Summary

• What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?

I really liked Flicker, the sandbox, and gather.com.

• How has this program affected your lifelong learning goals?

I am so going to use some of this new learning in my professional life and hopefully teach the other Diags. to use some so we can better work together. Actually I think they all should take this class!!!

• Were there any take-a-ways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?

Yes, I was able to share a lot of this with teachers and other staff members. I have even put some things in my reports for parents to take advantage of.

• What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?

The only problem I had was getting help with things I couldn't find out how to do. Not that you all weren't great, but it is hard to help over e-mail.

• If we offered another discovery program like this in the future, would you choose to participate?

YES!!!!

• How do you plan to keep up with new developments in web 2.0? Recommend a way that you have found to be useful.

I think like you said, giving 15 minutes a day to just keeping up. :)

Thing #23

What were your overall impressions?
I didn't know there were so many social networks out there. Places like Gather and Ning don't seem to advertise like Facebook and Myspace. I also thing web 2.0 is a great resource. I am sad that all this information wasn't available when I was still in the classroom. However, I think that Ning is a great site to start discussion about the new SLD crossbattery approach. I will get to talk to people all over and that is exciting!!!

Did you find any discussions or resources of value?
Not yet, but I am starting my own. :)

Do you have any ideas for using social networking in your own professional or personal learning, or in classroom learning?
Oh yes. I think it will be a great place for Diagnosticians all over to discuss the new SLD evalaution and give input to one another on how we are evaluating children. We do a lot of discussion within our district and this gives us a way to reach out to others in the field.

Thing #22

My facebook is open to friends only, but you are welcome to request to be my friend. :)

1. Why is it important that educators know how social networking works?

I think it is important to know about social networking because this is what the kids love, well adults do to. You can get a lot of info. about what is going on in your student's lives by reading their sites.

2. What new insights did you gain about these popular sites?

I have already been on both myspace and facebook and I find that I like facebook much better. Myspace is more for young people who are just looking to have fun. Facebook seems to be for catching up with old friends and keeping intouch.

3. What did you like or dislike about each of the sites you explored?

I don't like all the ads on myspace. I also don't like how you can overdo your site and it makes it hard to look at, too much visual input. I like Facebook, but don't like how there are so many things or quizes you can take, but I am not sure how safe they are for your computer???

4. Which site had the most useful features?

Myspace - for sure!!!

5.Can you see an educational application for any of these sites?

No. I don't think these sites are appropriate for the classroom because of how easy it is to "fake" a profile. I just don't trust them...

Thing 7b

I learned that this week: Blackbeard the Pirate’s Sword was Discovered. A ship discovered off the coast of North Carolina in 1997 has been identified by experts as the *Queen Anne’s Revenge*, a ship used by the pirate Blackbeard on board was the famous sword.

I also learned that it is more fun to get weather updates off my reader than off of yahoo weather.

I really like this reader. I think that when we are done with this class I will take some off and keep looking for other cool sites to get info. on. Like fun trivial facts. :)

Thing #21

I already love Google so finding out more about it is always fun! I first added Google Alerts to my new learning and then since I was already familiar with Google Calendar I went there next. I think this is great for keeping up, but unfortunately it doesn't replace my paper calendar yet because I don't have a blackberry... I then found Google Notebook to be very handy if and when I search for info. on the web and need a place to store it. I usually use word, but I can see how this would be just as easy and maybe more convienent.

As always Google is a great classroom tool, but even better for teacher to use to keep track of due dates (on Google Calendar), collect research for projects (on Google Notebook), and get up to the moment info. on any subject. The Internet is so awesome!

Thing #20

I like Google Docs it is a great way to share documents. I used out SLD document as my "work in progress" and I can see how this would be great for people who can't get on Docushare or need to work together to get a project done.

As a teacher this would be great for:
1. group projects for students
2. teachers who need to vertical team
3. students who are home bound and working on an assignment

My only thought is what do you do if you don't have Microsoft word or excel?

Thing # 19

I first thought "home school" wow Voice Threads would be great for home school kids. I can also see how teachers could use these for homework assignments or extra credit. Also, once again a team of teachers from all over can share and work together through the internet.

The only problem I had is it took a long time to upload, but maybe it is the time of day I was working?

Thing #18

The two videos I found that most related to my field are: Artificial Intelligence and special education. However neither of these deal with the identification of disabilities I found them interesting.

I like to song "Sexyback" and now I know how to dance to it. Thank you 23 things...

My "just for fun" is about Chinese cooking, which I love to do. I guess it is kind of a "how to" but it interested me!

I liked the teacher tube a lot. I can see how a team of teachers across the world could actually help each other develop lessons together. WOW I am definitely sharing this with my husband who teacher history.

Thing #17

podcast... when I think of podcast I think of news conferences and emergency warnings. But after watching all those sites and iTunes it is incredible the amount of information and entertainment you can get just by going to the internet. I wonder how much longer regular television will be around???

I was impressed with all the podcasts I viewed, but I liked Just One More Book, Webster's Word of the Day, History Podcast, NOVA Science Now, and Why? The Science Show for Kids podcast best out of the educational poscasts. I found them easy to watch and even my six year old came and watched the science with me.

Unfortunately I don't have a classroom, but would have loved to use these in mine. I also don't have a ipod or mps player so I don't have experience with those either. However, this was a fun activity and who knows??? My next big purchase may be an ipod?

Thing #16

I like using Library Thing because each book you add to your library connects you to other people. It was easy to explore the site and I didn't feel stumped like some of the other sites we have played with. There was a new adventure in literature around every click. I think there are a lot of uses for librarything. You can get a lot of info. on books before you actually make the effort to purchase or check out the book. I can see that as a teacher this site would be great for research projects and English classes!!! I can also see that in my profession it would be a great site to check out resources for teachers to help students learn.

Thing #15

I have to be honest I am not a fan of delicious. I found it hard to use and don't really see the point unless you have so many favorites you can't remember them all. My site http://delicious/dapjkzd was fun to tag interesting sites, but I just don't see using it much. I guess in the classroom students can use it when working on research projects during the coming and going to the computer lab.

Thing #7b

I like the Google Reader especially Cooking for Engineers I have learned more than new recipes. I have also found it fun to check my horoscope each day on Astrology.com. I always thought it was weird that my husband always gets his info./news from the Internet, but using Google Reader you never need NBC5. :)

Thing #14

I can't believe there is so much!!! I won't get to the next thing if I keep playing around in thing 14. I love the calendar link and can see how great this could be at work. For all those staff members I don't want to share my Outlook calendar I can used this. I also love the writeboard what a great way to share results from my testing with teachers and principals! There was just so much and some was harder to use, but after many hours of "playing" I got it. FUN!

Thing #13

my boys are so important to me. Both are so different. I liked doing the mash-up and used flickr:photostream to make my boys come alive. I tried the mappr, but I thought is was hard to use. I also liked Trading Card Maker and had fun with that site. I think this is a cool way to share stuff with family and friends far away. If I was still in the classroom I can see how fun lessons would be, no more power point...

Thing #12

I had so much fun with this "thing". I wish I had picked more pictures and will most likely do another one when I have more time. rockeryou I can't figure out yet how to embed the thing, but will keep trying. For know here is the link.

Thing #9

My Sandbox was very fun. I was frustrated at first when I couldn't figure out how to do the table of contents, but once I figured it out if was fun. However adding stuff to it is making it a little silly. I also had a hard time figuring out how to read people's posts about my question. I did however figure that out and it is cool. I would actually enjoy making a sandbox that our school could use to communicate things and show others stuff going on within the district. NEAT-

Thing #10

• Have you noticed the CC logo on any websites you visit? Did you wonder what it meant?

I have actually never noticed a CC logo on any websites.

• Do you think CC will impact the way students learn and create projects? How?

Yes I do believe that CC will impact the way students learn and create projects because students love to copy and this helps make it "legal" if they learn how to use CC site wisely.

• Do you use digital images, audio or video clips from the web in your teaching (or professional practice)?

No I don't use digital images, audio, or video clips, but I am not a teacher anymore and don't have to come up with interesting lessons. If I was I definitely would.

• Do you ever share content on the web?

No, not usually. I am still not totally comfortable with sharing images on the web. But, I think it is neat to see other peoples stuff.

• Who owns your teaching materials?

Most of my work items are property of MISD, but there are a few books and tools I use that I have purchased.

• What are some potential negatives for using CC?

I think one huge potential negative is someone taking images out of context and turning them into something they never should have been linked to.

Thing #11

I enjoyed using Flicker, but found it to be more than I would ever need. I got so overwhelmed looking at all the pictures I kept forgetting the assignment. Also, it was difficult to no get "lost" in the pictures and not be able to find which author went with witch picture. I also had a hard time saving them a jpegs. Some wanted or were uploaded as other forms and I could not save or copy them. This picture is one of my favorites! Can you believe it is broccli??? Photo by Uploaded on February 27, 2009
by paololivorno

Thing #8

I love Wikis and use Wikipedia all the time both for personal and professional use. I think there is a lot to be said when using one of the educational Wiki projects in the classroom. For example codeblue is a site for 6th grade students learning about body systems. When I was a 6th grade teacher this site would have been WONDERFUL! I think putting as much technology in the classroom helps keep the students interested especially b/c of their love of computers. However I do think that Wikis may be to advanced for some grade levels like the Go West site for third graders. It is really neat and educational, but I think a little to advanced for a third grader to use by themselves. If the teacher is assigning it as a parent-student resource/assignment then it could be useful as part of homework, but individually I think it is to much. That said the wiki site for kindergartners was actually on level. My oldest son is in kindergarten and we looked at the site together and he actually could "play/interact" on the site.

I still think wikis are the coolest, but the site needs to be appropriate for the age or group it is developed for. I am not sure that I could do better, even in the Go West site, which I thought was to high for the audience, was very interesting and the appearance of the site made you want to dig deeper. The only other problem or really concern about wikis are that people with ill intent will change or add things that are not true and people will believe them because it is written. This is the danger is editing without guidance. But, that is the risk you take when using the Internet as a tool. It is public...

Thing #7

I think that commenting on a blog is a good way to express your thoughts and feelings if it is used properly. However most of the time it is a way for people to carry on and drag out something just to read "hear" themselves think/talk. I am just not a fan of commenting.

I think I am doing ok on the course. Most of this is stuff I have not used before so it is fun learning.

Thing #6

This was so hard for me at first. I kept trying to post the RSS to my blog and then realized that I was just supposed to put them on my Google reader. That is the one thing about technology, sometimes you can make things harder by over analyzing what your doing. I have been involved in computers and technology since I was a kid (my Dad has a computer company), but this new stuff is so much harder to understand than the old days when we just wrote programs to do things. Now it's all about RSS and feeds and so on... wow. What do my children have to look forward to?

I added: www.cookingforengineers.com and www.weather.com to my reader (along with a couple others)

Thing 5

I like this reader thing! I read several things, but thought that commenting on The New York Times article discussing "NBC Making the Most of its Super Bowl Coverage" was best. It is just incredible to thing that for 30 seconds of time you can make 3 MILLION dollars. However I guess when you have 97.5 million viewers at one time maybe paying the $3 million will payoff ten fold? Since I am not in television or advertising I have to thing they know more than my guess? The part I am looking forward to is all the advertising for the upcoming shows. I love planning or dreaming about my "free" time, which with two kids never happens. Check out the story so if you have some "free time" you can dream with me. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/29/business/media/29adco.html

Thing #4

• What do you notice about the genre of blog writing in general?

I notice that blog writing is a lot like journaling, but now you get to share you thoughts and ideas with others making you feel important. I am not sure I am a fan. It just seems like a way for more overindulged people to express their overrated opinions further.

• How is blog reading different from other types of reading? How is it similar?

Reading is reading so in that way you can read a book or a blog. However it is different because to the unaware or uneducated you may make the mistake and take what someone blogged as fact and not fiction. Where as with reading books you usually know before you read.

• How is blog writing different from other types of writing? How is it similar?

I think that blogging seems to lead to trantuming and opinions that should not make it to the public eye. However, as my husband explained to me, some blogging is great for entertainment. So if you use it to entertain and maybe inform (if you are correct about your subject matter) it can be a lot like writing books.

• How does commenting contribute to the writing and meaning-making?

I think commenting can be good and bad. After reading about cyber-bullying I think that some comments can lead to this hateful action. However commenting can also lead to great discussion on topics that interest several people.

• Is there a "blogging literacy?" How does blogging affect the way we read and write?

I think so. As I read several of those blogs I had to train myself to read each in its own way. You can write a blog and add so much that you have to really follow what the person is talking about.

• How can blogging facilitate learning?

I think if an educator used blogging in the classroom is could be a productive way for students to peer edit or for teachers to help guide students with their work.

I really liked the Extreme Biology and Cool Cat Teacher. Check them out.

Thing #2

The role that Web 2.0 plays is so numerous. It has opened up the world to anyone with a computer and the Internet. However after watching The machine is Us/ing, it is very clear that with all this technology and information it can be overwhelming. I was impressed with the information I learned in just 4 minutes that I have taken for granted.

Students seem to use and know so much more than the adults hired to teach them and unfortunately the adults can't keep up. I am sure more teachers would give students the opportunity to create and explore if the educator felt there would be some level of control. As we see many times there are those student who take advantage and do/go where they are not allowed. How can a teacher be expected to know, trust, and let go all at the same time; especially when technology is constantly evolving?

I was impressed and depressed at the same time when watching the videos. It is wonderful to have so much as our fingertips, but sad if you don't know or don't know how to use them. Technology moves so fast it is hard to keep up. Those willing to try I give them a hand, especially if they use it to help motivate and teach the students in their classrooms.

thing #1

 Which habit(s) may be most challenging for you to employ as part of your Learning 2.0 - 23 Things experience?

Play b/c it is hard to find time.

 Which habit(s) will be easiest, or is most resonent for you as a lifelong learner?

Confidence in myself

 Which habit do you think will be most important for you as you work through this course, and why?

Creating a learning toolbox because it is hard to know everything you need in advance.