Thing #6 - Feed your reader: find & subscribe to feeds

I have heard it said by others who have taken this class that the further into the class the more fascinating these Things can be. I am beginning to understand the comment. I am no where close to where I want to be, but I am learning. I still get frustrated when I have a few minutes to work on the Things and it seems that the entire world is using all the band space. At that point I will shut it down and do something else.

As I read blogs from others such as http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/, http://elearningtech.blogspot.com/, etc, the things that I continue to read include comments like paperwork frustration, and latest technology. These comments fall in line with the “Going Green” theme of today. I chuckled at one comment that read something like get rid of the school boards. However, as we continue to move into the 21st century we will find many things we can “get rid of” by replacing them with a higher level of efficiency.

Online education is the way to go. It is amazing to me the vast array of reference material (including fun things) that is online and updated frequently during the day.

I really like http://www.livemocha.com/pages/resources/education-blog-list. The list includes so many Education Blog Lists to choose from.

Thing # 5

Wow! I just learned how to add a feed to my reader when it doesn't want me to add it.

It doesn't take a lot to make me happy. New toys are cheap in my world.

Thing # 5

I read items from the required feed:

http://students2oh.org/
http://www.infinitethinking.org/
http://www.techlearning.com/blog

Not necessarily in that order, but in conjunction with each other. I continue to be amazed at the technology that we are not using, that others are using—not to mention the idea that I did not know these things existed. When I say we I am including my self. I am probably the greenest person in this class. Why are we not teaching our students at a very young age to look things up on the computer and to blog. I know we are moving forward. I am just overwhelmed that I am so behind with these class room tools of learning. I am grateful that I have grandchildren who are forcing me to learn new things.

Thing #4 - Blogging begins with Reading

After reading several blogs on the Sample Blog Post list I have determined that:

• Blogs are more like a living room conversation than formal writing.
• Blogs are different/similar to other reading…they are like reading a play…pay attention to which actor is saying what.
• Blog writing is different/similar to other types of writing (1) first and foremost remember that the entire world is reading what I say, (2) will it be offensive to the reader, (3) will it make sense to the reader, (4) is it relevant. Remember also that I need to cover the subject without writing a thesis.
• Commenting contributes in a cooperative learning format—this is my idea, what do you think, how can I/we improve. It can become a sounding board.
• Without “Blogging Literacy” it becomes a group project where one or two do all the work and the others coast.

Blogging can facilitate learning (1) it is new, fresh, and challenging, (2) different teaching style creates new, fresh, and challenging teaching, (3) it uses the technology which students love so well. Everyone has to think out of the box.

References:
EduBlog Insights (Anne Davis): A Rationale for Educational Blogging
Discourse About Discourse: The Ripe Environment
Students 2.0: Teaching Brevity
NeverEnding Search: PowerPoint Reform - A First Chapter
Weblogg-ed (Will Richardson): Why Can't We Do This? Andy Carvin/Learning NOW: An Open Letter About Cyberbullying

Some of these did not strike me from the “education” point of view but from the world we live in point of view, life in general. Even the computer industry will have to update their spell checker. I even had a few great laughs along the way—“been there, done that”.

Thing #3 - Avatar

Wow! I learned something new. Erased one more fear.

Thing #2 Web 2.0

Wow! Information Overload! Mind-Boggling! Shocking! Revealing! Stressing! Exciting! Frustrating! Change! Oh no, we have to change! We never did it that way before!

It seems that my entire life has been just one step ahead of my kids and/or my students. This is one more change in our lives, one more time to try to stay one step ahead of the kids. Wow, ready for fun!

This is the next chapter in our lives. How do we get on board? How do we plan? How do we execute? How, How, How?

Scream! That should clear the cobwebs. Now we can get to work! Yeah! Ready for more learning!

Thing #1 7 1/2 Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners

In reality I have been a lifelong learner. As a teacher and a parent, my motto to my children and my students is “Never give up the opportunity to learn something new, it may feed you tomorrow.” Some times we can’t see far enough into the future to realize what we may need at some point.

If I want to know how to do something I take a class, attend a seminar, ask a friend—I have a network of smart friends and family. We ask questions and share findings. Therefore, the easiest habit will be to continue learning.

The most challenging habits will be having the confidence to launch into the unknown world of internet. It has been a challenge for me for sometime now; and one of my goals for this class is to overcome some of those fears. When I first began to use a computer the fear of operating a simple software package was a challenge. I am quite comfortable now; and I expect to become comfortable with the internet before this class is over.

So, Fear beware, Help is on the way!