Reflections

This class has been amazing! Thank you for teaching me soooo much. I really have enjoyed keeping up my blog and think I will make the resolution to maintain my blog for my family and friends. I need to add some pictures and enhance it a bit but I feel very comfortable doing that now. I had such a good time exploring Creative Commons and Flikr... and You Tube was lots of fun. I have recommended this class to several of my friends and even taught them a few new "things." I'm surprised that I could do all the activities with little frustration. It's a lot easier if you just get in there and try. I would definitely be interested in participating in another discovery program like this one if one is available in the future.

Once again, thank you for everything!!!!

Thing #23

I can't believe I've made it to the last "Thing!" I had to take notes during this thing because I was a bit overwhelmed with all the information. During part 1 of exploring I visited Classroom 2.0 and checked out the forum tab, groups, and members. I searched for special education topics and found some interesting things such as The Inclusion Revolution and uses for Technology in Special Education. Another one I liked was talking about how a teacher had all his students set up an igoogle page to use as a daily planner! After quite some time had passed, I went to Ning networks related to education. I liked the table of contents located on the right side of the page for easy access. The "other" listed in the t.o.c. was really cool. I found italki where you can learn a language on line for free with support of other people. Flashcardfriends was also neat....you can create flashcards to help you learn whatever it is you want to learn/remember. Lastly, I visited and joined our MISD 23 Things Ning network, created a profile, created my badge, and sent a message to Mary Woodward inviting her to be my friend!
Visit 23 Thingsters

My overall impressions were that I am amazed at the amount of information available on just one social network and how nice it is to be able to find groups that are interested in the same things you are without having to search through tons of stuff! What a fabulous resource for anyone!

Thing # 22

Social Networking..... well, I've spent too much time exploring Facebook and MySpace this evening and in the middle of all the exploring, my internet went down!!!! Frustrating. I liked Facebook better than My Space; it seemed much easier to use, not so visually distracting to me, and I found some friends that had profiles. I set up a profile on Facebook but selected some privacy so to view my profile, you'll have to request to be my friend first. I found a few friends and requested they accept me as well. I think it's important for educators to know about these social networks because it's so popular among young people today. Seems like any kid I ask knows about one or both of these sites. I learned that there are some security features on these sites and I appreciate that! I have a friend who's student got a little mad at her and decided to create a profile as if he were her! Didn't go too well forhim once it was found and the police got involved. I think both sites have useful features such as allowing you to determine who sees your profile, what to include on your profile, e-mail/messaging features, adding video/pics, etc. I'm not sure how I would use this in the classroom other than teaching appropriate use but I'm not the number one fan of having one's business out there for all to see, or hack into if private. I'm sure there's a way to find out anything if you really want to.

Thing # 21

Google is so much more broad than I ever imagined! I had fun exploring/discovering during this exercise. In fact, I spend too much time on google book search because on that site, I could actually read the text of books that I've wondered about or wanted to read. I think it's great to be able to check it out before buying. I also looked at google alerts but didn't think of anything to follow or be alerted to at this time. I would use it for sure if there's something of particular interest I want to follow. Google earth is cool..... kind of scary to know anyone can check out any place at any time. I found my house! Even my blog is generated through google.... amazing, the possibilities seem endless :-)

Thing # 20

I have explored google docs before but not really used it until today. It was easy to use and very user friendly. I developed a "working" parent letter to send home after I've completed a student's evaluation. This letter explains, specifically, the student's results and invites the parent to phone me in the event they have any questions. I can see myself sharing this type of document professionally with my colleagues to gain insight as to what correspondence they use with parents and in developing a better letter. I think the spreadsheet would be good to help me keep my testing data organized (who, when, etc.) and I may use the presentation option when developing a staff development piece. This would also be a good one to share with colleagues and we could develop it all together.

Thing # 7b

I'm jumping ahead a little bit but I don't have time to complete #20 & #21 right now. I've been reading my google reader and recently added southern living to my list. It's one of my favorite magazines and I rarely find enough time in my day to read it at home. Seems I'm always doing something...cooking, washing, cleaning, you know the drill of a working mom! Anyway, today I read several fun articles but I had no idea there were southern living blogs!!! Written by folks who write the magazine articles! Everything from food to gardening (and all points in between). What a delight!

Thing # 19

Voicethread was neat. I really liked the idea of sharing photographs with my family and friends and having the capability of hearing their comments, sentiments, etc. I could see myself using Voicethread in that way. I can also see how very cool it would be to use in a classroom where the students can make comments collectively, make predictions about pictures, compare and contrast, or even use to generate written works. I've noticed, throughout Learning 2.0, that some of our teaching videos have been created with voicethread (or something like it) and I feel so smart now that I know where to go to create works of my own!

Thing # 18 edit

I forgot to report on my "how to" videos..... I was having trouble embedding my video clip so I went to You Tube and searched "how to embed a video into a blog!" I also checked out "how to replace a ballast" because mine is out in my pantry and seems I can't get my husband to get it changed!!!

Thing # 18

During my scavenger hunt, I found two interesting videos relating to special education. One was on inclusion and the other was about a career in special education working with severely challenged kids. They were both very informative. The inclusion video was especially helpful because our campus is moving toward inclusion next school year. I've added my favorite You Tube video for fun: Bon Qui Qui at King Burger. Watch below and enjoy. I found Teacher Tube to be a great source to be used in the classroom. Kids seem to pay so much more attention to video/computer and several of the videos I explored like Animals in the Rainforest, Ocean Currents, and From an F to an A (kid production) were very interesting and captivating. I'm sure kids would really enjoy viewing videos or short clips as an alternative to the old textbook! And...it's a great idea for those kids whose reading skills are lacking or maybe learn better with visuals :-)

Thing # 17

Podcasts.... I've used i-tunes forever and never knew podcasts were there! This class is the best and I'm learning so much. I looked at several podcasts, some easier to navigate than others, but ended up subscribing to Dragonfly TV in my google reader. I also liked The Tech Teachers because it has so much information on all kinds of technology use. If you haven't tried I-Tunes, download it now and check out all the available stuff! I'm planning on spending more time there exploring what all I've missed the past few years.

Thing # 16

Libray Thing was really a cool site. I did not create an account yet but I believe I will. I would really like to do this for my dad as well because he LOVES to read and, in fact, reads so many books that he forgets which ones he's read before. For example, I put is Clive Cussler and got a complete list of his books! I liked the "suggested" search because it lists so many books related to my author or book I put in. This would be great for a classroom to have students share the books they've read and to catalog their own reading experience. I want to take some more time to explore Library Thing and I absolutely love that it's linked with Amazon (I buy most of my books from there! among other things :-)

Thing # 15

Delicious was fun! I found tons of things I'm interested in and read for a long time before recognizing I'd been on that site soooo for way too long. I searched all kinds of stuff but I tagged/bookmarked various running sites, a running blog, and some special education sites. I had trouble determining if my tags/bookmarks are public/shared but check out my link and see at delicious.com/clwhite. I thought it was neat that delicious imported my bookmarks that already existed on firefox. I'm not sure I followed the directions exactly....maybe that was the step I as supposed to skip... but I got carried away and just kept clicking!!! Anyway, now I can find all my bookmarks in one place and see them all at a glance which I find very helpful.

Thing # 7b

I could spend so much time on my google reader.... I really like having the sites I've chosen available at a "click" everyday. Two of my favorites are Runner's World Daily and Really Useful Fitness. I can find something interesting on those sites most every time I open them. Today, I read about 10 food to fight fat. Happily, I already eat most of them!!!! Some of the foods listed: oatmeal, yams, green veggies, 100% whole grain/wheat products, fresh fruit, and lean red meat. Check it out for some good nutrition and healthy tips. I go to Runner's World Daily to read about various running topics. Today, I learned about how to make the best out of running on windy days and how to minimize injuries as I get older!

Thing # 14

I had fun exploring 30 Boxes and Ta-da List. 30 boxes is the coolest calendar application! I can see myself using it to keep up with birthdays, meetings at work, and personal reminders. It also has a to-do list and the option to share with buddies, link to facebook, or to your personal blog. Ta-da List was also need if you want to make quick lists to check-off and manage things. I can see how it would work well for visual people. I played around and made my Spring Break ta-da list just for fun. I briefly looked at Weebly but didn't create my own page. It seemed pretty user-friendly and allowed options for personalization. Check out the sites I've listed and maybe one (or more) will help you get better organized :-)

Thing # 13

I had fun trying the various online image generators. I found some easier to use than others but enjoyed trying them out just the same. I like the Flickr mashup Mosaic Maker and have included my creations within this blog. Another one I had fun with was Image Chef I can see myself using these image generators in my personal life (and in my professional life when the opportunity arises!). As diagnostician, I'm not creating a lot more than the written word but, hey, you never know. Since I'm learning soooo much....I just may become a little more creative :-) I'm so excited to learn how to do all of this!!!

Thing # 12

That was a lot of fun! I have no idea if I did this correctly but I'm giving it the 'ole college try :-) I previewed the show within my blog so I'm keeping my fingers crossed!!!
I used Rock You and found it to be fairly easy to create my slideshow. I didn't select any music because I didn't like the choices, particularly. The other sites I looked at (during the discovery phase) just didn't seem as appealing to me. My slideshow contains some of my favorite photos I found on Flickr and represent some of "what makes me tick..." I hope you enjoy the show.

I
http://www.rockyou.com/show_my_gallery.php?source=ppsl&instanceid=134060036

Attribution list:

http: //www.flickr.com/photos/tambako/2504415023/

cross against blue sky

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dotbenjamin/2775508660/

running shoe and trail

http://www.flickr.com/photos/countryboy1949/420955435/

Spring in Tennessee

http://www.flickr.com/photos/januszbc/352535575/

palm frond at beach

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wisdoc/453929527/

grace bay pier

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wisdoc/431285814/in/set-1426785/

bridge to spring

http://www.flickr.com/photos/downunderphotos/416024998/

sunset at beach

Thing # 11

Flickr..... lots of fun and I spent waaaayyyy too much time on it just browsing around. I had a little trouble creating links and had to edit my wiki page a million times but.... I think I finally got it. I decided to search crosses, faith, Spring, running, trails, and beaches. Crosses and faith, of course, representing my center, my soul. Running, trails, beaches, & Spring are all special to me for one reason or another. I run to decompress... beaches are one of my favorite places and Spring is one of my favorite times of the year (renewal). The picture I've chosen to post was one of my favorites. I think this cross is just beautiful.

If I were still teaching, I would love to see what my students would come up with for projects by creating slide shows, mapping geographic locations, or even learning about other people & cultures. I believe the opportunities for creative expression are endless! I had a great time exploring so many different locations via Flickr (Greece....I'll see you in person one day!).

Thing #10

Creative Commons is really cool.
I've never noticed CC on any websites I've visited but now that I know it could be there and what it means, I'll be looking for it. I think that students will be much more likely to try new things, be more creative, and actually expand their vision by having access to Creative Commons. I never knew something like this existed! In my role as diagnostician, I don't use digital images, audio, or video clips in anything I do but in my personal life, I have shared personal pictures with friends and forwarded video clips from the web. I know copyright is a big deal but I guess I never really take the time to consciously think about the material I'm forwarding, or who owns it for that matter. Please don't turn me in to the copyright police!!! I never claim it as my own :-) I remember writing term papers (back in the day) and worrying that I was citing my references correctly. How cool would for kids to create their work online and include pictures, music, video clips, etc. in their final product! If this technology had been around when I was in high school, I may have enjoyed those assignments a little more by putting my own twist on them.

Thing #9

Wow! I'm feeling a little bit smarter every "Thing" I work through. I did encounter some frustration during my playtime in the sandbox, such as, linking my page to the home page. I got confused on which name to use....either my page name or the title of my page. I finally figured it out and actually learned more by making mistakes the first time around. Now, my page is not as fancy as some others I looked at but I did attempt and succeed in posting an image to it :-)
Check it out and see what you think at Family Dynamics. I can hardly wait to learn more! I've heard from another friend who has already taken this course that I'm going to learn how to do so much more.

Lesson # 8

Wow! I never realized, until now, that Wikipedia has developed from a wiki where anyone can edit and save information to share. Amazing, this Web 2.0 stuff... If I were still in a teaching position, I would definitely start a wiki for my students to share their ideas, collaborate, or even use as a study hall as Cool Cat Teacher did. I think that's great because kids LOVE computers and will spend an inordinate amount of time working/playing on one. How cool is it that they would actually be learning all at the same time?

I visited the Holocaust Wiki, Code Blue, Dr. Reich's Chemistry wiki,and Schools in the Past during my discovery exercise and found them all to be quite different. One thing I noticed immediately was the initial presentation/appearance. I personally liked the format of the Code Blue and found it to be very interesting. I liked how it provided links that allowed me to venture off in another direction. I read a lot of interesting facts about sun damage and the skin's ability to repair itself. If I were a student....I would love having a teacher/class that used a wiki to share ideas and information.

I think I'll try a wiki the next time my friends and I plan our girls weekend! How easy that would be to organize our outing. We wouldn't have to try and return phone calls or text msgs. or e-mails!

Thing #7

I am really enjoying following my adopted blogs! Points of view and writing styles are interesting to me...In fact, as a result of reading one of my adopted blogs, I've actually started being more conscious of being "green" (thanks to Green and Giddy)! I gathered all the recyclable products used at our Super Bowl party rather than throwing them in the trash :-)

I am so excited that I'm actually ahead of schedule right now! I've found that I've already been completing activities when they weren't yet required and using the techniques you're teaching us but not knowing what they were called :-) I feeling a little more confident!!!

Thing #6

I really enjoy finding all the blogs, both educational and fun, that interest me. I like the way the the Google Reader will keep up with the sites I select. I also think it is fun to hook up with two fellow blogspotters. Some of the sites that I found interesting in the educational part are: supportblogging.com and twitter.com. I also really like being able to follow fun sites like: www.astrology.com and www.weather.com I do wonder how to remove a blog if I added it and don't want it anymore?

Thing #5

I really liked this website (because I love working out and learning ways to improve my health) and will recommend it to my friends or anyone who is interested in beginning a new lifestyle. Be sure to look at the archives because you just might find something to peak your interest! and improve your life! tryingfitness.com. Another blogsite I've found that appears to be fairly new but full of good information is fulltiltfatloss.com.

I now (since I've learned how!!!!) am following this particular blog as well as some others. I'm excited about learning all these new tricks on the computer :-) These sites help pick me up when I'm feeling like skipping a workout and often make me want to slip into my running shoes and get outside to breath some fresh air..... getting my heart rate up makes me feel alive!

Thing # 4 Response to Exploratory Blog Reading

I really enjoyed reading the blogs I chose and I have to say.... this blogging thing is starting to grow on me. I found it refreshing to read different perspectives and purposes in the blogs.
*What do I notice about the genre of blog writing in general?
Blogging allows one to express their thoughts and insights, can be conversational yet very informative, can even link one with others feeling or experiencing similar things.
* How is blog reading different from other types of reading? How is it similar?
Well, good thing I chose to watch Mark's Edtech Blog: Is this SSR 2.0? because it answers this question perfectly! Even student who wouldn't cozy up with a book liked reading when they were allowed to read blogs! I guess being able to choose what they want to read and having some freedom to explore other people's thoughts makes reading more fun. It's reading all the same!
*How is blog writing different from other types of writing? How is it similar?
From what I see and read, blogging is a looser structure than formal writing...kind of like texting. I believe it's o.k. to use text language or whatever you choose as long as you communicate your intent. And as I learned in reading Students 2.0: Teaching Brevity, one doesn't always have to write a lot.... a lot can be said for choosing your words wisely! Very interesting blog from the eyes of a 14 year old. We can learn so much from kids!!! Similarities I noticed were that blogging generally has a purpose in mind just like any other type of writing.
*How does commenting contribute to the writing and meaning-making?
I think commenting promotes thinking. Others can bring insight to what you've written or read. Others can link us up (beam me up Scotty!) to other fascinating places, articles, sites, people, etc.
Is there a "blogging literacy?" How does blogging affect the way we read and write?
*How can blogging facilitate learning?
Like I stated in my earlier post... clicking on links takes me on adventures I never knew existed!
So that's what the highlighted text means within the blog!!! Links to new information! I appreciate the learning experience of linking (finding permalink and how to do it!). Thank you! I already learning so much :-)

Thing # 2 - Thougts about Web 2.0

Wow! The Machine is Us/ing Us was fast! I never had any idea that all those characters mean something. I had already seen Shift Happens and was amazed both times at the facts and the rate of growth of technology. I wonder what life will be like for my children 10 years from now? I truly believe that technology can be a wonderful tool for learning, linking people all over the world and opening up an endless vault of knowledge. A Vision of K-12 Students Today made me think about how technology can reach kids who wouldn't necessarily feel comfortable or even be able to compose a traditional report or paper and allow/provide them the opportunity to express themselves in so many ways! To be honest, though, I wonder if we will eventually lose the "human" aspect of communication. In my opinion, there's something to be said in seeing someone's eyes when communicating and taking social cues from a person's inflection and body language. We lose all that when blogging, texting, instant messaging, etc.
Where will our privacy go if everything we search, say, compose, etc. is out there for all the world to see? Like the song says, "I miss Mayberry..." I know... that's not 21st century thinking but sometimes it's exactly how I feel. It seems we have so much on our plates and life just keeps expecting us to move faster and add more things to do in order to keep up.

On a more professional note... I love using technology in my working world. It has made life much easier and more efficient. This year was the first time I took an on-line course and expanding my learning pathways. I search the web all the time and am carried on adventures by clicking on links.... Digital learning is the new way of life. I must get on board I suppose. My kids know no other way of life. In this computer/technology age, I find our possibilities for learning, endless.

Thing # 1 Reflections on Lifelong Learning

Thing #1: Reflecting on 71/2 Habits of Effective Lifelong Learners.....
I found the video very informative and was actually glad to find that I practice lifelong learning in ways I didn't even realize! I I tried to come up with a reasonable goal but not knowing what opportunities I will have made it a challenge to determine what I wanted to learn. I think the most challenging thing for me will be overcoming challenges. I get very frustrated when technology glitches occur! The easiest thing will be accepting responsibility for my learning. I enjoy learning new things. The most important habit while working through this course? Using technology to my advantage :-) In this fast-paced world, efficiency is a must!