I believe they should be soaking up as much technology as they can. So we need to do a lot of advance planning and research in order to find out what is valuable to teach them. Seems fair, right?
This is a topic of discussion for which there are no conclusi0ns for me. I get more confused the more I think about it. Brain is cramping...must take a break.
I came across Unlocking the Toolkit in my earlier web searches for this course so when I saw it again this week, it made me realize the challenges I will face when I return to school at the end of the month. I am actually quite worried about being able to use any of the tools we’ve learned about because at my school downloads of any kind require an “administrative password” and well, you might as well be asking for classified documents at the White House. I can’t even download an update for Adobe Reader for crying out loud. But I digress…
How do we assess technology?
Usually I evaluate the technology in terms of:
How easy is it to use?
Will it contribute to my intelligence?
Does it make my experience with the computer more positive?
Does it save me time?
Does it enhance my learning?
I just don’t think my school has invested any time into evaluating the technology we have vs. what we need. I found this great article, Emerging from the Smog: Making Technology Assessment Work for Schools and realized that there are people out there thinking the same thoughts I have. We need to assess what technologies are working for us and which ones should be left behind because they do not improve learning in a significant way. Now I feel like I need to find the technology committee at our school (we must have one) and be a vocal member.
Happily for us, students are usually tech-savvy and will pick up a lesson on technology and be up and running by the end of the block. They are truly sponges and I believe they should be soaking up as much technology as they can. So we need to do a lot of advance planning and research in order to find out what is valuable to teach them. Seems fair, right?
This is a topic of discussion for which there are no conclusi0ns for me. I get more confused the more I think about it. Brain is cramping...must take a break.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Week 7 Blog One
Project Based Learning
So much of the literature about project based learning seems intuitive, like teachers should just know this as a part of who we are. I am trying to think about why then is there not more of this going on in schools, or rather, why are schools not structured around this concept? It seems that sometimes teaching is like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. So much of what we are required to “cover” doesn’t make sense from day to day, but sometimes we luck out and are able to plan a great project. I needed a shot in the arm and set to work on finding some ideas and ways to bring more of this into the classroom. Before the internet, my life as a teacher was much harder. I can’t believe how many resources are available to teachers now; I’m just trying to soak it all in.
Here are some links that I found to be helpful.
A sample project-planning form—Makes you think about the learning outcome before you plan activities.
Make Your Own Project-Based Lesson Plan—Wow. The steps are presented here with plenty of information about the entire process.
Project Based Learning Checklists—how to evaluate the learning.
Project-Based Learning –includes a lesson bank and sample lessons.
Is it possible that teachers have information overload and then just shut down? How do we keep the kids interested when many times as they receive too much information, they just shut down. How much of that is just being a teenager, or needing more time to process? We know that students will be motivated when they “own it” so how to we structure a classroom around that model when the traditional high school is often very different? Just thinking out loud because these are the questions my school and staff are grappling with right now.
So much of the literature about project based learning seems intuitive, like teachers should just know this as a part of who we are. I am trying to think about why then is there not more of this going on in schools, or rather, why are schools not structured around this concept? It seems that sometimes teaching is like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. So much of what we are required to “cover” doesn’t make sense from day to day, but sometimes we luck out and are able to plan a great project. I needed a shot in the arm and set to work on finding some ideas and ways to bring more of this into the classroom. Before the internet, my life as a teacher was much harder. I can’t believe how many resources are available to teachers now; I’m just trying to soak it all in.
Here are some links that I found to be helpful.
A sample project-planning form—Makes you think about the learning outcome before you plan activities.
Make Your Own Project-Based Lesson Plan—Wow. The steps are presented here with plenty of information about the entire process.
Project Based Learning Checklists—how to evaluate the learning.
Project-Based Learning –includes a lesson bank and sample lessons.
Is it possible that teachers have information overload and then just shut down? How do we keep the kids interested when many times as they receive too much information, they just shut down. How much of that is just being a teenager, or needing more time to process? We know that students will be motivated when they “own it” so how to we structure a classroom around that model when the traditional high school is often very different? Just thinking out loud because these are the questions my school and staff are grappling with right now.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
IT WORKED!
Hi everyone,
I don't know if I mentioned that I love to sing. I sang in nightclubs for 12 years and don't often get to perform anymore--not unless you count the occasional karaoke night.
Hope you like my little tune.
Kim--is this long enough for a podcast? The lesson was to learn how to do it, right? If you would like me to record something more let me know. Enjoy!
I don't know if I mentioned that I love to sing. I sang in nightclubs for 12 years and don't often get to perform anymore--not unless you count the occasional karaoke night.
Hope you like my little tune.
Kim--is this long enough for a podcast? The lesson was to learn how to do it, right? If you would like me to record something more let me know. Enjoy!
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