Thing #8

I am excited to learn the purpose of the CC, although I have never really noticed the CC symbol on any sites or graphics. I have struggled with the idea of what is copyrighted and what is not, and I have relied too heavily on my librarian to answer my questions. I feel that I understand things a little better now and can see the difference it will make for me. I always start the year with a powerpoint presentation and will have fun looking for ways to make it more meaningful with images from the web. In the past, I have relied mostly on purchased clip art, and have never really considered the problem of using images from the web. Now I will be able to branch out with confidence. Although I can't really think of a time I have shared my powerpoint presentations online, I can see that it might be a possibility and I want to do it correctly.

In the first video, I related to the visual image and idea of standing on the shoulders of my peers. I have always loved the quote, "If I have been able to see further than others, it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants." (Sir Isaac Newton). Again, what a great way for us to synthesize, evaluate, and analyze ideas so that we can make them better fit our purposes.

I did explore the CC Search tool and can see the fun in that! I typed in words like: children, joy, angel, success. Some fascinating pictures popped up, and it was entertaining to see how other people viewed or represented these same words. There was a devilish drawing of a dog that popped up when I typed in "angel" and a precious picture of a family that popped up with "joy." I can see the value of this tool as I put powerpoint presentations together.

I like this new world where "collaboration rules."

Thing #7

After reading several blogs from various sites, I do realize the value of the comments. In many cases I enjoyed the comments more than the initial information. The comments help stretch your thinking as you pull many different perspectives together in order to synthesize your own thoughts on the topic. I find value in what others are saying and enjoy the conversations I can have with people I don't know and with people from around the world. I also found it fascinating as people responded back and forth to various comments. A conversation it is.

I began looking for educational feeds from Texas and realized as I looked into different sites and blogs---kids are kids, leadership is leadership and people from Australia, Canada, and Oklahoma also have great insight into my profession.

I also find that I look forward to seeing if there are any comments left on my own blog. That anticipation alone shows me the value of comments and the impact that can be made. Of course, I still want everyone to agree with me, but I am working on that!

Thing #6

It was great fun to open my Google Reader this afternoon and see the updates that had been added. Some sites had no new updates while others did. I could easily skim the titles and first sentence to see if I wanted to read further. Since I am out of town, I went straight to the WFAA blog update and read about a car chase ending in Garland. I have a relative who is a police officer in Garland, so it caught my eye.

It was nice to see the 23 Thingsters blogs that had been updated so I didn't have to search through those going back and forth between screens. I was able to click on the ones I am following and could see immediately what new "things" they had posted.

I am fascinated by the sites my classmates are discovering, and I am finding that it is nice to piggy back off their research and use some of the same sites.

The trick is going to be to find quality feeds and to immerse myself in the "circle of the wise." CS Lewis was quoted in the article as saying, “The next best thing to being wise oneself is to live in a circle of those who are.” I loved all the hints on finding good feeds...look for people who inspire you…when you find someone you trust to follow, see who they blog with…life is too tough to have real and virtual people bring you down....look for people who understand the responsibility of blogging...look for conversationalists....look for people who are widely read and use the information to learn and grow…those who have adopted the mindset of lifelong learner....look for people who strive for excellence in their field---these are shared from http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2006/12/how-to-create-your-circle-of-wise-how.html

I will probably trash several of the feeds that I have currently chosen, but I am going to continue looking for the right feeds for me. If any one else finds some good feeds, please share!!!

I also subscribed to the Quote for the Day feed and feel this quote from Carl Sandburg best describes my current status with 23 Things: "There is an eagle in me that wants to soar, and there is a hippopotamus in me that wants to wallow in the mud."

Thing #5

I am sitting in Fredericksburg Inn wondering why I am struggling with Thing #5 when I could be shopping!!! This was a difficult learning activity for me because I couldn't seem to make things work like they were supposed to work. I do love the idea of RSS, but at first I thought. "Oh, this is just another place to make a bookmark." Of course, the more I read and experimented, the more I realized the benefits of this tool. I think it will be especially useful once some of my teachers start blogging with their parents or students. It will be nice to know when there is an update without constantly searching that out. I have one blog I have been following the last few weeks by an old high school acquaintance who has been diagnosed with cancer. I have been inspired by her positive attitude and by her uplifting words, so I find myself checking for her post each day. I am always a little disappointed when I open it and see it hasn't been updated yet. Google Reader and RSS just solved that problem! I admit that I felt a little like a stalker at first (reading in on someone else's life), but this class has already help me see how a blog opens the doors for communication---sharing, thinking, supporting, laughing, and crying with others around the world.

I could not get the third required feed or the two stretch feeds to do anything I wanted them to do. My "helpers" weren't much help so I am moving on at this point.

I did find a site about children's books that I have subscribed to and am looking forward to learning from that site. Eric Carle just turned 80!!! I can't wait to see Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs!!!

http://childrensbooks.about.com

I did try to subscribe to a couple of other sites but it would not work. Maybe they were not sites that have new information posted or maybe I was not doing it correctly, but it worked for me on other occasions. I tried to go to Oprah's Book Club and I tried Mesquite Local Weather.

Oh well....on to Thing #6!!! Yipee!

Thing #4

The articles in this learning activity were awesome. I was fascinated by the content but even more fascinated by the comments and interaction. Hence, the whole idea of a blog! Of course, I used the faithful Writeboard to take notes and jot down ideas regarding the blogs and guess I didn't save it! One more lesson learned the hard way!

I am still adjusting to this virtual world. My kids have encouraged me to try some things, but I still struggle with putting my thoughts and feelings out there for everyone to read. When reading the comments on "Why I Don't Assign Homework," I found that I wasn't sure I was ready to handle people disagreeing with me. The conversations between Dan and Griefer were interesting, to say the least. I think Griefer ended with saying something like..."conversation to weird for me." However, the comments between Dan and Jonathan were civil and informative. Both participants seemed to learn from each other. I think I would enjoy blogging subjects like this with my staff. It is a great way to get everyone's opinions and thoughts while stretching and learning from each other.

I also enjoyed, " Is this SSR, 2.0?" Again, it was fun to read about someone's new idea and see how they were thinking out of the box. Without the availability of a blog, this information could not reach so many people so quickly. It was also helpful to read about how others tweaked the idea or changed it to meet their needs. If we want to reach kids, we need to meet them where they are, and they live in this virtual world. If reading blogs teaches them how to pursue new ideas, create beneficial conversations, and read critically, then we are doing something right!

"Spies Like Us" actually scared me to death. The inappropriate use of technology is definitely a problem and teaching ethics as we teach the use of new skills is vital. The comment that Nazi Germany learned how to do what they could do, not what they should do is a perfect example of what can and obviously does happen with the inappropriate use of the tools. Sue Roseman's comment that we should teach as if we are being watched at all times is something I will address with my staff.

I enjoy the informal discussions in a blog. The candor with which people write is refreshing. I do believe that if we have students writing blogs that we need to discuss the difference in this kind of writing, TAKS writing, "research" writing, etc. But, blogs are a great tool and one I think students, parents, and teachers can use in order to better communicate, approach new ideas, and enhance learning.

Thing #2

I have spent hours this evening setting up my blog and playing with my Avatar. I had to redo mine after I realized I had picked the exact same one as another 23 Things participant. How crazy is that?! I guess she and I need to go shopping together. We even had the same outfit!

I am overwhelmed by the possibilities with Web 2.0 and anxious to get more involved in the learning activities. I continue to see my role as one who models the learning for my staff and as an encourager to help them try new things. I also see that I need to provide the time and resources for my teachers to get more involved with these amazing tools.

I worry that my students and parents may not have access to computers, but I will brainstorm some ideas with my staff about how to involve the parents more. I was fascinated by the article that talked about all the ways the teachers, students, and parents communicated, created, and studied with the Web 2.0 tools. This social networking still seems so "out there," but I realize many are already doing these things. This is also how we will hook learners into our classrooms.

I loved the team wikis where students created the study guides and the podcast where parents could listen in on a classroom discussion. This would open the door for so many discussions at home.

These tools need to become part of our instruction rather than activities on the side. I think about how it will fit in with TAKS and look forward to discovering ways we can incorporate preparation for skills tested on TAKS with the digital learner. With TAKS students are expected to think and work at higher levels. Web 2.0 tools encourage this thinking and problem-solving.

I look forward to working with a campus blog where our faculty can discuss books we are reading, share funny stories for the day, do some vertical planning, or create activities that engage learners.

I love using the Writeboard. I am able to take notes while reading articles or watching videos online, and then can refer back to those notes while reflecting on the learning or creating my blog.

Sounds like the best is yet to come!

Thing #1

Lifelong learning is vital to our job. We have to be ready to apply the most recent research to our tasks, take advantage of the most advanced technology tools, and pursue global information in our decision-making. Learning becomes a habit. We need to be constantly reading, talking, thinking, and creating in order to offer our students the very best.

All that to say, I think the most important habit for me will be to teach and mentor others. My hope is to become comfortable with these skills so that I can model them regularly for the teachers. The goal would then be for them to see the ease with which I have mastered the Web 2.0 tools, and then they will be willing to use the tools in their classrooms. The problem, of course, is the "ease" with which I use the tools. That is yet to be seen. I have already failed my first goal to be through with Thing #7 by June 22!!!

This leads me to Habit 2, which apparently is the most difficult for me right now. Since I am only on Thing #3, and we are well into week two, I am not really demonstrating responsibility for my own learning. I do, however, have the desire to explore and am excited about the upcoming learning activities. Besides, I am determined to stay ahead of certain friends with accomplishing the "things" in a timely manner!

The easiest habit for me will be Habit 7 1/2. I do enjoy "playing" on the computer and am excited about the possibilities out there. Once I actually sit down and begin using new tools or programs, I usually become addicted and find it difficult to walk away. Hence, I often sleep through cafeteria duty.