One thing I’ve learned through this course is not to sweat the small stuff. My first few blog entries, for example, took me forever to create, but now I’m over the feeling that what I write has to be perfect. Each day as I look through my google reader, I’m getting better at zeroing in on things that are really important to me. I’ve also become much more confident about my potential for incorporating Web 2.0 technology into my classes. I’m really hoping that other teachers at my school will decide to take this class next semester, because I think working with them will really help me cement my learning. You’ve probably heard the saying that you learn best by teaching others, and I know this is true. I’m looking forward to going back and looking again at some of the things we’ve done, so I can find an appropriate project to start. I think this will feel a little like jumping off my safe little foundation, but after seeing so many videos and instructions for projects, I have more confidence that I’ll be able to finish successfully whatever I decide to start.
I went ahead and joined Classroom 2.0, because it obviously has much to offer any educator. But I have to admit that I feel a bit overwhelmed by all the things we have explored in this excellent course. (That might be due in part to the fact that Christmas is less than 3 weeks away, and I’m so far behind that I may never catch up in time!) My real hope is that I can finish up and check off all the requirements for the class. Then I will need to review the many things we’ve covered and try to find a personal starting point. By that I mean that I want to find something specific that I can use as a first project in my classroom. We’ve covered so much that I simply don’t know where to start right now. I think I will have to (after the holidays) just pick a small project, find a teacher to work with me since I’m a special subject teacher, and dive in. I’m sure that my first effort won’t be perfect, but the technology available to teachers is vast, and I can adjust as the situation requires. Here’s to a new year using some new technology!
I want to share something I just discovered. A comment within the elementary group on Classroom 2.0 shared the website flickrin, where you can create embeddable photo collages from flickr photos. You simply type in tags and select the size collage you want. The html and javascript codes are readily available for copying to a blog or website. I can definitely see educational uses for this site, such as creating collages for new vocabulary or to demonstrate understanding of a new concept. Here’s an example I created using the tag “glacier”.
I am totally inspired by the pageflake I visited that was designed as a webquest on China and the US for third graders. If it turns out that pageflakes are as easy to create as claimed, this would be a fabulous use of pageflakes. It would direct children through each step of a major collaborative effort and allow them to feel independent while yet maintaining teacher control of their efforts. Another great pageflake was the collection of math resources for children to use. Our parents frequently ask for websites their kids can use for extra practice at home; it would be helpful if our school collected these ideas in a central location to give to parents. I definitely need to keep pageflakes in mind as I try to increase my use of web 2.0 tools in the classroom
My thought at this moment is how easy I found these documents to use. Anyone familiar with word processing and basic spreadsheets should have no trouble, which means to me that students would also find them easy to use. The first idea I had for using a google doc or spreadsheet came from an email I saw from a teacher who was trying to schedule extra music rehearsals for classes before our Veterans Day assembly. She gave the other teachers several choices of times and asked them to respond. I would imagine this created several conflicts, but if she had shared a google document, teachers would have seen which times were still open. On a personal basis, I can imagine using a google doc when my family is planning a holiday visit. We don’t live in the same city or even the same state, and it can be confusing to remember who is coming when. If we shared our travel plans, it might save some worries. Since Christmas is one of our biggest family gatherings, we might decide to create a google spreadsheet as a sort of “wish list” for each member of the family. As for an educational use, I think using a google form for a quiz for computer students is a good idea. I looked at this feature briefly, and it also seems easy to use. I think students would see the appropriateness of using technology to show their technology knowledge.
Where do I start? I’ve been fascinated by the wealth and variety of websites I’ve visited through my reader. If you are looking for great ideas and content related to 21st century technology skills, I would highly recommend subscribing to the Tech Chicks Tips podcast. It isn’t a source that you might listen to on a daily basis, but when you get their new podcasts every couple weeks, you will have much to chew on. I’ve found great websites that I can confidently pass on to other teachers. I love their clear explanations of what each site they introduce CAN and CAN’T do; they warn you of bugs or difficulties you might run in to if you use a recommended site. And they do it all with humor and an easy-to-understand vocabulary. It’s almost like having a conversation with them in your living room.
When I began exploring Youtube today, I searched for a video about one of my favorite lessons to teach, dissecting owl pellets, which we are currently doing in my third grade science classes. Imagine my surprise when I viewed this video, which shows a small group of children participating in the same lesson – only this video comes from the Wadi Environmental Science Center in Egypt! I suddenly realized I had stumbled upon a gem of a lesson for my students. The list of things they could learn by viewing this video goes way beyond science. Just as I was surprised to see kids halfway around the world doing the same lesson we were doing in much the same way, my students could make an important connection to a distant place. They could begin to see that, although these children dressed a bit differently and were working outdoors in a spot that looks different from our surroundings, they have the same desire to learn and work together that we have. Talk about a teachable moment! This one video gave me a whole new vision of the value of sites like Youtube.
I bravely attempted to embed my first podcast into this blog post! Surprisingly, this “Thing” went on without a hitch, and it was fun to do! I know kids would get a big kick out of this. Subscribe Free Add to my Page
The podcast to which I subscribed is called Tech Chick Tips. I think it caught my attention because of its broad scope. From looking it over, I gathered that the two educators who produced it were very knowledgeable in the field of technology. But I also liked the fact that they put their podcast into language that almost anyone could understand. Their most recent podcast was a bit longer than others – they explained that this was because they had been unable to podcast in a while – but it was chock full of useful information. They reviewed great websites, some of which contained links to lesson plans or other great sites and others which were projects or fun “play” areas. They also gave information about upcoming learning events such as the K12 Online Conference and NECC 2009. Although I haven’t yet found podcasts that would be helpful in my classroom, I think this podcast will become a great source of Web 2.0 information for me.
What a fascinating idea! Some people have more creativity in their little fingers than I have in my whole body! My favorite part of Librarything was the Suggester. I have often finished a book feeling sad that I have to go on to another book which may or may not grab my interest in the same way. But using Librarything, I now have a way to find a book that other people have felt ties in well with the one I’ve enjoyed so much. I think this site may also be helpful to my book club, as we are always searching for ways to pick books that will be popular among the group and won’t disappoint us. I cannot, however, imagine cataloging my personal books, since I don’t usually keep a book after I’ve finished it – I’d rather pass it on to someone else to enjoy or donate it to a school book sale. If I was super-organized, I’d catalog the teacher reference books I own related to my science teaching. How great it would be if I knew which one to pull off the shelf when I’m searching for a certain lab or concept! Maybe in another life….. BTW, the Flickr photos from the contest were pretty cool!
