It seemed like this day would never come. The day I could look at my blog and see every entry, every project completed. It's quite a feeling. I learned a lot this semester, through my Educational Tech class, and of course, the 23 Things blog. There were plenty of activities I enjoyed, such as Thing#12, where I took the time to see and experience all that Google has to offer a less-than-savvy individual such as myself. Online image generators, wikis, delicious.com, and Animoto all provided info and educational practicality while being fun and interesting. But I had my share of dark times as well. However, this usually revolved around the fact that I tend to misplace my logins and passwords, or else could not figure out how to incorporate some file or link into my blog. Luckily, I always got it worked out, and so the darkness has left for good.
I have come away from these projects with more than just a sense of accomplishment. I feel more confident in my use of the internet in general, as I have access and understanding to a whole new set of sites, apps, and other resources. I know how to keep up with news, fellow educators, and friends, and also know cool and intuitive ways to share as well as glean pertinent information. I feel certain that as a teacher, I will have a solid background in using the internet efficiently and properly (hey, it's there to do the work for me!).
As far as critiques go, I feel that there is little that needs to be said. My one qualm is that I had to sign up for a lot of sites, some of which I will continue to utilize, but many that are just going to end up providing constant reminders that end up in my email's spam folder. Just a lot to keep organized, and a lot to try to keep up with (but I do know some great apps for keeping all that stuff straight!). For now, keeping up with new developments is as easy as following influential educators on Twitter, maintaining those RSS feeds, reading (and adding to) wikis, bookmarking (and seeing others') useful sites, and generally keeping one's eyes open. And it's okay (actually, probably recommended) to have some fun while doing all of that.
It's been a trip, that's for sure. Thanks for playing. - S.M.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Thing #23 - May The Fair-Use Be With You
I had a chance to learn about Creative Commons earlier in the semester through the EDUC 5540 class, and I see the site as a highly important teacher resource. Heaven knows the last thing any of us want to do is bring the copyright police down upon ourselves. Proper use of copyrighted works is key, and Creative Commons not only offers tools for creating and licensing your own works, but offers search tools and resources which outline copyright law in plain, simple English.
I see how the 23 Things blog is influenced by other online tools and resources. It began with the 43 Things website, a goal-setting application, and a particular article commenting and expanding on the concept, called "43 Things I might Want to Do This Year" by Stephen Abram. Abram's article expands on the 43 Things by providing a list of specific sites and resources to find and experience, many of which have found their way onto our own 23 Things blog (and, subsequently, mine as well). Abram's suggestions are great, and I noted the tweaks and changes made for our own use as teachers-in-training. Being exposed to Creative Commons has been an important experience for me as a future teacher, as it calls up the importance of copyright, forcing us to remember that we need to be mindful of what we right-click and save, and even more careful about what we share in public (such as the classroom).
I see how the 23 Things blog is influenced by other online tools and resources. It began with the 43 Things website, a goal-setting application, and a particular article commenting and expanding on the concept, called "43 Things I might Want to Do This Year" by Stephen Abram. Abram's article expands on the 43 Things by providing a list of specific sites and resources to find and experience, many of which have found their way onto our own 23 Things blog (and, subsequently, mine as well). Abram's suggestions are great, and I noted the tweaks and changes made for our own use as teachers-in-training. Being exposed to Creative Commons has been an important experience for me as a future teacher, as it calls up the importance of copyright, forcing us to remember that we need to be mindful of what we right-click and save, and even more careful about what we share in public (such as the classroom).
Thing #22 - LiveWell, LiveStrong, LiveBinders (ooh, a homograph!)
I created 3 binders on my LiveBinders account, and they are titled thus:
- 23 Things Resources ( collection of useful sites found through the 23 Things blog)
- My Favorite Teaching Resource Sites (pretty self-explanatory)
- Writing Help (collection of sites offering guidance for writing APA papers)
LiveBinders offers yet another format for organizing and sharing online content. I see it as being interchangeable with bookmarking sites, as both offer methods for keeping track and making sense of the limitless internet, and otherwise sharing online finds with like-minded parties. To me, its a great resource, and just one of many options teachers can utilize effectively to increase productivity through better time management. It simply comes down to personal preference.
Additionally, it seems to me that LiveBinders could be used in the classroom by students, perhaps for organizing class assignments, researching teacher-approved websites for projects, or for creating an online portfolio related to an assigned topic. Interactive and fun, right? Students could benefit greatly from experiencing and practicing organizing information online.
Here's a look at my Writing Help binder, complete with my favorite associated websites.
- 23 Things Resources ( collection of useful sites found through the 23 Things blog)
- My Favorite Teaching Resource Sites (pretty self-explanatory)
- Writing Help (collection of sites offering guidance for writing APA papers)
LiveBinders offers yet another format for organizing and sharing online content. I see it as being interchangeable with bookmarking sites, as both offer methods for keeping track and making sense of the limitless internet, and otherwise sharing online finds with like-minded parties. To me, its a great resource, and just one of many options teachers can utilize effectively to increase productivity through better time management. It simply comes down to personal preference.
Additionally, it seems to me that LiveBinders could be used in the classroom by students, perhaps for organizing class assignments, researching teacher-approved websites for projects, or for creating an online portfolio related to an assigned topic. Interactive and fun, right? Students could benefit greatly from experiencing and practicing organizing information online.
Here's a look at my Writing Help binder, complete with my favorite associated websites.
Thing #21 - Domo Arigato, Mr. Animoto
Initial judgements are in: Animoto is a fun, easy-to-use app for making slideshows. I chose to make one featuring my dog, Sam. It was enjoyable to create, and everything was really simple, just upload photos, pick a theme and music, and poof! Instant presentation. I'm not immediately sure of any really good educational applications for this type of app, as it seems geared towards entertainment. That said, perhaps a slideshow done in this manner could be both educational and entertaining, if done right (double threat!). Hope you like my little show (that Sam's a character!).
Make your own slide show at Animoto.
Make your own slide show at Animoto.
Thing #20 - Me and You(Tube)
Everyone with an internet connection has been on YouTube (at least I think that's the case). The great thing about YouTube is, drum roll please....it's entirely comprised of user-created content! This means that if someone thought of it, it's probably been recorded and uploaded to YouTube. Now this is a double-edged sword, since nearly anyone can gain insight into any topic. Example: my mother (a dental hygienist) will sometimes have patients who try to tell her how to do things, since they watched a video on YouTube. Humorous, yes; annoying, also yes. The proliferation of tangible knowledge (aka YouTube), the online encyclopedia on everything, is all there for your perusal and amusement.
I think everyone can and should appreciate YouTube for what it is, and take all content presented with that ol' proverbial grain of salt (just like Wikipedia). YouTube offers so much useful knowledge, but for every good (or hopefully, professionally valuable) video resource out there, there's about a hundred not-so-valuable ones. Something to keep in mind. As for the video I chose to link to this post, I found a commentary on bad blogging habits, which seemed both useful and appropriate to this discussion. Cheers!
I think everyone can and should appreciate YouTube for what it is, and take all content presented with that ol' proverbial grain of salt (just like Wikipedia). YouTube offers so much useful knowledge, but for every good (or hopefully, professionally valuable) video resource out there, there's about a hundred not-so-valuable ones. Something to keep in mind. As for the video I chose to link to this post, I found a commentary on bad blogging habits, which seemed both useful and appropriate to this discussion. Cheers!
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Thing #19 - Wait...There Are OTHER Networking Sites?!
TeacherPop is a pretty cool site, I have to say. It's got that attractive (and interactive) quality vital to a good networking site, and has a really specific focus, making it a very immediate, useful resource for those of us grinding through the MAT program. I took some time to add the TeacherPop and Classroom 2.0 widgets to my blog (they look good, right?) and was impressed with the layout and all. I see Ning as being a pretty cool place to create networks, if you're into that kind of thing. ;)
Do I find any of the mentioned networks appealing? Certainly, as long as they talk about stuff that interests me (I'm looking at you, IMDB!) Perhaps the most appealing thing about these specific networks is just that- their specificity. I like being able to go to a place like IMDB and catch really in-depth discussions and comments about a movie or tv show I like. You might not find that kind of down-low elsewhere. And I like getting the down-low on movies. Finding a forum where users speak a similar language can be extremely beneficial to a variety of professions or personalities.
To answer the question regarding my online affiliations, I am a member of virtually every online community that this or any of my other classes tell me to be a part of. I tend not to commit to joining online groups, mostly because I'm so bad at staying involved (my attention span seems to wane dramatically in the initial days of membership), but that's not to say I don't find networking sites highly valuable and user-friendly. If nothing else, these social network-related Things have taught me not to undervalue social networking as a powerful tool for educating oneself, gaining new resources, and providing endless feedback (hopefully you asked for it).
Do I find any of the mentioned networks appealing? Certainly, as long as they talk about stuff that interests me (I'm looking at you, IMDB!) Perhaps the most appealing thing about these specific networks is just that- their specificity. I like being able to go to a place like IMDB and catch really in-depth discussions and comments about a movie or tv show I like. You might not find that kind of down-low elsewhere. And I like getting the down-low on movies. Finding a forum where users speak a similar language can be extremely beneficial to a variety of professions or personalities.
To answer the question regarding my online affiliations, I am a member of virtually every online community that this or any of my other classes tell me to be a part of. I tend not to commit to joining online groups, mostly because I'm so bad at staying involved (my attention span seems to wane dramatically in the initial days of membership), but that's not to say I don't find networking sites highly valuable and user-friendly. If nothing else, these social network-related Things have taught me not to undervalue social networking as a powerful tool for educating oneself, gaining new resources, and providing endless feedback (hopefully you asked for it).
Thing #18 - Sir Tweets-A-Lot?
I'll begin by saying that I have not been a big fan of social networking sites for a long time. Now that doesn't mean that I hate social networking or anything like that, but I just don't have that natural drive to maintain that level of connectivity and transparency that everyone else in the world seems to have. I had a Facebook page back in the old days (when you had to have a college email to even create a profile) but was always bad about keeping it updated, and was even worse about seeing what my friends were up to. Was always a chore to me. So like I said, don't hate social networking, just not interested in doing the work necessary to keep the pace with everybody else. Perhaps I'm a bit old fashioned in that I still prefer face-to-face human contact over seeing what comments appear in my news feed.
But enough naysaying. Obviously, social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter are here to stay, and certainly have their place in our society, as well as the modern teacher's list of essentials. Being able to keep up with fellow teachers, admins, and even groups such as school districts or individual schools enables teachers to stay up-to-date on the latest news, events, etc. As far as usefulness is concerned, I think Twitter wins out over Facebook, but only slightly. Facebook is certainly geared towards social (instead of professional) interaction, with a bit of professionalism on the side. Twitter is also social, but its layout and functionality (keeping those posts short and sweet!) make it a better choice for a teacher seeking to follow exemplary teachers (such as @coolcatteacher) and keep up to speed with trending topics. In considering class or school integration of social networking websites, I feel they may have a place though it would need to be very limited. I liken their academic use to a classroom discussion: often beneficial, but requires a large dose of teacher mediation to keep on task.
Thing #17 - Bookmarks and Webpages
I see social bookmarking as a valuable tool for the modern teacher's resource arsenal. After signing up and exploring delicious.com, and familiarizing myself with the application, I see it as a great way to save and organize that small portion of the internet deemed relevant to you (or me!). Having the ability to bookmark, then organize sites with tags, makes a site list containing hundreds of entries quite manageable (thereby keeping that long list actually useable). The social aspect is also very important, as it allows other, like-minded individuals to create and share bookmarks easily (since everything on delicious.com is public). That means there are lots of people bookmarking and tagging, for instance, good lesson plan websites. The power of numbers at work, it's a beautiful thing.
And how can teachers take advantage? Easy! Just sign up and start looking for relevant tags, and you'll find a slew of related websites, already explored, tagged, and commented on by actual living people! It's like a search engine, only better!
As a side note, I also took a look at StumbleUpon, which is not entirely unlike delicious.com, but different enough (in my mind) to be considered something other than a social bookmarking site. Rather than maintaining control over what you see and where you go, StumbleUpon keeps track of your chosen interests, then takes you to a different content-related website every time you click the "stumble" button. While this can be a fun activity, and may expand your horizons and list of resources, I must conclude by saying that StumbleUpon is better suited to those with some spare time on their hands. For those who want to utilize social bookmarking for fun and profit (not in the financial sense, more like the time-management sense), an app like delicious.com is just what the doctor (or internet librarian) ordered.
And how can teachers take advantage? Easy! Just sign up and start looking for relevant tags, and you'll find a slew of related websites, already explored, tagged, and commented on by actual living people! It's like a search engine, only better!
As a side note, I also took a look at StumbleUpon, which is not entirely unlike delicious.com, but different enough (in my mind) to be considered something other than a social bookmarking site. Rather than maintaining control over what you see and where you go, StumbleUpon keeps track of your chosen interests, then takes you to a different content-related website every time you click the "stumble" button. While this can be a fun activity, and may expand your horizons and list of resources, I must conclude by saying that StumbleUpon is better suited to those with some spare time on their hands. For those who want to utilize social bookmarking for fun and profit (not in the financial sense, more like the time-management sense), an app like delicious.com is just what the doctor (or internet librarian) ordered.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Thing #16 - Production Costs...Time (So Save It When You Can)
Upon completing Thing #12, I immediately switched from my old Yahoo hompage to a snazzy, customized iGoogle homepage, and never looked back. I love having control over what shows up on the page (entertainment news, YouTube trends, Artist of the Day, even daily comics like in the newspaper!) and I don't have to wade through all the stuff that doesn't interest me. This certainly helps streamline the amount of time spent doing less-than-vital online activities (you know how it goes..."I'm gonna get on and write this reflection really quick. Hey, what's Lindsey Lohan doing in the news again?" *click*) Needless to say, none of the other homepages interest me in the slightest, since I have integrated my entire online life into Google (Gmail, GoogleDocs, GoogleMaps, and of course, plain ol' search engine). As far as I'm concerned, iGoogle is the best startpage a guy like me could ask for, and it matches everything else in my wardrobe so well.
Online calenders intrigue me, but little else. I can see the value of adding events and reminders and the like, but ultimately have never felt drawn towards using them. However, I do occasionally use the calendar feature on my iPhone, which works pretty much identically to any online calender app, but with the additional benefit of being in my pocket (accessibility at its finest). As a student, I have a short list of important dates and appointments to keep track of, but feel very certain that things will change dramatically when I'm teaching. When that day comes, I think I'll rely on GoogleCalendar to keep my schedule straight.
I went and signed up at Rememberthemilk.com, and checked it out. I've heard the name tossed around in conversations recently, and saw this opportunity as a good excuse to see what the app is all about. Basically, I was unimpressed. Deeper contemplation on the issue leads me to feel that maybe our society is becoming over-organized, to the point of becoming cluttered (albeit in a more structured fashion). At Rememberthemilk, you can make lists, organize lists under different tabs, share lists with others, etc. In my mind, using this type of app is just another thing to manage, beyond the items that you had to take the time to list in your head, type up in the app, organize, and check off. Whew! I'd be better off with an old pen-and-paper honey-do list. The one thing a productivity app does have going for it is its medium; keeping lists and events online does make them harder to lose.
Recommendations? Google. Use it for everything. Especially if you're not so tech-savvy (like myself). They'll do all the heavy lifting for you (like Hamburger Helper!).
Thing #15 - Wiki-what?
I'll start by saying that I am a big fan of wikis, and use them constantly (both for academics and entertainment). I think the concept provides a really valuable outlet for collecting, organizing, and sharing information. I use Wikipedia for just about everything research-related, though I do believe it's important to take the info found there with a grain of salt (the downside to user-edited content), but overall Wikipedia is a great starting point when beginning research into a new topic. I found my way over to the 23 Things Sandbox, and added an image and some notes (first time I've actually edited wiki content, I'm the "look but don't touch" type).
I also took some time to check out a few of the wiki links on the 23 Things blog, and found Welker's Wikinomics to be especially cool. I think the best thing about a wiki is the underlying assumption that its creators want us to add to and edit it, whereas regular blogs and websites are usually less inclined to promote that. I also think it would be a great class project to construct a wiki based on the subject being taught, giving each student a list of people, places, concepts, etc. to write short encyclopedia entries about, then post the to the wiki. The end result would be a unique, valuable resource that the students will (hopefully) have a bit of fun putting together.
I also took some time to check out a few of the wiki links on the 23 Things blog, and found Welker's Wikinomics to be especially cool. I think the best thing about a wiki is the underlying assumption that its creators want us to add to and edit it, whereas regular blogs and websites are usually less inclined to promote that. I also think it would be a great class project to construct a wiki based on the subject being taught, giving each student a list of people, places, concepts, etc. to write short encyclopedia entries about, then post the to the wiki. The end result would be a unique, valuable resource that the students will (hopefully) have a bit of fun putting together.
Thing #14 - Flow Ride, Take It Easy...
For this assignment, I took some time to mess around with Gliffy and Mindmeister, dealing with flowcharts and mindmaps, respectively. Both websites were pretty easy to get the hang of, and I had fun creating a couple different examples. I don't currently have any other projects or assignments that I could utilize these applications with, but perhaps that's for the best (just kinda playing with them casually, sans stress).
I made a fun little flowchart on the Gliffy website, just to get a feel for it. I myself am not a huge fan of flowcharts, as I feel that they're a bit confusing and cumbersome as far as visual aids go, but that's just my personal observation. I certainly do understand how a flowchart can be useful in the classroom, especially when sequencing is important to a lesson (be it steps for completing an equation, determining a chain of historical events, setting up an experiment, etc.)
I derived a bit more enjoyment out of making a mindmap on Mindmeister, probably due to my preference for this type of layout. Rather than a sequential or directional context, which must be planned out beforehand a mindmap allows its creator to brainstorm and add topics related to the central topic, determining connections and/or directionality afterwards. However, I realize that everyone learns differently, and utilizing these types of visual aids can be quite beneficial for learners.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Thing #4 (pt. 2) - Yeah, I'm Talkin' to You
Commenting was much less painful than I originally anticipated (surprise!). Since I've already discussed my perceived notions on the value of comments, I'll move right into my list of who got commented:
First, the classmates (go team!):
Melissa B ( of Bullock's 23 fame) made a comment on my own blog (first!) about my thoughts on Thing 4. She made a good point about using comments to, at the very least, keep a conversation fresh and viable. Really appreciated the comment, and encouraged me to reply in kind.
Matthew B's 23 Things I Did and You Are Reading About - made a comment about his Thing 7 post, he had some good insight (and, presumably, some good know-how) about the inner working of Flickr copyright issues. Having had some trouble with the activity myself, just wanted to share that I appreciated his own input into the whole matter.
Stephanie W's Stephanie's 23 Things Blog - left a comment on her post about Thing 11, discussing the merits (or lack thereof) of certain feed-finding tools. Her comments augmented my own conclusions, and so I figured I return the favor with a little comment to let her know I got her drift.
Kelly W's 23 Things - left a comment about her Thing 8 post. She had a great idea for a customized motivational poster that I really liked, and just wanted to let her know. If nothing else, commenting can let us authors know that someone's actually looking at the content we generate.
Nathan D's Ned's Ed Web - made a comment about Nathan's Thing 9 post. His images were laugh-out-loud funny to me, and I had to let him know that the humor was appreciated. Reminds me how important it is that we maintain a sense of humor in this, our chosen profession.
And on to the other guys:
Left a comment on The Nerdy Teacher - responded to the author's post, titled #NothingButPositiveTweetsThisWeek Part 2. The author talked about the effort required to maintain positivity through the work week, and had some good insights about its payout. As I'm not a teacher yet, the post reminded me that, though our careers will most certainly have their share of bad days, positivity is a choice, and in the end, life is better if you decide to keep up with being positive.
And rounding out my comment-spree, I ended up at Major Nelson's Xbox Live blog, and commented about something I have a great love for: video games. Just chimed in over my excitement for an upcoming release. Relevance? It's important for us adults to have some fun once in a while. A relaxed teacher is a happy teacher, agreed?
And so there you have it- the non-commenter left comments all over the place. Gotta admit, it was actually pretty fun. Gave me a sense of connection, and I'll undoubtedly be checking back later on to see who commented on my comments. Here's to keeping the conversations alive! Thanks for pushing me to be more involved, Thing #4.
First, the classmates (go team!):
Melissa B ( of Bullock's 23 fame) made a comment on my own blog (first!) about my thoughts on Thing 4. She made a good point about using comments to, at the very least, keep a conversation fresh and viable. Really appreciated the comment, and encouraged me to reply in kind.
Matthew B's 23 Things I Did and You Are Reading About - made a comment about his Thing 7 post, he had some good insight (and, presumably, some good know-how) about the inner working of Flickr copyright issues. Having had some trouble with the activity myself, just wanted to share that I appreciated his own input into the whole matter.
Stephanie W's Stephanie's 23 Things Blog - left a comment on her post about Thing 11, discussing the merits (or lack thereof) of certain feed-finding tools. Her comments augmented my own conclusions, and so I figured I return the favor with a little comment to let her know I got her drift.
Kelly W's 23 Things - left a comment about her Thing 8 post. She had a great idea for a customized motivational poster that I really liked, and just wanted to let her know. If nothing else, commenting can let us authors know that someone's actually looking at the content we generate.
Nathan D's Ned's Ed Web - made a comment about Nathan's Thing 9 post. His images were laugh-out-loud funny to me, and I had to let him know that the humor was appreciated. Reminds me how important it is that we maintain a sense of humor in this, our chosen profession.
And on to the other guys:
Left a comment on The Nerdy Teacher - responded to the author's post, titled #NothingButPositiveTweetsThisWeek Part 2. The author talked about the effort required to maintain positivity through the work week, and had some good insights about its payout. As I'm not a teacher yet, the post reminded me that, though our careers will most certainly have their share of bad days, positivity is a choice, and in the end, life is better if you decide to keep up with being positive.
And rounding out my comment-spree, I ended up at Major Nelson's Xbox Live blog, and commented about something I have a great love for: video games. Just chimed in over my excitement for an upcoming release. Relevance? It's important for us adults to have some fun once in a while. A relaxed teacher is a happy teacher, agreed?
And so there you have it- the non-commenter left comments all over the place. Gotta admit, it was actually pretty fun. Gave me a sense of connection, and I'll undoubtedly be checking back later on to see who commented on my comments. Here's to keeping the conversations alive! Thanks for pushing me to be more involved, Thing #4.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Thing #12 - 10 to the 100th Power
What's my title have to do with Thing #12? Well, a 1 followed by a hundred zeros, expressed as 10 to the 100th, is known as a googol (from which our beloved search engine's name is derived). How about that? And I must say, this might be my favorite activity undertaken so far. I mean, I knew Google was more than just a search engine (I do have Gmail), but I didn't quite realize how many different applications have surfaced on the site over time.
I was extremely pleased with iGoogle. Let me explain. I have had Yahoo! set as my homepage for as long as I can remember. I like to log on, get a smattering of news and entertainment, then move on to whatever it is I'm online to do or see. Often, the very next site I visit is Google (for some unknown reason, I love the Yahoo! homepage but hate the search engine) I didn't even realize that I could customize the Google page to include all the gadgets (news, movies, art, etc.) I like, and without all the superfluous stuff. Needless to say, I now have a new homepage (sorry Yahoo!, you're just not cutting it anymore). As far as educational or teaching implications are concerned, I certainly think that by sticking with one website for just about everything I do (check the news, do web searches, keep up with my RSS feeds and blogs, and of course, email) I can stay quite organized and connected, even without the use of social media.
I also had a bit of fun with Google Translate. I've seen similar apps before, but had never really played with one. I really like the whole concept, being able to instantly translate whatever you type. I can see this being really useful for communicating with people around the world, and could, like Skype, aid students in experiencing or interacting with students in foreign classrooms. Here's an example of something I typed in English, and translated into Latin:
Why teach history? Because those who forget history are doomed to repeat it. Not lucky to repeat it; doomed.
Quid docere historia? Quae ab historia alieno dubio referre. Non felix repetere; debitos.
Such an application might also have uses in an English class when discussing the origins of different words, or could be used in an ELL class to help students and teachers both. With an app like this, the language barrier just got substantially easier to overcome. Major shout-out to Google on these ones.
I was extremely pleased with iGoogle. Let me explain. I have had Yahoo! set as my homepage for as long as I can remember. I like to log on, get a smattering of news and entertainment, then move on to whatever it is I'm online to do or see. Often, the very next site I visit is Google (for some unknown reason, I love the Yahoo! homepage but hate the search engine) I didn't even realize that I could customize the Google page to include all the gadgets (news, movies, art, etc.) I like, and without all the superfluous stuff. Needless to say, I now have a new homepage (sorry Yahoo!, you're just not cutting it anymore). As far as educational or teaching implications are concerned, I certainly think that by sticking with one website for just about everything I do (check the news, do web searches, keep up with my RSS feeds and blogs, and of course, email) I can stay quite organized and connected, even without the use of social media.
I also had a bit of fun with Google Translate. I've seen similar apps before, but had never really played with one. I really like the whole concept, being able to instantly translate whatever you type. I can see this being really useful for communicating with people around the world, and could, like Skype, aid students in experiencing or interacting with students in foreign classrooms. Here's an example of something I typed in English, and translated into Latin:
Why teach history? Because those who forget history are doomed to repeat it. Not lucky to repeat it; doomed.
Quid docere historia? Quae ab historia alieno dubio referre. Non felix repetere; debitos.
Such an application might also have uses in an English class when discussing the origins of different words, or could be used in an ELL class to help students and teachers both. With an app like this, the language barrier just got substantially easier to overcome. Major shout-out to Google on these ones.
Thing #11 - Feedin' Fine
I'm glad this activity exists on this list. I had a lot of fun (sarcasm!) trying to learn how to subscribe to feeds for various websites I was interested in for Thing #10. Oh well, better late than never, eh? I started by checking out the Edublog Awards Listings, and found some cool blogs there. I really enjoy the diversity I've seen in the types of blogs, the personalities of their authors, and the areas of focus each one has; really offers an inexperienced soon-to-be teacher like me a lot of views, experiences, and insights. Good good stuff.
I followed the suggestion to search "school library learning 2.0" on Google. It took me to this craaaazy website full of web-based activities (there was something hauntingly familiar about it...). As a side note, after doing these last few activities, I find myself checking all the websites I visit for the little orange RSS icon (now that I know what it is and does). It's a little like a less-fun version of Where's Waldo.
Moving right along, next I took a peek at Topix.net, and was immediately turned off by it. The home page, besides lacking an attractive layout, was automatically customized by my location, and featured a screen full of open topic threads that didn't exactly pique my interest, if you get my drift. I didn't even bother to navigate the site. I feel that, while you shouldn't necessarily judge a book by its cover, first impressions are still heavily weighted. So I went right on ahead and jumped straight into Technorati.
I was much happier with Technorati's website. The layout made sense to me, and was quite easy to navigate and use. I found several cool blogs, including some educational and entertainment sites and blogs. Technorati lets you search by post or blog, and also offers drop down menus to help direct you towards the topics that interest you. Like I said at the beginning, I wish I had known about a site like this one when I did the previous activity, and I'm sure I'll be utilizing it from here on out for all my blog-connecting needs.
I followed the suggestion to search "school library learning 2.0" on Google. It took me to this craaaazy website full of web-based activities (there was something hauntingly familiar about it...). As a side note, after doing these last few activities, I find myself checking all the websites I visit for the little orange RSS icon (now that I know what it is and does). It's a little like a less-fun version of Where's Waldo.
Moving right along, next I took a peek at Topix.net, and was immediately turned off by it. The home page, besides lacking an attractive layout, was automatically customized by my location, and featured a screen full of open topic threads that didn't exactly pique my interest, if you get my drift. I didn't even bother to navigate the site. I feel that, while you shouldn't necessarily judge a book by its cover, first impressions are still heavily weighted. So I went right on ahead and jumped straight into Technorati.
I was much happier with Technorati's website. The layout made sense to me, and was quite easy to navigate and use. I found several cool blogs, including some educational and entertainment sites and blogs. Technorati lets you search by post or blog, and also offers drop down menus to help direct you towards the topics that interest you. Like I said at the beginning, I wish I had known about a site like this one when I did the previous activity, and I'm sure I'll be utilizing it from here on out for all my blog-connecting needs.
Thing #10 - Couldn't Come Up With a Clever RSS Title
Granted, I see the value of utilizing newsreaders to aggregate all those RSS feeds. The problem for me is, well, I don't follow a lot of stuff or people. I don't use Facebook or Twitter in my everyday life, and as far as the relatively low number of websites I do frequent are concerned, I just check them manually. Now I'm not trying to be a downer when it comes to RSS feeds. I can freely admit that using an application like this makes it exceedingly easy to keep up with a whole lot of content. And it is really nice not having to check each single site or blog, one at a time and such.
I set up my reader through Google, and have gotten a good sampling of what to expect from an RSS feed. I see how it compares to social media sites, providing a steady stream of fresh content as its hits the web, much like your Facebook wall or notifications. It's pretty useful if you have a lot of sites and people you want to keep up with, but if you're anything like me, it might be a bit of info overkill.
I do think that I might have to use RSS feeds in my career one day, since it will enable me to keep up with all kinds of valuable information, and from a variety of sources- friends, colleagues, my school district, national news, etc. Having all that content in one place, in one format would help me keep organized, up to date on current affairs, and in touch with my fellow teachers. There's so much information out there to be had, and I definitely think that RSS can help us make better sense of it, while cutting down on precious time spent, time that will undoubtedly be needed to get those lesson plans done and all that homework graded!
I set up my reader through Google, and have gotten a good sampling of what to expect from an RSS feed. I see how it compares to social media sites, providing a steady stream of fresh content as its hits the web, much like your Facebook wall or notifications. It's pretty useful if you have a lot of sites and people you want to keep up with, but if you're anything like me, it might be a bit of info overkill.
I do think that I might have to use RSS feeds in my career one day, since it will enable me to keep up with all kinds of valuable information, and from a variety of sources- friends, colleagues, my school district, national news, etc. Having all that content in one place, in one format would help me keep organized, up to date on current affairs, and in touch with my fellow teachers. There's so much information out there to be had, and I definitely think that RSS can help us make better sense of it, while cutting down on precious time spent, time that will undoubtedly be needed to get those lesson plans done and all that homework graded!
Thing #9 - Sign In!
This was a really fun exercise. I made a few different signs, courtesy of www.says-it.com , as you can see. I also did a couple comic strips with a generator found at www.makebeliefscomix.com . Here's some stuff I made!
Who doesn't love a corny history joke? One of the cool things I thought of as far as using image generators in the classroom was the personalization factor. I think it's so neat to be able to make your own comic strips and poster art, customizing it to fit in with a lesson, making it into a meaningful homework assignment, or even just capturing a great joke for your desktop. That concludes Thing # 9, so...
Thing #8 - Mash 'Em In
Flickr mashups are pretty interesting, to say the least. I've noticed that the bulk of the apps featured on the page linked to our Learning 2.0 site were smartphone apps, and that makes sense. The digital camera's got some serious competition thanks to the prevalence of smartphones (it doesn't hurt that the photo resolution on those things has really improved these last couple o' years). So here we are, snapping away with our little phone cameras, and now we've got all kinds of cool Flickr mashup apps to do a variety of things to those photos. I personally like the word art app for my computer, though. It's just fun, and it can say pretty much whatever you want it to (ransom note, perhaps?). It's a prime example of a Web 2.0 tool: user-generated content, and I don't even really have to know what I'm doing. Just type a message, tweak some colors and details, and voila! I've got some content ready to put right into my blog post!
As far as the value of mashups, I'd say they're useful since they can be used on-the-go (hey, that's where the stuff worth photographing is anyway), and can be uploading almost instantly. This whole idea goes back to my post about Skype and how these programs and apps make the world a more connected place where conversations can be carried on from absolutely anywhere, and mobile photo mashups are no different. How could mashups be used in the classroom? These days, it seems that virtually every HS student not only has a cellphone, but most likely that thing is nicer than what I've got, and would be capable of utilizing mashups like the ones I'm discussing. Harnessing their technological attachment is easy enough, and I'm certain that a clever teacher could find ways to exploit students' connectedness in educationally beneficial ways.
As far as the value of mashups, I'd say they're useful since they can be used on-the-go (hey, that's where the stuff worth photographing is anyway), and can be uploading almost instantly. This whole idea goes back to my post about Skype and how these programs and apps make the world a more connected place where conversations can be carried on from absolutely anywhere, and mobile photo mashups are no different. How could mashups be used in the classroom? These days, it seems that virtually every HS student not only has a cellphone, but most likely that thing is nicer than what I've got, and would be capable of utilizing mashups like the ones I'm discussing. Harnessing their technological attachment is easy enough, and I'm certain that a clever teacher could find ways to exploit students' connectedness in educationally beneficial ways.
Thing #7 - Flickr
I have heard rumors, swirling whispers in which unknown characters relate stories of the rumored existence of these so-called photo sharing websites. In hushed tones, I heard the names Flickr and Photobucket, but had yet to see for myself. So I went to see for myself. (Great intro, right? Just trying to keep all my reader(s) on their toes.) Seriously though, I am somewhat familiar with sites such as Flickr, but since I am not much of a shutterbug, I have not spent any time exploring the site until now.
After a good perusal of the website, I've arrived at the conclusion that Flickr is pretty cool, even for someone like me, who doesn't take a lot of pictures. I had falsely assumed that photo sharing sites were not much more than a collection of random people's family candids. I was wrong. I"m finding that I can type just about anything into the search bar and be presented with pages of relevant and interesting photos. Who knew? I really like the sets in which themes are explored and stories told, such as a set illustrating Sao Paulo's ban on outdoor advertising, or another set all about chair styles. So random and cool.
I'm a big lover of the arts, and I harbor a secret love for street art/graffiti. It must be the rebel in me trying to express himself. I know the illegality of many pieces of street art is to be frowned upon, but I usually find that it just strengthens the allure. Not to mention the general style of street art, with its bold colors and lines, whimsical characters and messages, and of course the funky style its often presented in really gets my attention. I found a picture that I especially enjoyed, and does much to illustrate my point of view. Its a piece from a legitimate art show in L.A. Hope you can appreciate the bold simplicity like I do. http://www.flickr.com/photos/warholian/5793257324/ And as for Flickr, I think that this exercise has pushed me to take a closer look at an online resource that is not only fun, but has great potential for being educational as well.
P.S. Due to the image I chose being copyrighted, I could not seem to include the actual image within this post. Just click on the link and you can have yourself a gander. Photo credit goes to Michael Cuffe.
After a good perusal of the website, I've arrived at the conclusion that Flickr is pretty cool, even for someone like me, who doesn't take a lot of pictures. I had falsely assumed that photo sharing sites were not much more than a collection of random people's family candids. I was wrong. I"m finding that I can type just about anything into the search bar and be presented with pages of relevant and interesting photos. Who knew? I really like the sets in which themes are explored and stories told, such as a set illustrating Sao Paulo's ban on outdoor advertising, or another set all about chair styles. So random and cool.
I'm a big lover of the arts, and I harbor a secret love for street art/graffiti. It must be the rebel in me trying to express himself. I know the illegality of many pieces of street art is to be frowned upon, but I usually find that it just strengthens the allure. Not to mention the general style of street art, with its bold colors and lines, whimsical characters and messages, and of course the funky style its often presented in really gets my attention. I found a picture that I especially enjoyed, and does much to illustrate my point of view. Its a piece from a legitimate art show in L.A. Hope you can appreciate the bold simplicity like I do. http://www.flickr.com/photos/warholian/5793257324/ And as for Flickr, I think that this exercise has pushed me to take a closer look at an online resource that is not only fun, but has great potential for being educational as well.
P.S. Due to the image I chose being copyrighted, I could not seem to include the actual image within this post. Just click on the link and you can have yourself a gander. Photo credit goes to Michael Cuffe.
Thing #6 - Too Point Oh Tools (Didja read the manual?!)
I was just a kid in the mid-1990s. Let's take a trip down memory lane for a moment, shall we? Baggy pants were coming into fashion, hip hop music had hit the mainstream in a big way, and everybody knew the Macarena. The internet's ubiquity had not yet been realized, but it was getting close. And Batman had a video phone.
I was so jealous of Batman and his video phone. I remember seeing him talking to Robin, Commissioner Gordon, various scientists when he needed evidence examined, and even Alfred via the video phone he had in the Batmobile! This guy was connected. I can recall thinking that if we could talk to people through a telephone, if sound could be translated into a signal running down a wire, then surely, one fine day, we would figure out how to send video in the same fashion. Of course, the media reporters could send video back to their stations, but that required a lot of equipment and expertise. I fantasized about having the ability to see and talk to people in other places with my own video phone.
And then it happened. Skype came around, and today, anyone with a PC, laptop, tablet, or smartphone has the ability to see who they're talking to in real time. And I love it- I talk to my sister in Charleston, SC via Skype. I talk to my brother when he's overseas. Heck, I even Skype my best friend even though she's only 20 minutes away. To me, Skype is an exceedingly useful tool, one which strengthens our connections with those we know, and allows us to make new connections with those we don't. The world has gotten a great deal smaller thanks to applications like this.
I took a look at the educational arm of the Skype website: http://education.skype.com/ . It's got a lot of cool features right on the home page, including teacher, project, and resource counters, which illustrate the huge number of people involved and contributing to the user-generated, Web 2.0 (look at me referencing!) conversation. Discussion boards, related videos and tutorials, and countless project ideas practically jump from the pages. There's a lot of great ideas here- using Skype to connect your class with a class in another country and culture, world weather projects, using Skype to see a place featured in a book the class is reading, having a guest speaker talk to the class.
All told, I'm a big fan of Skype (obviously), I fell that it's capable of making class projects more engaging, educational and edu-taining. It can temper lessons with a dose of real-life, and has, simply put, made the world a much smaller, accessible place to learn and grow as members of our global society.
I was so jealous of Batman and his video phone. I remember seeing him talking to Robin, Commissioner Gordon, various scientists when he needed evidence examined, and even Alfred via the video phone he had in the Batmobile! This guy was connected. I can recall thinking that if we could talk to people through a telephone, if sound could be translated into a signal running down a wire, then surely, one fine day, we would figure out how to send video in the same fashion. Of course, the media reporters could send video back to their stations, but that required a lot of equipment and expertise. I fantasized about having the ability to see and talk to people in other places with my own video phone.
And then it happened. Skype came around, and today, anyone with a PC, laptop, tablet, or smartphone has the ability to see who they're talking to in real time. And I love it- I talk to my sister in Charleston, SC via Skype. I talk to my brother when he's overseas. Heck, I even Skype my best friend even though she's only 20 minutes away. To me, Skype is an exceedingly useful tool, one which strengthens our connections with those we know, and allows us to make new connections with those we don't. The world has gotten a great deal smaller thanks to applications like this.
I took a look at the educational arm of the Skype website: http://education.skype.com/ . It's got a lot of cool features right on the home page, including teacher, project, and resource counters, which illustrate the huge number of people involved and contributing to the user-generated, Web 2.0 (look at me referencing!) conversation. Discussion boards, related videos and tutorials, and countless project ideas practically jump from the pages. There's a lot of great ideas here- using Skype to connect your class with a class in another country and culture, world weather projects, using Skype to see a place featured in a book the class is reading, having a guest speaker talk to the class.
All told, I'm a big fan of Skype (obviously), I fell that it's capable of making class projects more engaging, educational and edu-taining. It can temper lessons with a dose of real-life, and has, simply put, made the world a much smaller, accessible place to learn and grow as members of our global society.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Thing #5 - Too Point Oh!
I think that a lot of us had already experienced the Web 2.0 concept before getting into this activity, but maybe you (like me) didn't even realize it. The basics of Web 2.0 have been an integral part of the everyman's online experience for quite a few years now. Social media such as Facebook and Twitter, YouTube, Wikipedia, and so many others are extremely popular and successful models of Web 2.0 in action. But what exactly is the Web 2.0 concept? Allow me to give you my take on the whole thing.
Web 2.0 is a colloquial term applied to a website that is interactive- that is, it can be affected by any user visiting that particular site. Sites such as Wikipedia, for example, can be altered, added to, corrected, et cetera by pretty much anyone with a keyboard and monitor in front of their face (but look out for those pesky admins!). Facebook and YouTube wouldn't be able to carry on if not for the user-generated content that graces their pages all day, every day. A Web 2.0 site is a collaborative, living document, constantly being updated, expanded, commented on, and yes, sometimes passed off as gospel truth (yikes!). The beauty of such sites is that communication between users is the driving force. It's an enormous conversation, like a huge convention, founded on common interests and everyone's welcome to attend (no cover!).
Michael Wesch's The Machine is Us/ing Us video was very good at illustrating these points. It was dynamic and interestingly composed. I felt that the main message of the clip was that form and content are no longer inseparable; we are free to manipulate the content without the use of professional web-building tools and know-how. Ideas are free to be expressed here. We use the machine, in turn the machine affects us, and we exist, in a sense, as one (too deep, man...). Moving on- I took a look at Wikipedia's definition of Web 2.0, because frankly, I like Wikipedia. I know it might not have the same level of authority as the Encyclopedia Brittanica, but I've always found it to be a great starting point when researching a topic.
The Web 2.0 entry got me thinking about wikis, which I utilize regularly. Wikis work under the Web 2.0 concept- they are comprised of user-generated content, can be edited by anyone, and is constantly changing and expanding. Great stuff. Got me thinking of a great segue into my next point (ta-da!). In Mr. MacManus' post Web 2.0 is not about version numbers or betas, he mentions that the 2.0 concept is essentially "web as platform" rather than say, a newspaper, which is viewed passively, cannot be changed or commented on, and therefore lacks the diversity and continual conversation found on a Web 2.0 site. Booooring!
And how does all this stuff relate to education? The answer's so simple it might be easy to overlook. In our EDUC 5540 class, we are constantly being introduced to tools and resources which enable and expedite the passing of information and ideas between teachers. Web 2.0 resources comprise the backbone of these endeavors. And how will 2.0 affect the field of education in the future? Answer: it already has. Children today are growing up with YouTube and Facebook as a part of their daily lives (you might call them the Web 2.0 generation, but I bet you won't really start calling them that). They understand the value and function of social media, the free exchange of ideas, already. Educational resources such as Engrade (which I've seen used in my HS field observations), which work similarly to our beloved LiveText (sarcasm?), shows how Web 2.0 concepts are already being integrated, used and relied upon by high school students today. It's not like Web 2.0 is the future or anything. Web 2.0 is the Web, y'know?
Web 2.0 is a colloquial term applied to a website that is interactive- that is, it can be affected by any user visiting that particular site. Sites such as Wikipedia, for example, can be altered, added to, corrected, et cetera by pretty much anyone with a keyboard and monitor in front of their face (but look out for those pesky admins!). Facebook and YouTube wouldn't be able to carry on if not for the user-generated content that graces their pages all day, every day. A Web 2.0 site is a collaborative, living document, constantly being updated, expanded, commented on, and yes, sometimes passed off as gospel truth (yikes!). The beauty of such sites is that communication between users is the driving force. It's an enormous conversation, like a huge convention, founded on common interests and everyone's welcome to attend (no cover!).
Michael Wesch's The Machine is Us/ing Us video was very good at illustrating these points. It was dynamic and interestingly composed. I felt that the main message of the clip was that form and content are no longer inseparable; we are free to manipulate the content without the use of professional web-building tools and know-how. Ideas are free to be expressed here. We use the machine, in turn the machine affects us, and we exist, in a sense, as one (too deep, man...). Moving on- I took a look at Wikipedia's definition of Web 2.0, because frankly, I like Wikipedia. I know it might not have the same level of authority as the Encyclopedia Brittanica, but I've always found it to be a great starting point when researching a topic.
The Web 2.0 entry got me thinking about wikis, which I utilize regularly. Wikis work under the Web 2.0 concept- they are comprised of user-generated content, can be edited by anyone, and is constantly changing and expanding. Great stuff. Got me thinking of a great segue into my next point (ta-da!). In Mr. MacManus' post Web 2.0 is not about version numbers or betas, he mentions that the 2.0 concept is essentially "web as platform" rather than say, a newspaper, which is viewed passively, cannot be changed or commented on, and therefore lacks the diversity and continual conversation found on a Web 2.0 site. Booooring!
And how does all this stuff relate to education? The answer's so simple it might be easy to overlook. In our EDUC 5540 class, we are constantly being introduced to tools and resources which enable and expedite the passing of information and ideas between teachers. Web 2.0 resources comprise the backbone of these endeavors. And how will 2.0 affect the field of education in the future? Answer: it already has. Children today are growing up with YouTube and Facebook as a part of their daily lives (you might call them the Web 2.0 generation, but I bet you won't really start calling them that). They understand the value and function of social media, the free exchange of ideas, already. Educational resources such as Engrade (which I've seen used in my HS field observations), which work similarly to our beloved LiveText (sarcasm?), shows how Web 2.0 concepts are already being integrated, used and relied upon by high school students today. It's not like Web 2.0 is the future or anything. Web 2.0 is the Web, y'know?
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Thing #4 - You Talkin' to Me?
So let me get right to it- I am not big on commenting (gasp!). I have long considered myself much more of a listener than a talker. Now, I have what I consider a good explanation for my way of thinking and how I approach a conversation. I truly love to learn new things, and being very shy as a child paved the way for me to become quite the listener. Over time, I developed my opinions on so many topics, as we all do, but had almost no interest in sharing my thoughts. I am much more interested in hearing what others have to say, so as to gain another viewpoint, thereby increasing my scope of understanding. In short, I like to use others' opinions to augment my own opinions. That said, I have never been a strong commenter, but if anyone needed the minutes read back to them, I'd be your guy.
As far as the assignment is concerned, I see the value in an active blogosphere, the importance of maintaining a conversation through the posting of informative, encouraging, and/or relevant comments. You can't have a community in which no one talks to anyone. In fact, that's the opposite of a community. That's the description for a bunch of strangers who secretly loathe each other. It's like the author of the Blue Skunk Blog said- on the whole, people don't blog "only for themselves." If that was the case, they'd be writing in a spiral notebook- humorous, and true. Bloggers post to initiate a conversation, but a conversation needs more than one active participant (total elementary, right Watson?). I really liked what CoolCatTeacher had to say about blogs and comments- her discussion of the importance of newbies caught my eye. Really good stuff about bringing diverse perspectives to the blogging process. I also took note of her discussion of "Darth Commenter," because who hasn't dealt with one of those? Even if you don't blog, I'm sure you've scrolled down to the bottom of a Yahoo! News article. Talk about ignorant, inflammatory, and inappropriate (don't forget anonymous!) commenting to the max. Yuck.
Alright, this is where I'm supposed to list the 7 blogs I'm going to comment on, why I chose those particular blogs, what comments I made and why I made them. Since commenting is not my strong suit, this will likely take some time, so please consider this short paragraph as the introduction to this "comments on comments" section. More to come!
As far as the assignment is concerned, I see the value in an active blogosphere, the importance of maintaining a conversation through the posting of informative, encouraging, and/or relevant comments. You can't have a community in which no one talks to anyone. In fact, that's the opposite of a community. That's the description for a bunch of strangers who secretly loathe each other. It's like the author of the Blue Skunk Blog said- on the whole, people don't blog "only for themselves." If that was the case, they'd be writing in a spiral notebook- humorous, and true. Bloggers post to initiate a conversation, but a conversation needs more than one active participant (total elementary, right Watson?). I really liked what CoolCatTeacher had to say about blogs and comments- her discussion of the importance of newbies caught my eye. Really good stuff about bringing diverse perspectives to the blogging process. I also took note of her discussion of "Darth Commenter," because who hasn't dealt with one of those? Even if you don't blog, I'm sure you've scrolled down to the bottom of a Yahoo! News article. Talk about ignorant, inflammatory, and inappropriate (don't forget anonymous!) commenting to the max. Yuck.
Alright, this is where I'm supposed to list the 7 blogs I'm going to comment on, why I chose those particular blogs, what comments I made and why I made them. Since commenting is not my strong suit, this will likely take some time, so please consider this short paragraph as the introduction to this "comments on comments" section. More to come!
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Thing #3 - License and Registration
I registered my blog a couple weeks back, but now I'm thinking it'd be nice if I made some effort at a blog entry for each and every Thing I accomplish, so here goes... I, um, registered my blog.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Thing #2 - Honest to Blog
How did you decide on your posting
name and the name of your blog?
As suggested, I included my last name, and went with a first initial to keep it somewhat anonymous for the online community. Everyone loves a mystery! (Tune in next week for the dramatic conclusion!)
What was your experience in creating the blog? Was it hard for you or easy? Why?
Posting things on the blog is cake. It’s figuring out how to manage the templates and customization options that makes me cry inside. Overall, it’s been a pretty enjoyable blogging experience thus far.
How does your avatar reflect your personality? Did you create an avatar that looks like your real self or someone totally different? Why?
Of course, I attempted to make my avatar look as much like me as possible, though there was no option for some super-ripped muscles (kidding!). At any rate, I just think that your avatar represents you, so why shouldn’t it look like you? As for reflecting my personality, I gave the ol’ avatar a fat stack of books to read, since that’s one of my favorite hobbies, everything from classic lit to modern sci-fi.
As suggested, I included my last name, and went with a first initial to keep it somewhat anonymous for the online community. Everyone loves a mystery! (Tune in next week for the dramatic conclusion!)
What was your experience in creating the blog? Was it hard for you or easy? Why?
Posting things on the blog is cake. It’s figuring out how to manage the templates and customization options that makes me cry inside. Overall, it’s been a pretty enjoyable blogging experience thus far.
How does your avatar reflect your personality? Did you create an avatar that looks like your real self or someone totally different? Why?
Of course, I attempted to make my avatar look as much like me as possible, though there was no option for some super-ripped muscles (kidding!). At any rate, I just think that your avatar represents you, so why shouldn’t it look like you? As for reflecting my personality, I gave the ol’ avatar a fat stack of books to read, since that’s one of my favorite hobbies, everything from classic lit to modern sci-fi.
Thing #1 - Lifelong Learning and Learning 2.0
I would consider myself a lifelong learner; I decided to
become a teacher in largely due to the fact that I continue to enjoy gaining
new insights, as well as varying opinions and viewpoints on a slew of topics, especially
history and literature. I feel that it
is a shame when people graduate from school, be it high school or college, and
essentially say to themselves, “Well, that’s done! Now I don’t have to learn anything else!” (I know several people who seem to have
adopted this sort of attitude.) I live
under the impression that finishing school merely marks the beginning of a
person’s self-guided learning experience.
After graduation you are, in some sense, on your own. This concept can be liberating in one of two
ways- you can see it as freedom to learn what you want, how you want, or else
you can see it as freedom from learning in general. Personally, I find those people who need
constant prodding to learn something new to be in great need of a change in
perspective. It is my hope to be a
valuable and effective agent for change in perspective among my future
students.
In regards to the 7 ½ Habits, I feel that my strongest habit
is my ability to have confidence in myself as a confident, effective learner (Habit
#4). I have always enjoyed school (not necessarily
homework), and thanks to the support of my parents, friends, and past teachers,
I have always felt capable and encouraged.
Conversely (and perhaps ironically), my weakest habit has historically
been #3, the ability to view problems as challenges. This is something I have been personally
focused on for some time now, and while I feel that I have made great strides
towards my self-appointed goals in this area, I still feel that this is the field
with which I would like to maintain focus towards improvement. There’s always room to grow, right?
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