Oh me! I can see how you need to narrow down your feeds. I find all of them fascinating. I really liked the tips from one (I can't remember which one or I would add it!) The author suggested checking them at those snippets of time or first thing in the morning. I like that idea. I typically try to get in a little early to check my emails so this would be good to add.
The blogs I chose to follow are written by people I admire and find interesting. After looking at all the different blogs I want to figure out to customize mine and add other things. I am amazed at the different levels of abilities.
This is a fast and furious class. I am looking forward to spending more time with the different topics afterwards to really flush things out.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Thing #5
RSS feeds were fairly easy to add, with the exception of the tech learning site. I tried several times however it wouldn't load or subscribe or whatever it does. I never saw a "subscribe to this blog." It did have at the bottom "subscribe" however after filling out all my information it said it would take 6-8 weeks. I am thinking that wasn't what I wanted.
While adding the NY Times I learned from my mistakes! Yea! I accidently subscribed to a feed I didn't want. I figured out how to manage my feeds and delete one.
I thought the students' comments were interesting on the Where Did All the Students Go
site. Again, if we have students doing something, technology or otherwise, for the sake of doing it we have lost the purpose. If students begin blogging, but leave it for the newer Twitter, is that bad? They are still communicating through technology.
I can see how the feeds could become overwhelming, even distracting. Sort of like the email that pops up everytime you have new mail.
I am excited to explore this more. When I took One-Tech Tutorial (not much to show for it, I know) I thought RSS was nice but fluff. I am rethinking that now.
This has nothing to do with this Thing, but I have to get better about reading the instructions on-line. I have a tendancy to print everything. I know, I know, I have to work on it.
While adding the NY Times I learned from my mistakes! Yea! I accidently subscribed to a feed I didn't want. I figured out how to manage my feeds and delete one.
I thought the students' comments were interesting on the Where Did All the Students Go
site. Again, if we have students doing something, technology or otherwise, for the sake of doing it we have lost the purpose. If students begin blogging, but leave it for the newer Twitter, is that bad? They are still communicating through technology.
I can see how the feeds could become overwhelming, even distracting. Sort of like the email that pops up everytime you have new mail.
I am excited to explore this more. When I took One-Tech Tutorial (not much to show for it, I know) I thought RSS was nice but fluff. I am rethinking that now.
This has nothing to do with this Thing, but I have to get better about reading the instructions on-line. I have a tendancy to print everything. I know, I know, I have to work on it.
Thing #4
Blogs have always fascinated me. I think they have great value in education. We have to get out of the traditional way of thinking about reading and writing. This includes our thinking of conventions or mechanics. As my own children text, I am amazed at their speed only to find out that they are leaving out half the letters! There is a unique language or code for texting. I can't bring myself to use all the code but that is my hangup. After reading several blogs I see that blogs have a unique codettoo. A person write's basically their opinion sometimes formally, others comment, usually informally. What fascinates me is the ease with which people feel free to comment on complete stranger's blogs. I didn't come across any negative comments in the blogs I read, however I have in the past. It does bother me that because it is a stranger, people feel free to say things they might not say in person. I think it would need to be monitored it studentes were writing blogs.
Blogs seem to be written on a more personal nature. More of an opinion or sharing of thoughts. I suppose depending upon who your intended audience is will determine how carefully you craft your blog. Then again, it's the author's thoughts and who knows who will come across the blog. I know as I read one blog, I would link to another and another and so on. It reminds me of the genealogy tree in the Bible of all the "begots".
I particularly enjoyed Why I Don't Assign Homework. Maybe because after reading Marzano's thoughts on homework I agree with the author. I have never been a huge proponent of assigning homework for the sake of homework.
Two blogs that I think cause teachers to rethink the way we teach are Is This SSR, 2.0? and Patrick's Update. We complain all the time because kids aren't reading. Maybe the problem is they aren't reading the way we want them to read. If they will read on-line things, aren't they still reading? Patrick writes and perhpas with the comments back and forth he will continue to write.
I think as with any new medium, we have to teach students that blogging is a genre. You would not write a research paper as you would blog. Or maybe we need to rethink the research paper and that purpose hummmmm. Additionally, we wouldn't talk as we text. There is a place for all of it. The question is will we as teachers embrace it and use it.
Blogs seem to be written on a more personal nature. More of an opinion or sharing of thoughts. I suppose depending upon who your intended audience is will determine how carefully you craft your blog. Then again, it's the author's thoughts and who knows who will come across the blog. I know as I read one blog, I would link to another and another and so on. It reminds me of the genealogy tree in the Bible of all the "begots".
I particularly enjoyed Why I Don't Assign Homework. Maybe because after reading Marzano's thoughts on homework I agree with the author. I have never been a huge proponent of assigning homework for the sake of homework.
Two blogs that I think cause teachers to rethink the way we teach are Is This SSR, 2.0? and Patrick's Update. We complain all the time because kids aren't reading. Maybe the problem is they aren't reading the way we want them to read. If they will read on-line things, aren't they still reading? Patrick writes and perhpas with the comments back and forth he will continue to write.
I think as with any new medium, we have to teach students that blogging is a genre. You would not write a research paper as you would blog. Or maybe we need to rethink the research paper and that purpose hummmmm. Additionally, we wouldn't talk as we text. There is a place for all of it. The question is will we as teachers embrace it and use it.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Thing #2
Web2.0 has already changed the face of our profession. Anyone who hasn't seen it has had their eyes closed. Teachers talk about how students are bored in class. I imagine they are if we are still using the old method of lecturing all the time. I am amazed at what kids know today and how they can access technology.
The access we have to the world wide web for virtual learning let's kids go places they will never physically go. The example teachers in the article, A Day in the Life of Web2.0, truly integrated their instruction. Bringing in technology makes learning both engaging and authentic. The students were using higher order thinking in all the examples. If the majority of jobs these students will hold are not even thought of, it is a huge disservice to them for us to not stay up to date with the technology we have at this point.
I am excited to learn how to use not only the blogs but podcasts with the teachers in my literacy class this coming year. I also think a webpage for the different content areas sounds intriguing.
The access we have to the world wide web for virtual learning let's kids go places they will never physically go. The example teachers in the article, A Day in the Life of Web2.0, truly integrated their instruction. Bringing in technology makes learning both engaging and authentic. The students were using higher order thinking in all the examples. If the majority of jobs these students will hold are not even thought of, it is a huge disservice to them for us to not stay up to date with the technology we have at this point.
I am excited to learn how to use not only the blogs but podcasts with the teachers in my literacy class this coming year. I also think a webpage for the different content areas sounds intriguing.
Thing #1
Wow, this is a little intimidating. It is one thing to respond to a journal and quite another to blog for all the world (or small portion of) to read. I have been fascinated by the technology possibilities for some time as I see websites from business to family, hear about My Space and Facebook and Twitter.
My reluctance to embrace this technology (really any) has been Habits 4 and 6. Being married to a technology guy it is much easier to forward things to him to fix or even create for me. That way I didn't have to learn it and it was done much faster. Because of my lack of confidence with technology, I was not able to fully see the implications not only in my job but personal life. Several people have already commented on the fact that if we don't embrace technology, WE will be the ones left behind. Our children and students already embrace it.
The Habit that will work well for me is #3. I try to see most problems as a challenge. I like to think there isn't anything I can't do or at least try. The harder it is the more determined I become. Hopefully, this will hold true with technology.
Already in this short time I see the importance of Habit 6. So, not only is it a challenge it is the Habit that will be the most important. Since so much of my job requires training/staff development, we need to rethink how we deliver information. Teachers are tired after school. I am excited to see how the podcasts can be incorporated.
My reluctance to embrace this technology (really any) has been Habits 4 and 6. Being married to a technology guy it is much easier to forward things to him to fix or even create for me. That way I didn't have to learn it and it was done much faster. Because of my lack of confidence with technology, I was not able to fully see the implications not only in my job but personal life. Several people have already commented on the fact that if we don't embrace technology, WE will be the ones left behind. Our children and students already embrace it.
The Habit that will work well for me is #3. I try to see most problems as a challenge. I like to think there isn't anything I can't do or at least try. The harder it is the more determined I become. Hopefully, this will hold true with technology.
Already in this short time I see the importance of Habit 6. So, not only is it a challenge it is the Habit that will be the most important. Since so much of my job requires training/staff development, we need to rethink how we deliver information. Teachers are tired after school. I am excited to see how the podcasts can be incorporated.
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