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.