Challenges

Thing #23

This was rewarding experience on many levels. The learning curve was high but I enjoy challenges. One of the things that I will not allow to happen as long as I am in education is the will and motivation to stay current. I am aware that things move so fast that it is difficult to stay on top all of the time but I would like to be able to communicate effectively with students on their level and with the appropriate skills. This experience allowed me to at least be able to communicate on some level. Some of my favorite discoveries were: Delicious, Flickr, Googledocs, Photostory1 and web 2.0. Some of the exercises such as the Photo story allowed me to stretch. The most incredible thing was completing this activity without direct instuction but what I found to be a great aid was completing the activity with a partner. I would do this again but I really think that the time frame did not allow me to really research the topics in enough detail to feel a bit more competent. I am hoping to go back and stretch so that I am able to really implement some of these "things" This was probably the most relevent activity that I have completed in years.

Thank you

Diversity

Thing #22

Ning is a social networking site that allows learning to be transmitted though a strand of people. The use is unlimited; students can form study groups, students/teachers forums, students can form homework assignment networks, Course/subject themes.......

I toured the TeacherLibrarian Ning and the Teacher Ning. I commented on the "Aren't Kids Too Young for that" ning and read "Private vs Public Schools. I am thinking about tdhe ways that I can possibly use Ning for college information; I'll find something useful and relevant. Some many choices and so little time.

Just Do It

Thing #21

I thoroughly enjoyed creating the video in this activity. visuals and music are powerful learning tools and I know that kids have been extremely creative when allowed to create podcast or storybooks. I was not able to narrate the video due to lack of appropriate equipment but I know how much I have learned from viewing podcast and students will absorb the information so much faster in this particular form. I am hoping that I will retain as much as possible for the immediate future.

View Tube

Thing #20
This exercise was enlightening and frustrating;embedding the video was difficult due to the security setting on my computer but with help from a friend it finally worked. I was able to view all of the tutorials and the information was very helpful. Visual are incredible learning tools and if students have access to the information they will move forward at a easier and much faster pace. One of the video viewed "3 Steps"; strongly emphasized transforming the classroom in to a more creative learning environment. The video was also stressing the global connection, collaboration, cooperation and competition. The premise is if students don't know what the competition is doing and learning they are at a major disadvantage and therefore are not prepared to compete; an interesting notion that I believe is our new reality. The video that I have embedded was very entertaining and educational; "How Not to Use Power Point".

Organizing Thoughts and Information

Thing #19

Actually seeing a directory that can help me and others find what we need to move forward is exciting. I explored a variety of the the sites and was really excited to have a guide/directory. Some of the bright spots were "Stumble Upon" which was a visually stimulating paradise, Craiglist, Vufinder, Wikis, Yahoo! Answers and Twitter. Many on the directory have been explored in our 23 Things but I believe that the 2.o could be invaluable to me, personally and professionally. I can help students become more technologically independent with this directory because they can find the answers and the info with the directory. Actually, Yahoo! Answers was wonderful; I was able to get answers without asking and feeling a bit uncomfortable having to ask others. This can work.

Mobility and Access

Thing #18

It was obvious to me once I began reading about Open Office, which by the way was difficult to open; that access it the key mobility and access. I also toured Google Docs and the tour confirmed what I summarized in Open Office that one access material from anywhere which is very convenient and I for one will use it. There are a few peculiarities but it will work. Good info, I will add it to my favorites or delicious or rollyo.......?????

Ah Ha

Thing #17

This was an interesting activity; it seems a bit confusing. What is the difference between Rollyo and Delicious; aren't they both book marks that you can access anywhere?

Then there is the Rollbar bookmarklet where you can drag your rollyo into your browser; I'm missing the point unless it is an alternative to delicious and if one has preferences they have choices??? In any case the link to the the custom searchrolls I created is http://rollyo.com/sheilar71/myfavorites. I will have to find a few more answers so that I can understand the information better.

A New Path

Thing #16

I am still learning though the road traveled is unfamiliar. Wikis is great I can use it for a variety of things; many that I'm sure that I have not discovered at this time. I can use Wikis for team meeting when we are listing things that we must cover as a team or things we must bring to different occasions. I can also use Wikis for personal events; family events, excursions etc. I created a Wikis on wetpaint and I'm hoping to use it in the very near future. It's amazing how much you can learn and how easy it is to stay in the dark; choices.....

The Jetson's Era

Thing#15

I remember discussions about the Jetson's and if we would ever move into that era; though we have not fully enter the fantasy land we are quickly approaching facets of that era. What is difficult for our society is leaving the old behind and the fear of disposing of large amount of what seems to be unnecessary items or what seems to be unnecessary. As you can see I'm a bit stuck even though I know that we are in a new era. I was reading several articles and a few stood out but one in particular was "Away from Icebergs", we are stuck and afraid of disposing of all of the old and moving into the new era. The concern is that when we dispose of the large collection of the printed materials and something happens with technology, what will we do? We have to continue to move forward.

How we deliver service is always a concern when you have one foot in the old and one in the new era. I can see that keeping a large collection of books (catalogs etc) is not needed any longer but until we provide the services needed to everyone we are stuck with the "just in case" theory.


Reading about more powerful ways to communicate; collective intelligence, resource sharing networks and the blogosphere is excited and scaring because there is so-o-o much to learn and asborb in a society where training is limited and uncomprehensive.

As I try to transform my thinking and delivery of services I will use many of the resources that I have saved in this experience to move forward.

And the Blog goes on

Thing #14

Technorati appears to be a powerful site for those looking for specific blogs, video, photos etc. When I tried a keyword on Technorati I was able to see how many blogs surfaced (actual number) that were related to the keyword and the many forms that this information could be observed. As I continued to investigate I was able to see popular blogs were "Boing Boing" that Tagging has changed over time from simply using tag to identify and organize to determing what is most the popular blogs based on the size of the tag cloud; I hope I am using the terminology correctly!!! I placed Technorati in my delicious bookmarks.

I'm still learning but I am only touching the surface; I will go back to explore.