Chapter 7 has some really valuable information. I was struggling with why people would post pictures to their blog (other than for vanity or to make it pretty.) It seems it has some great educational purposes. Two things that are really valuable to know about Flickr. 1. It is free. 2. You can restrict users, inviting only your students. Teachers can annotate pictures with their own with their own curriculum information- making completely individual projects with Web 2.0 tools!
Using Flickr and incorporating Google Maps or Google Earth could be applicable in almost all curriculum areas. Using the virtual storage space provided, students could compile their own personal albums for projects - accessible anywhere.
I wanted to get on and try a few things. I was unsuccessful w/ the login process. I am having trouble w/ satellite Internet today - storms. I will try later or tomorrow and continue the blog then. I am sure I am going to have to spend some time learning all this new technology.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
Chapter 6 - The Social Web
This was a fun chapter! It had many interesting ideas/concepts for me! The analogy of twitter being “micro-blogging” was a great eye opener for me! I was really struggling w/ the concept & purpose of twitter – so when it was compared to blogging – but on a much smaller scale – I understood it better and could see a more clear purpose for it! I had never thought of twitter as a “tool” used to gain information about ideas/products/information and always thought it was more a social source – like kids and texting. This has also changed my view of how I can use it… or better yet, why I would use it……I think I can see a lot of educational uses for YouthTwitter – the permission only site- for gaining social learning skills in sharing ideas & experiences. This could be a very relevant experience for many students.
Social bookmarking & adding tags (by the public army) to organize the web – in completing the circle of the READ (RSS) Write (Wiki, twitter, blog, web page) Web is AWESOME! The one thing I’ve realized from all of the reading thus far is this: I need to learn and then immerse myself in these technologies before just creating a lesson or matching up curriculum to work with the technology. What did Kristin say - Plan, Create, Organize, and Implement?
The big “wow” moment I found in chapter 6 was this: Old school librarians used to be the provider of sorting and categorizing information. New school librarians can be the provider of knowledge on how to gain the skills necessary classify their own information via web 2.0.
Social bookmarking w/ Diigo and Delicious – two more ways for me to organize the web – and keep track of MY information and what is important to me - talk about empowering!
Social bookmarking & adding tags (by the public army) to organize the web – in completing the circle of the READ (RSS) Write (Wiki, twitter, blog, web page) Web is AWESOME! The one thing I’ve realized from all of the reading thus far is this: I need to learn and then immerse myself in these technologies before just creating a lesson or matching up curriculum to work with the technology. What did Kristin say - Plan, Create, Organize, and Implement?
The big “wow” moment I found in chapter 6 was this: Old school librarians used to be the provider of sorting and categorizing information. New school librarians can be the provider of knowledge on how to gain the skills necessary classify their own information via web 2.0.
Social bookmarking w/ Diigo and Delicious – two more ways for me to organize the web – and keep track of MY information and what is important to me - talk about empowering!
Chapter 5
I enter my notes from chapter 5, Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts (Richardson) with a feeling of excitement but still some nerves. I am excited to be learning (and more importantly actually understanding RSS and aggregators! With these and other web 2.0 tools I will not only be able to read information on the web, but more importantly organize and contribute to the web as well! This chapter really shed light for me on the concept of reading(following) a blog. I simply LOVE the idea of creating my own customized list with "tags" and then watching the results flow in! I know I will use or at least show students how to do this. I already had a mini lesson with my college bound daughter. She is now set up with her very own Goolge account, complete with Diigo!
I must admit, I do still feel that using these tools is "adding" to my time versus creating more time for me - what am I doing wrong? Does it take a while to feel differently?
The big light bulb moment for me (in this chapter) when the author talks about the skills our students need now - in order to sort good information from bad information. I think his words were: students will need the skills to separate signal from noise. He also referred to it as Reading Skill: Scanning or Reading Skill: Synthesizing. Information Literacy Anyone?
Two other great ideas in this chapter were the ability to tag information for yourself and others - the public army organizing the web and blogging vanity - where you can follow who is linking your, posting your name, or simply stopping by and taking a look!
Last but not least - PageFlakes. I like the idea of a custom created page of information for students - but I am not sure I completely understand the concept. Is it just a web page set up and controlled by the teacher?
I must admit, I do still feel that using these tools is "adding" to my time versus creating more time for me - what am I doing wrong? Does it take a while to feel differently?
The big light bulb moment for me (in this chapter) when the author talks about the skills our students need now - in order to sort good information from bad information. I think his words were: students will need the skills to separate signal from noise. He also referred to it as Reading Skill: Scanning or Reading Skill: Synthesizing. Information Literacy Anyone?
Two other great ideas in this chapter were the ability to tag information for yourself and others - the public army organizing the web and blogging vanity - where you can follow who is linking your, posting your name, or simply stopping by and taking a look!
Last but not least - PageFlakes. I like the idea of a custom created page of information for students - but I am not sure I completely understand the concept. Is it just a web page set up and controlled by the teacher?
Thursday, June 18, 2009
School Blog Site #2
I evaluated my second "school" blog site today over my lunch break. It took me longer to choose the site than I thought. There are SO MANY educational blogs out there. Is anyone else feeling overwhelmed by the size and scope of the blogging community?
The site I chose was Beth's Thoughts on Technology in the Classroom http://www.bethknittle.net/WP_Blog/
It looks really good and I feel like I can relate to "Beth." She has a nice writing style and some really good ideas (see her list of "Best Thoughts" in the archives.) She seems to know what she is talking about - she was a classroom teacher for 19 years before moving to the K-12 Technology Integration Specialist for the past 4 years.) I googled her - and found out several interesting facts. One fascinating piece of information is her participation in a Second Life program for educators. She definitely uses the technology she is integrating. She is one twitter, Flickr, Skype, iChat, GMail, Technorati, and something I've never heard of called Plunk? Most of the post in her blog deal with education, technology, and learning.
Her blog started up in December of 2005 - so she has some history in her archives too. Another great thing about her site are the links. She has many. I visited a few and really thought her wiki was good -http://www.bethknittle.net/pmwiki/pmwiki.php?n=Main.HomePage it is full of Web 2.0 tools and information on 21st Century skills. I could have used this information last term.... darn!
If I were to rate this blog - I would give it an 8 out of 10. It is good, homey, and not too overwhelming. She has some great pictures scrolling - lives on the east coast - Cape Cod. I am jealous now!
The site I chose was Beth's Thoughts on Technology in the Classroom http://www.bethknittle.net/WP_Blog/
It looks really good and I feel like I can relate to "Beth." She has a nice writing style and some really good ideas (see her list of "Best Thoughts" in the archives.) She seems to know what she is talking about - she was a classroom teacher for 19 years before moving to the K-12 Technology Integration Specialist for the past 4 years.) I googled her - and found out several interesting facts. One fascinating piece of information is her participation in a Second Life program for educators. She definitely uses the technology she is integrating. She is one twitter, Flickr, Skype, iChat, GMail, Technorati, and something I've never heard of called Plunk? Most of the post in her blog deal with education, technology, and learning.
Her blog started up in December of 2005 - so she has some history in her archives too. Another great thing about her site are the links. She has many. I visited a few and really thought her wiki was good -http://www.bethknittle.net/pmwiki/pmwiki.php?n=Main.HomePage it is full of Web 2.0 tools and information on 21st Century skills. I could have used this information last term.... darn!
If I were to rate this blog - I would give it an 8 out of 10. It is good, homey, and not too overwhelming. She has some great pictures scrolling - lives on the east coast - Cape Cod. I am jealous now!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Educator Blog #1
I have gone through so many "school blogs" I don't know where to start. There are some good ones and then there are some REALLY good ones! I have to tell you... this is becoming a full time job, reading, evaluating, and choosing which blogs to follow! I am going to have to come up with a set of "rules" to keep this in control! :)
The first school blog I chose was "A chat with Mary, a blog for Teachers" http://achatwithmary.blogspot.com/
Mary Frazier was a 28 year veteran 5th/6th grade teacher who moved into the field of education technology as an Integration Technology Specialist (I love that title and want one - maybe I could someday be a Teacher Librarian-ITS too!) It sounds like her entire job is to learn technology and then help certified staff infuse the classroom/curriculum with technology! Wow - fun!
The blog is interactive, colorful (you can tell she was an Elementary teacher) informational, and pretty large too. The last post is May 2009, so in the world of technology, it is old. But school is out, maybe Mary is busy learning "new" technology for next fall!
After spending an hour on Mark's very business like/professional blog, Mary's is a nice change and fun! She has many links, some useful, some not. She has a portal for teachers that is pretty extensive and looks to be very useful for the classroom teacher! (Full of Web 2.0 tools and ideas.)
This is a good blog geared towards a specific teaching area (upper elementary.) If I needed ideas for technology integration in that specific content area, I would revisit this blog as a starting point. I would rate the blog as average or slightly above.
The first school blog I chose was "A chat with Mary, a blog for Teachers" http://achatwithmary.blogspot.com/
Mary Frazier was a 28 year veteran 5th/6th grade teacher who moved into the field of education technology as an Integration Technology Specialist (I love that title and want one - maybe I could someday be a Teacher Librarian-ITS too!) It sounds like her entire job is to learn technology and then help certified staff infuse the classroom/curriculum with technology! Wow - fun!
The blog is interactive, colorful (you can tell she was an Elementary teacher) informational, and pretty large too. The last post is May 2009, so in the world of technology, it is old. But school is out, maybe Mary is busy learning "new" technology for next fall!
After spending an hour on Mark's very business like/professional blog, Mary's is a nice change and fun! She has many links, some useful, some not. She has a portal for teachers that is pretty extensive and looks to be very useful for the classroom teacher! (Full of Web 2.0 tools and ideas.)
This is a good blog geared towards a specific teaching area (upper elementary.) If I needed ideas for technology integration in that specific content area, I would revisit this blog as a starting point. I would rate the blog as average or slightly above.
Educator Blog #2
The second blog I reviewed was called Education Technology and Life - Professional Development, Consulting, and School Change, by Mark Wagner, Ph.D. This blog is massive in size and scope. I spent an hour just jumping links and skimming. It is also very current with extensive new information. It is quite apparent that Mr. Wagner is high qualified to be blogging on the many subjects in his blog. I "googled" him and the results were impressive. He is an entrepreneur, business man, and educator from Irvine CA. The Ed.Tech.Life appreas to be just one of his many blogs.
The left side of the blog is packed with contact information, links, bookmarks, archives dating back to 2004, and specific content areas (such as 21st Century Skills, Best Practice, etc.) The blog appears to be free from bias, although does dip into the political realm in some areas (and this could be considered bias by some.)
This blog is amazing. If given a rating scale, I would give it a 10 out of 10! When/if you have time - subscribe to this blog. There is something useful for almost everyone, whether in education or not!
http://edtechlife.com/
The left side of the blog is packed with contact information, links, bookmarks, archives dating back to 2004, and specific content areas (such as 21st Century Skills, Best Practice, etc.) The blog appears to be free from bias, although does dip into the political realm in some areas (and this could be considered bias by some.)
This blog is amazing. If given a rating scale, I would give it a 10 out of 10! When/if you have time - subscribe to this blog. There is something useful for almost everyone, whether in education or not!
http://edtechlife.com/
Educator Blog #1
The first blog I evaluated was Will Richardson's blog. I used Kathy Schrock's evaluation guide. (I have to give her some love here - I use her as a resource constantly! I have her page bookmarked on all computers I use, work, home, school! If you haven't had time time to go there - make the time! It is an awesome resource! ) ">http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schrockguide/
I really liked the template to evaluate the blog but had trouble loading it to my post. (Can anyone help me figure this out?) So I gave up and decided to type my post the old fashion way.
The URL of the blog was http://weblogg-ed.com/about and the title was Webblogg-ed. As far as content - this blog was extensive and comprehensive. So much so that I could have spent hours reading, linking, and analyzing. The author's credentials and authority seemed very clear and authentic. I didn't find any obvious grammatical or spelling errors, nor was there any extreme bias. It is full of great, informational posts. I have since subscribed to this blog and I am going to make an attempt to follow it (maybe after summer classes are done!:))
I really liked the template to evaluate the blog but had trouble loading it to my post. (Can anyone help me figure this out?) So I gave up and decided to type my post the old fashion way.
The URL of the blog was http://weblogg-ed.com/about and the title was Webblogg-ed. As far as content - this blog was extensive and comprehensive. So much so that I could have spent hours reading, linking, and analyzing. The author's credentials and authority seemed very clear and authentic. I didn't find any obvious grammatical or spelling errors, nor was there any extreme bias. It is full of great, informational posts. I have since subscribed to this blog and I am going to make an attempt to follow it (maybe after summer classes are done!:))
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