Thing #6

After looking at the Web 2.0 Awards list, I was surprised that I currently used so many of the sites.  I utilize Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Safari daily (at least one of them).  I use Google all the time.  My personal email is through Yahoo, and I like to buy textbooks off of Amazon.   I have searched YouTube.  It is amazing to me that the sheep brain dissection is on YouTube!  I am now a blogger on Blogger, and I check my Facebook page daily. 

The site that I chose to check out was ustream.  It is similar to YouTube.  I liked that it had an educator tab on this site.  Under the educator tab, it had postings from NASA and a video showing a lunar eclipse.  These types of videos would be interesting to show to a classroom.  Also, I like the idea of filming an experiment or dissection performed in class and posting it to this site.  It would be a great place for a student who happened to be absent to view the lesson or would be a great review tool for students.

So now that I have posted, I will sing to you my closing. 

"Good night, sleep tight, and pleasant dreams to you......" (The Lawrence Welk show) Leslie

ustream link

Thing #5: Web 2.0

It is amazing to think that when my family moved to Clarksville nine years ago, we did not own a computer.  At work as a physical therapist, I did not use a computer.  I had a cell phone, but I don't think I was texting, and my cell phone sure did not have all the capabilities that smart phones have now.  Now, it would be difficult to live without the computer.  This is what I think "school 2.0" means.  It would be difficult to teach students without the computer.  Education is different now with all the technology advances, and I don't think the pendulum is going to shift back to the past.  I can remember thinking in elementary school that the slide projector with the tape recorder was awesome.  We all wanted to be the one who got to advance the next slide when we heard the "beep." Now, students can just touch the screen of a smart board.  Students can use iClickers. Students can create their own videos for class projects. Students can access free tutorials online.  My oldest son talks about a website he has used at school where you can watch and participate in a virtual surgery!

I believe schools of the future will not have textbooks.  All textbooks will be loaded onto laptops.  (Really, some schools are already doing this.)  I think most schools will be paperless with students taking tests on laptops or some type of iPad.  Schools may even have a virtual teacher that is able to interact with multiple classrooms at once.  The ideas are limitless......

"To infinity and beyond!"  (Buzz Lightyear)  Leslie

Thing #4

I have chosen to follow Kim Burnard's, Stephanie Welfare's, and Michelle Parson's blog from our class.  I chose these blogs because I have had classes with these fine folks before, and I like them.  :)    Also from our class, I have chosen to follow Elsa Leininger and Emily Mount.  I did not know these fellow students; so, I thought it would be a great way to get to know them.  As far as the other two blogs, I chose Barto's World.  This blog was found on the 100 Best Blogs for Teachers list.  Barto's World is written by Amy Barto who is a learning disability specialist.  Since I do not have very much experience with learning disabilities, I thought this would be an interesting and educational spot.  After searching the other blogs from the 100 Best list, I was not really interested in any of the other 99 (guess I'm kinda picky).  So, I googled biology blog and found one!  I found MJ's Human Biology Blog.  It is written by Dr. Michael Johnson.  He discusses recent news from scientific journals concerning human biology.  I also like how specific topics concerning biology are off to the side.  Since Biology is my subject area, I thought this site would be helpful.  Here is the link. 

http://humanbiologyblog.blogspot.com/


I have posted on my five instructional technology peers' blogs.  Basically at this point, the comments were just, "hello, nice to meet you, etc."  By posting, one helps build a sense of community and cause the realization that someone "out there" is actually reading their written word .  And obviously, there wouldl not be any interaction if no one posts.  From reading about blogs, I learned that the blogger should post questions to encourage responses, and I agree with the statement that all involved with blogging should "mind their manners." 

Hasta la vista! Leslie

Thing 3: Blog registration (it worked, woo hoo!)

I have successfully registered my blog.  I know this because I have seen my name listed on the 23 Things website.  I am doing the "cabbage patch" dance now in celebration! 

I thought the EduBlog link was very informative on uses for a classroom blog.  I liked the idea of having a blog to be a reflective practitioner.  I liked the idea of having a forum where new and seasoned teachers could write about what worked in a classroom and what didn't.  I think it would be neat to be able to share teacher "high" moments and be able to receive and give encouragement for teacher "low" moments.  I think it would be a great place to ask for lesson enhancing suggestions.  I am sure there are teacher blogs out there.  I have never thought to look for them though. 

For one's on classroom, I think the possibilities are endless.  I definitely want to have a classroom blog in order to post assignments, upcoming due dates, power point presentations, helpful links, etc.  It could be a place for students to ask each other questions as well as a place for the teacher to clarify information.  I like the idea of establishing classroom community with each student posting something about themselves.  I think it would be neat to have the students design their own blog site for the classroom if time permitted or have students vote on the blog design they liked the best.  Videos could be posted of difficult lectures as a means for students to review information.  In addition, videos of experiments could be posted for students to view if they happened to be absent. 

I liked Elsa's idea about connecting with other classrooms via a blog.  In science, many classrooms could perform the same experiment and then share/compare their data.  I am getting excited about this idea right now! 

May the Force Be With You, Leslie

Thing 2: (the saga continues)

Well, I am a typical student.  I thought I had read the directions clearly, but I did not scroll down far enough on the page.  After visiting a couple of other student's blogs, I realized my mistake.  So, here are the answers to the posed "Thing 2" questions.

1.  I have to agree that my title is not very creative, but like Stephanie said, hopefully classmates will know who the blog belongs to should they stumble upon it.  I have decided to conclude each posting with a funny or unusual closing.

2.  My experience with setting up the blog was less painful than I had anticipated.  I guess that is why I had never thought about blogging before because I though it would be too challenging to set up.  I have to say that I am excited to know this skill, and I am looking forward to blogging.

3.  I tried to set up my avatar to reflect my personality accurately.  I am a summertime girl!  I like to wear flip-flops and enjoy the outdoors.  With that being said, I am not a hiker or mountain biker, I am more of the "reading a good book by the pool" outdoorsy type.  I enjoy sitting outside watching my children play golf or baseball.  On warm summer evenings, my husband and I like to sit outside in the driveway and talk.  Salsa and chips might be involved too.  We appreciate being able to do this because when we lived in Mississippi, you couldn't sit outside after dusk.  The mosquitoes would carry you off and you would never be seen again.

I am looking forward to class tonight.  Hakuna Matata! Leslie

Thing 2: Blog creation, avatar, posts

I never thought I would be a blogger but that was because I didn't know how!  I have learned how to somewhat set up my blog, create an avatar, and successfully post.  I informed my husband that I now have a blog.  (He seemed somewhat impressed.)  He asked if he could read it and post.  I said sure, just remember that my teacher will be reading it too! :)

Now I will attempt to register my blog.   Drumroll please..................

10-4 good buddies, Leslie

Thing 1: Lifelong Learning

Ok, here I go.......

The MAT program at APSU has instilled in me a love of learning.  Of course I have learned before, in high school and college, but I didn't love it.  I didn't really even like it at times.  I learned to please, to earn a grade, and to get out!  I used to cringe when I heard people say how they would be a student forever if they could.  But now, I think I am becoming that person.  I am unofficially auditing two biology classes for my own personal knowledge this semester.  Yes, I am that weirdo, but I love it, and I don't care!  My ultimate desire for teaching is to instill this love of learning to my students. 

So, what habit do I think will be the easiest for successful lifelong learning?  For me it is accepting responsibility for my own learning.  At 39 and 3/4's years, I know that no one
can learn information for me.  If I want to learn something, it is up to me.  As one of my professor's says, "Winners want the ball."  I plan on having that on a poster in my classroom.

The hardest habit of lifelong learning will be viewing problems as challenges.  I sometimes get discouraged/frustrated with technology, but I have to realize that I can't be scared of it.  I guess I am scared of looking foolish in front of my peers for not knowing how to do something when it seems everyone else knows how to do it.  I need to channel this thought when I assist struggling learners.  I know just how they feel. 

However, I am really excited about this class.  I NEED the technology skills,  I WANT the technology skills, and I look forward to the day when I can show my 14 year old something HE doesn't know how to do on the computer!  Peace out, Leslie