Please view the short videos: The Networked Teacher (please see below), the YouTube project, A Vision at K-12 Today, which was created to inspire teachers to use technology in engaging ways to help students develop higher level thinking skills and IT Curriculum 2.0.
I asked my husband what the Internet was to him, 10-12 years ago, compared to today. He calmly and purposefully stated: "It was a source of maintaining our checking account and conversing in email." I then asked, "How about today, honey?" Again, he calmly and purposefully stated, "It is a source of maintaining our checking account, and conversing in email." Ah...he is so techno advanced - it's mind boggling!Unlike my husband, many years ago, most people utilized the Internet to browse/retrieved information from all regions across the world.
Today, it has been transformed into a facet of powerful tools, allowing us to communicate, create, collaborate, post (to name a few) in ways our parents could have never fathomed. Today, buzzwords such as Read/Write Web, Web 2.0, My Space, Facebook, Flickr, Jing, Google Reader, WikiSpace, Twitter, Blogging, Podcasting (to name a few) have infiltrated into our student's daily vocabulary.
Will Richardson surmises that our students are entering our classroom carrying with them a wealth of knowledge about the intricacies of what the Internet has to offer. As educators, it is essential for us to evolve with the times and learn how to harness these web tools into our curricula. Additionally, he also asked some very thought provoking questions to consider: (Chapter 1, The Read/Write Web, page 5)
- What needs to change about our curriculum when our students have the ability to reach audiences far beyond our classroom walls?
- What changes must we make in our teaching as it becomes easier to bring primary sources to our students?
- How do we need to rethink our ideas of literacy when we must prepare our students to become not only readers and writers, but editors, collaborators and publishers as well?
- How can we as learners begin to take advantages of the opportunity these tools present, so we may understand more clearly the pedagogies of using them in the classroom?
- So are we ready to embrace Web 2.0? What is Web 2.0? Why should we use Web 2.0 in our classroom and what are some Web 2.0 tools we can use?
For this book study, I wholeheartedly agree with the author, that we become acquainted and implement these tools into our own “learning practices” before we dive into using these new technologies with our students. It is my hope, by the time you finish this book study, you will:
- First, utilize these tools personally (i.e. create a personal blog about whatever you are passionate/interests you).
- Become familiar/comfortable with these tools.
- Gain knowledge of how you may model/implement these tools for your classroom.
- Finally, take advantage of the potential use of these tools to enhance student knowledge and prepare them “for the slew of new illiteracies and competencies in their post-education lives.”
According to Wikipedia: "Web 2.0 is a term describing changing trends in the use of World Wide Web technology and web design that aims to enhance creativity, information sharing, and especially, collaboration among users."
I personally liked the following from Randy Rogers, a strong proponent of Web 2.0.
"Web 2.0 refers to the part of the Internet that not only gives information; it allows users to contribute/create information. Web 2.0 allows users to use the Internet in a collaborative manner, to customize the web for their own needs, and to form valuable networks with other users, who share the same interest, expertise and goals.
"Why Use Web 2.0 in the Classroom?
Web 2.0 is a valuable teaching tool for several reasons:
- Collaboration - the widespread availability of the Internet allows students to work together, even from remote locations.
- Motivation - students can and will be very motivated to create online products. A potentially worldwide audience is a big motivator to create quality products.
- Meaningful - products reflect “real” society and the latest technological skills.
- Communication -web-based student products, RSS/XML, blogs, etc. all facilitate communication between schools and parents/communities.
- Availability - being Internet-based, students and teachers can access Web 2.0 tools from school, home, libraries, or anywhere Internet access is available, effectively expanding the school day.
- Creativity - students move beyond acting as knowledge consumers to becoming information experts and creators. http://web20resources.wikispaces.com/
Web 2.0 is a dynamic resource. New applications are being created almost daily. Some of the earliest tools included blogs, wikis, and filesharing sites. The list now includes, among other examples:
- Blogs — online journals that allow creators and viewers to interact, sharing news, opinions, etc.
- Wikis — collaborative web pages. Content is generated and monitored by groups, drawing on a greater pool of knowledge/resources.
- Social networks — an evolution of blogs, social networks revolve around the creation of groups of users who communicate/share similar interests, occupations, etc.
- Filesharing sites — these include sites where users can create and share audio or video.
- Social bookmarking — sites designed to allow users to recommend websites, videos, music, etc. via online lists of favorites, or bookmarks.
- Podcasts — audio or video files that may be downloaded by users for display on mp3 audio/video players.
- RSS/XML — online subscription tools that allow users to remain constantly informed about new information, news, podcasts, etc.
- Productivity tools — online versions of traditional software, such as word processors, spreadsheets, slideshows, etc
Before reading the above chapters, please view the following short videos titled, “Blogs in Plain English ” and "Why Let Our Students Blog?"
What is a Blog?
You will find countless resources defining, “What is a Blog?” Plainly put, a blog is a simple way for individuals to create/update and publish information to the web. Blogs comprise of reflections, conversations, they engage readers with ideas, questions, and links. In addition, blogs allow people to respond, think, network and most importantly, interact.
Chapter 2, Weblogs: Pedagogy and Practice
Chapter 2, Weblogs: Pedagogy and Practice, provides an in-depth look on how educators have been using blogs in their school. Additionally, Will Richardson provides an insight of how blogs may improve student learning and why educators should consider blogs as a tool to deliver their curriculum. To surmise the pedagogy of blogs they:
- Are considered a constructivist tool for learning
- Add relevance to student’s writing because it provides a “real” audience (not just their teacher)
- Expands the walls of the classroom
- Archives/keeps historical work
- Supports different learning styles
- Enhances the development of expertise in a particular subject
- Teach students the new literacies necessary to function in our “ever expanding information society”
Assignment for Chapter 1 and 2: Please Complete by 23June09
Chapter 1:
- Read Chapter 1.
- View the short video: The Networked Teacher .
- View the short YouTube project, A Vision at K-12 Today, which was created to inspire teachers to use technology in engaging ways to help students develop higher level thinking skills.
- View the following: IT Curriculum 2.0. You may also view just the video here: YouTube.
- Answer the Chapter 1's discussion questions by posting to the "Comments" at the end of this post.
- Visit a few of the below Web 2.0 links or some of the links (to the right) under the heading:
Favorite and Cool Web 2.0 Tools: - Web 2.0
- Web 2.0 Tools
- Web 2.0 and Education
- Web 2.0 Educational Tools by Kathy Schrock
- Go2Web2.0
- If you get a chance, please visit some of the below links mentioned in the chapter 1.
- Chapter 1: BBC News Article
- Chapter 1: Blog created by 5th grade students
- Chapter 1: Matthew Bischoff
- Chapter 1: Randy Rogers
- Chapter 1: Tess's Weather Recipes
- Chapter 1: The Sam Jackson College Experience
- Chapter 1: Will Richardson's Weblogg-ed
- Chapter 1: Sample Parent Blogging Letter
- What are your thoughts about the videos you viewed? Why is it important to you to keep up with the newest technology?
- Which tool/application (on any of the Web 2.0 links above) did you find, could be utilized in your classroom or area of study?
- Any other thoughts you would like to share?
- Read Chapter 2.
- View the following videos; "Blogs in Plain English and Why Let Our Students Blog"
- Visit "Uses for Blogging in Education?"
- View some of the classroom blog examples: http://delicious.com/klevans61/classroom_blogs
- http://delicious.com/klevans61/Frisco_server_classroom_blogs
- Answer the Chapter 2 discussion questions by posting to the "Comments" at the end of this post.
- Visit the links under the heading of Favorite Web Tools.
- Visit links which may be found in Chapters 2:
- Chapter 2 - Bud the Teacher - Blog Rules
- Chapter 2 - Darren Kuropatwa
- Chapter 2 - EduBlog Insights
- Chapter 2 - Extreme Biology
- Chapter 2 - Ideas for Using Weblogs in Education
- Chapter 2 - Meredith's Page
- Chapter 2 - Numerous Teacher Blogs
- Chapter 2 - Team Simmons - Reading Responses
- Chapter 2 - The Cricket in Time Square - Class Discussion
- Chapter 2 - The Savvy Technologist
- Chapter 2 - The Strength of Weak Ties
- Chapter 2 - The Write Weblog
- Chapter 2 - Why Students Should Blog
- Chapter 2- Lewis Elementary
- After viewing some of these classroom blogs and reading the chapters, brainstorm and post your ideas of how YOU would like to use a blog in your classroom? Post to the comment section at the bottom of this post.
44 comments:
What are your thoughts about the videos you viewed? Why is it important to you to keep up with the newest technology?
To keep my students engaged. I want my students to actually talk about what they do in my class so that they will help me better recruit students for the years to come. I think that if I teach them on this level, that will really help.
Which tool/application (on any of the Web 2.0 links above) did you find, could be utilized in your classroom or area of study?
Podcasting. Instead of typing my notes, I can podcast my notes for the students to listen too when they need to. I am also thinking of using Blogging for my BPA student origination. It takes a lot of time to contact 30 students with notes. Having a blog that they can go to for updates would make getting ready for contests so much easier.
After viewing some of these classroom blogs and reading the chapters, brainstorm and post your ideas of how YOU would like to use a blog in your classroom? Post to the comment section at the bottom of this post.
Instead of quizzes, I would like to ask questions in a blog. Then students can reply on the blog, and expand on what others have said.
Plus with a class blog, students can post questions at anytime, and I can reply to that whenever I go check the blog.
What are your thoughts about the videos you viewed? Why is it important to you to keep up with the newest technology?
The videos were obviously produced by people who think it is a good idea for teachers to become not only educated in today's constantly changing digital information technology, but proficient. Without that proficiency, educators are going to be lagging behind their own students. This is a classic case of "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em." And for good reason.
Most students are now communicating digitally through texting and online social networking. This new medium comes naturally to them and anyone who does not participate will be left behind. Staying abreast of advances in digital communication technology allows the teacher to maintain some relevance as well as credibility in the classroom. I would much rather be teaching students how to utilize this new technology to enhance their study habits and improve their grades than spend time monitoring students who are wasting valuable class time listening to music on their iPods. Possibly, some students will appreciate being encouraged to use their "entertainment" devices for something more constructive than to satisfy a music fix.
I can also see advantages for the instructor in regards to blogging. There is the potential to centralize information around a class and eliminate paperwork. The problem I see is in getting students to utilize their critical thinking skills in order to blog. Though they are addicted to texting each other for hours over the most minute things, I can't count the times students have told me that they "can't think of what to write" for a simple journalism assignment.
The biggest challenge is getting the student engaged. It is one thing to be familiar with how to use this new technology, but it is something else altogether different on how we use it.
After viewing some of these classroom blogs and reading the chapters, brainstorm and post your ideas of how YOU would like to use a blog in your classroom?
1. Post outlines or highlights on particular topics that will be covered on quizzes and tests.
2. A convenient place to keep classroom rules posted.
3. Make note of student accomplishments including photos and comments.
4. For the TV Broadcast class, it can also be a good place to brainstorm topic ideas for future video segments.
5. A blog would provide a practical format for student writing assignments.
6. Assign controversial blogging topics requiring comments from the Journalism students in order to get them familiar with op-ed style reporting.
7. Introduce straight reporting assignments in preparation for producing a high school online newsletter/newspaper.
• What are your thoughts about the videos you viewed? Why is it important to you to keep up with the newest technology?
• It is amazing how many different Web 2.0 tool are available. The videos showed how important creative use of technology is for students. Students area already technologically savvy and now it is up to teachers to incorporate those skills into u the current curriculum. It is important for me to keep up with the newest technology in order to understand and reach my students learning styles. In addition to tactile-kinesthetic, auditory and visual learners there is now an additional group of learners – technological learners. Allowing students to use the technology resources available to them allows them to be more creative.
• Which tool/application (on any of the Web 2.0 links above) did you find, could be utilized in your classroom or area of study?
• I like the different uses described for Twitter – this year we did a snail-mail great letter race (sent letters to schools in all 50 states) – could do this via Twitter and learn about different states. I can see using this for various social studies activities. I’d like to have them use YUDO as a resource for research topics.
• Wordle will be fun to use for my students to use as a spelling activity – a fun way to practice the words.
• Blogging is the future of the classroom and I plan to continue to have class blogs – it is a great way to get a participation grade. Also, it is a good way for guided reading students to be able to share their reading comments that are not addressed in the group.
• I had a student suggest that reading groups chose a genre (i.e. historical fiction) and each person in the group (of 6 or fewer students) chooses a book of their choice in that genre and then discuss via blog similarities and differences.
•Any other thoughts you would like to share?
I like the idea of giving each student their own blog where they can do writing assignments. I’ve previously had them do everything on word, but this would allow them to easily share with each other for editing without having to print out each draft. Also, this would provide easy access for parents to see their child’s writing. I like the idea of getting parents to be followers.
•Using a blog to post test questions and/or weekly discussion questions would allow students to work more at their own pace and provide a place for students who are absent to quickly access assignments. Questions could be posted to individual student sites to allow for differentiation.
What are your thoughts about the videos you viewed? Why is it important to you to keep up with the newest technology?
We must teach our students in a way that engages them and using Web 2.0 tools gives students opportunities to create, collaborate, communicate and connect with others in and out of the classroom. Many students use technology on a daily basis, except for the time they are in school. We must change that if we are going to prepare our students for the future.
Which tool/application (on any of the Web 2.0 links above) did you find, could be utilized in your classroom or area of study?
Podcasting provides a stage, a studio, and a community for our students and can be used in many ways such as storytelling, commentaries, poetry, songwriting, reporting, interviews, tutorials, and directions to name a few. Comprehension and fluency will improve as students have time to comprehend and assimilate the knowledge and writing skills will be fine tuned because the audience will expand dramatically.
Any other thoughts you would like to share?
For those teachers new to Web 2.0, it can be overwhelming. Begin by focusing on a few tools that really interest you and build upon that. Once you see how these tools can engage and motivate your students, you will be encouraged to use additional web tools in your classroom.
After viewing some of these classroom blogs and reading the chapters, brainstorm and post your ideas of how YOU would like to use a blog in your classroom?
I would like to use a blog to post technology integration ideas, web 2.0 tools and examples of how teachers and students are using the read/write web to create, collaborate, communicate, and connect with others.
What are your thoughts about the videos you viewed?
My biggest thought is WOW, what an amazingly hard thing to be responsible for, teaching children in a technology world that is not natural to us. Even as a technology facilitator, keeping up with the ever changing technology can be overwhelming. I try to pick one thing at a time. Focus on learning, implementing and sharing it with my teachers and then when it becomes habit I move to something else. I also start out small. I do something new with one class first and then I learn what I need to change and what worked.
Why is it important to you to keep up with the newest technology?
I think anyone in education needs to meet students where they are. We can't continue to ignore the fact that our kids are using technology constantly. I hear many teachers say that what they are doing is working, but really it isn’t. It isn't preparing them for their world...it is preparing them for our world.
Which tool/application (on any of the Web 2.0 links above) did you find, could be utilized in your classroom or area of study?
I think the blog would be the easiest way to start out using Web 2.0 with students. It is fairly simple and easy to figure out. It doesn't take a lot of time or money. I also like the social bookmarking (like delicious) I can see it being useful for teachers to share links/websites with their teams or class.
Any other thoughts you would like to share.
To me Web 2.0 needs to be viewed as an "instead of" not an "in addition to." It isn't more work; it is just a different way of doing what you already are doing.
After viewing some of these classroom blogs and reading the chapters, brainstorm and post your ideas of how YOU would like to use a blog in your classroom?
I would like to continue to use my blog to share information with teachers, post monthly tech newsletters, tips and tools. Also, post student projects and help encourage teachers to use it in their classrooms as well.
What are your thoughts about the videos you viewed? Why is it important to you to keep up with the newest technology?
The world is an ever changing place and we need to change with it. Technology is here to stay so it can't be pushed aside. Students are growing up in a technological world and we need to keep the pace with how they are learning. We don't need to just expose them to the technology, we need to teach them how to think, collaborated and produce using the tools of the future.
Which tool/application did you find, could be utilized in your classroom or area of study?
I don't even know where to begin - there is so much new, cool stuff out there to explore. My job is to keep up with the new technology and currently it seems like an overwhelming task. It seems that every time I feel like I'm making progress, I find out about more new advances. Some of my current favorites are the blogs, podcasts, and social networking sites.
After viewing some of these classroom blogs and reading the chapters, brainstorm and post your ideas of how YOU would like to use a blog in your classroom?
Posting assignments and notes, podcasting/vodcasting, showcasing student work, utilizing the comments, tips and tools
Chapter 1
What are your thoughts about the videos you viewed? Why is it important to you to keep up with the newest technology?
Interesting videos. I am somewhat provoked by a few of the statements in the A Vision of K12 Students Today. I know that students want to learn and create new ideas/products, and I must step up to the plate and give them the opportunity to use new technologies to accomplish that. Even reluctant learners could be enticed by the new technology to do educational things without even knowing that what they are doing is educational. Cool!
Which tool/application (on any of the Web 2.0 links above) did you find, could be utilized in your classroom or area of study?
I looked at a few sites on the Web 2.0 (JudyBrown.com) site. I really liked the delicious website. I clicked on the education link and found neoK12 that had some great YouTube clips for our science units. They were educational and entertaining, and some were created by students. That could inspire others to make their own.
Any other thoughts you would like to share?I could totally be sucked into hours and hours of exploring all of these websites!
What are your thoughts about the videos you viewed? Why is it important to you to keep up with the newest technology?
I love the videos that you had us watch. I use a few of them when teaching Web 2.0 and Blogging classes for teachers. Now, I have a few more to add to my repertoire I feel that it is important to help educators know the changes in technology and how the students are feeling about technology. The students coming into the classrooms are digital natives and prepared for the wonderful world of technology and sometimes that is stifled and they are unable to show their expertise in this area. I feel it is a big part of my job to help educators become aware of the resources that are in the Web 2.0 community and how easy it can be to use blogs, wikis, and new technologies in the classroom.
Which tool/application (on any of the Web 2.0 links above) did you find, could be utilized in your classroom or area of study?
I set up an account with Delicious bookmarking. I hadn’t ever taken the time to do this and I am so glad that I did. I now have all the wonderful links and sites that you shared all in one place. I agree with Kim in that there are so many resources out there, that it can become overwhelming. I feel that one of the things we need to teach and help educators and students do is taking the ENORMOUS amounts of information and breaking it down to what you need in your area or what you are studying at that particular time.
After viewing some of these classroom blogs and reading the chapters, brainstorm and post your ideas of how YOU would like to use a blog in your classroom?
I see some new ideas to help the teachers on my campuses. As a former Kindergarten teacher, I tend to gravitate towards that area and can find tons of cool things that would be fun for them to use and do with their kids such as, podcasts, enhanced podcasts, videos, etc. My goal is to start collecting ideas and projects for grades 3-5 and there were a TON of cool ways for those teachers to use Web 2.0 in their classrooms. The upper grades can expand on the tools I use with teachers in the younger grades and I think it would be cool to have an upper grade class buddy up with a younger grade and show and help them with some of the cool technologies. We had a buddy class when I was in the classroom and that would be amazing to see them collaborating together.
After viewing some of these classroom blogs and reading the chapters, brainstorm and post your ideas of how YOU would like to use a blog in your classroom? Post to the comment section at the bottom of this post.
While I was reading I was thinking the same thing that Buffy posted - what a cool thing to do w/our reading buddies. I teach 5th grade and we have a 1st grade book buddy class. As I read the chapter I thought that it would be so cool, as a student, to start blogging in kinder and continue to have the same blog all the way through 12th grade - I love the idea of blog portfolio and file cabinet. How wonderful would it be for sp.ed teachers/GT/etc. to be able to go to a students blog and see their work samples when they are being tested.
This past year I used a blog with my class for lit circles, and I have continued it over the summer. Next year I would like to have a class blog, individual student blogs, and do group projects with collaborative blogging. I want to invite parents and other teachers to become followers of the student blogs - especially their past teachers.
This year I was just experimenting with the use of bloggin in class - I liked the lesson plan for blog use that was outlined in one of the links and also rules for blogging. I definately want to enforce the "no text language".
As I viewed some of the blogs - some had student pictures and some did not - does FISD have a policy on this?
Also, does FISD have a policy on private vs. public blogs for students?
I just thought of one more use I'd like to try out next year - I will be the recycling cordinator at our school and I would like to somehow set up a school-wide blog that the recycling team was in charge of with ways we could do better at recycling - what can be recycled - and I would like to have the City of Frisco contact person also be involved with this blog - would be fun to have district wide site where we could see an ongoing success rate - most batteries collected, etc. And so we could see how much money we were getting from the city for our recyclables. Not sure about all the details - but this is a brainstorm I just had - so if anyone who is more tech savy has any suggestions I'd love to hear them!
What are your thoughts about the videos you viewed? Why is it important to you to keep up with the newest technology?
The videos confirmed my prior thoughts of bringing technology into the classroom. I am “re-energized” to jump in there and implement more.
I completely agree that technology is a tool that will help enhance learning and that it is my job to prepare students to live in a technology literate world.
I think “Why Let Our Students Blog?” said it all… Most importantly, technology will extend the classroom walls, give my students a voice and promote skills for their digital futures!
Which tool/application (on any of the Web 2.0 links above) did you find, could be utilized in your classroom or area of study?
I will continue to blog. However, this year, I will have more student involvement and allow for interaction from home. I will definitely do more pod/vodcasting this year. I will also be OPEN to student ideas. I can’t wait to see why my 1st graders come up with.
Any other thoughts you would like to share?
Gone are the days of parents asking, “what did you do at school today?” and getting the response, “Nothing or I don‘t remember!”. Our blogs will invite parents into our classroom. This will open door for more communication at home.
Chapter 1:
I was completely surprised at the high percentage students using technology at home. I knew the numbers were high, just didn't realize how high. And the fact that reading a book is so low. Most students gather information through technology, which is completely different from when we were in school. And I was surprised at the low percentage of teachers who know and use technology in the classroom. The numbers amazed me but also helped me see how as a teacher I need to get with the 21st century learners because that is their world. I thought the Xtranormal was amazing! How awesome to have students publish their writing in a "movie" format! To me this is step farther than a book report, or a book published on the computer. I think students will love to write when they can use tool and see their writing come "alive". There is just so much technology out available, and I'm so excited to be learning about them so I can use them in my classroom and get the students excited about learning.
Chapter 2:
At first, I thought of using a blog to communicate with parents what their child is learning in class, etc. But after viewing some of the sites provided, I want students to interact with the blog and publish on it. I want them to respond to questions, or post their own ideas/questions for other students to respond to. I remember in the book the author saying that blogging is helpful for shy students who may not participate in class, but would respond on a blog. I think blogging will give every student a voice and opprotunity to contribute. I would also like to post student work for them to work on and for parents to see. So much of what we do in class does not go home until the end of the semester, so by posting work on a blog, students and parents can view assignments, projects, etc.
Chapter 1 -
What are your thoughts about the videos you viewed?
I liked the video. I was not surprised by the statistics, but the sheer amount provided did surprise me. I know many teachers are just catching on but I think I thought more in generalities. I liked the specifics they showed. I was surprised by the high numbers of students who used some of these programs at home. I guess I fell into the trap of thinking they just go home and play Halo for the most part. I wasn't surprised by the low number on the reading. Each year I try to ask how many like to read and every year I get low numbers. I guess they have moved beyond the paper!
Why is it important to you to keep up with the newest technology?
It's important for me (and us) to keep up with the latest trends in technology because that's our window to really get information across to students. If we can show them things in the format they understand and relate to they will possibly learn and retain better. It also provides a way for students to take control of their own learning, but they can't do that if we don't have the skills to help direct them.
Which tool/application (on any of the Web 2.0 links above) did you find, could be utilized in your classroom or area of study?
I like the ideas of blogging and podcasting. I have used podcasting in my world geography classroom and it has been very success. The kids really got into the research and seemed to enjoy the integration of technology. I would like to use the blogging, but I'm not quite sure how I want to implement it yet. I also think I'm going to try Wikis this year and see how that goes. Another teacher in our department used it with some good success.
Any other thoughts you would like to share?
My few attempts at using technology have proved pretty successful, however, alot of it depends on the class you do it with. I have had some classes where I had to revamp the entire class because the kids flat out refused to do the work. Other classes I had to come up with more because they kept coming up with new ideas and I had to keep up. I think it's all about the dynamic.
After viewing some of these classroom blogs and reading the chapters, brainstorm and post your ideas of how YOU would like to use a blog in your classroom?
Currently I already have a blog/webpage (taborslyceum.wetpaint.com). However, to use the term blog, based on the readings, would probably be incorrect. What I am planning on doing this year is inserting some readings in the classroom and having students post their thoughts and comments on the discussion part of the page. We would have to discuss what is appropriate and what is not. I would also have some 'extra' assignments for them to push beyond the readings and post their findings on the page too. They could then start responding to each other on what they found and hopefully it would spread from there.
After several attempts, I still wasn't able to view the video, The Networked Teacher. I found the You Tube video Vision at K-12 very thought provoking. As educators, we have to get up to speed to meet the needs of the Web 2.0 learner. Their world is so different than the one in which I grew up...many, many years ago. I'm embarrassed to admit it, but I just learned how to text message and maneuver through Facebook, but my ten year-old daughter breezes through it all. That's why I need this book study! We have to update our skills and be able to use the latest technology to meet the needs of our students and as the video said, "engage them." Our students are learning in many different ways outside the classroom. We need to at least meet them half-way by providing opportunities for them to use their skills within the classroom.
The whole process of engaging students through blogs, wikis, etc. is exciting and scary at the same time. Good instruction requires a balance of traditional teaching/learning along innovation. There are some basic skills that still require pencil/paper, book knowledge, and instruction from the classroom teacher. And, of course, student safety on the internet has to be a priority.
I see a lot of possibilities for using blogs as a new means of communication. We're making a real effort to go paperless which is a mind shift for everyone. Blogs seem like an easy way for teachers to relay information to their students, parents, and with each other. I know many teachers use weekly emails to let parents know about what's taking place in the classroom, but blogs may be even easier. And, blogs are a great way to differentiate for various learning styles and levels within the classroom. All students reap the rewards when higher level thinking and activities are incorporated into instruction. Anything that requires kids to think, analyze, and create their own products benefits all learners including the teacher. I am looking forward to creating a staff blog next year so that the teachers can share successful strategies, lessons, and ideas with each other. I am also going to share this idea with the student council sponsors and action team leaders. Rather than going back and forth with emails, a blog can serve as a centralized location to provide information and answer questions. It may also reduce the number of meetings that need to take place and be a real timesaver.
Addendum to Friday, June 12th comments - THE NETWORKED TEACHER:
Media and popular culture often have a tendency to focus on the sensational and negative aspects of new technology, ignoring or marginalizing any positive contribution.
For example, recently there was a story in the news about how people now spend approximately 30 percent less time with family than they did a year ago due to the internet, texting, and social networking sites. One of our goals as teachers could be to encourage a variety of constructive uses of this new technology. My experience is that students mainly use internet-based communication for downloading or listening to music, chatting, updating social networking and using cell phones for texting.
Because of life experience, we have the opportunity to present these new technologies to students to enhance knowledge about careers, business, local, national, and international current events, finance, politics, research, worldwide communication, etc. In order to be effective, teachers must be willing to include these new avenues of communication in the curriculum. We will need support from administrators as well.
Added thoughts:
I found the Xtranormal Publishing Tool to be an interesting way to present a topic. As clever and advanced as it is, it might get old after the first couple of uses. I can see where it would be fun to use.
Web 2.0 Toold looked like a very helpful site for resource material since it is a collection of tutorials and “how to” sites. This is a necessity for me.
Kathy Schrock’s Guide for Education site could be a convenient way to develop online quizzes.
After viewing some of these classroom blogs and reading the chapters, brainstorm and post your ideas of how YOU would like to use a blog in your classroom? Post to the comment section at the bottom of this post.
I'm going to create a classroom blog, where I post communication for both the parents and students. I'd also like a section for each subject area to discuss what we're learning, along with extension activities for the higher level students.
Another class blog I'm going to create is a Bluebonnet Book blog. Each month, starting in July, my class is going to read a book from the Bluebonnet list. In this blog, I'm going to have discussion questions for students, along with activities and assignments to complete on their own time.
Blogging is a great tool for reflecting, communicating, and inspiring students to learn in a different way!
I spent a lot of time viewing Mr. Hancock’s Class Blog at mrhclassblog.edublogs.org
It was awesome because not only was it being used as a classroom update for parents, but he used it to show short video clips about things the class was studying at the time. Also included were picture montages of his weekly science challenges that were shown to music.
This was a very good site to visit because it helped me know where to begin at the 3rd grade level. For myself, I would like to create a classroom blog similar to this for my third graders and their parents, and start off simply and post things like….
class-related information like homework and classroom expectations,
student created work
photos of class activities,
internet resources on specific units
I would also like to have students and parents contribute comments, questions, and ideas on to postings.
What are your thoughts about the videos you viewed? Why is it important to you to keep up with the newest technology?
-I really enjoyed the second video, “A Vision of K-12 Today” simply because there were so many interesting facts about children that I never knew. The statistics seem to be shocking when it comes to how much children these days are using technology as opposed to reading a book or writing something with pen and paper. I think for so long adults have almost shunned children for their dependence to technology and electronics. We have believed that students should not rely on computers and technology to see them through life. I also feel like it has given children a bad rap since we see them as “lazy”, when, in fact, they are using such complex programs and devices to come up with products that we couldn’t have dreamed of when we were in school. Now, don’t get me wrong, I don’t think a child should spend all day playing Mario Kart on the Wii but I think there will come a day when our students are using Kindle’s or another device to read their Guided Reading books. (How neat will that be??) I think it so important for us, as adults, to keep up with technology for so many reasons. Not only will it keep our students engaged (as mentioned in “A Vision of K-12 Today”), but it will help to keep us up to date on where our students and children are in the world. If a parent does not know what Facebook or Myspace are and they have no clue how to use them, that could be such a detriment to a relationship with their child. Parents and educators need to stay abreast of the new and upcoming things popping up in technology so they can relate to the children.
Which tool/application (on any of the Web 2.0 links above) did you find, could be utilized in your classroom or area of study?
-I really would like to use a blog in my classroom to keep my parents updated and I would also like to use Skype. I am not sure if that is possible in our district but as I was looking around online I found some other first grade teachers that used Skype in their classroom and the results seem so neat. I have a couple of other teacher friends in other states that would love to use the application in their classroom as well and I think that would be such a fantastic starting off point for my students. They could write Penpals in other states or countries and then meet them via the Internet. I know a couple of years ago a class I was working with did the “Monster Match” and I think that would be such a neat thing to even do with my first graders. I would love to also be able to do this with maybe a class in another country. I think that would be such an incredible experience for my students to communicate and interact with different students around the world.
After viewing some of these classroom blogs and reading the chapters, brainstorm and post your ideas of how YOU would like to use a blog in your classroom? Post to the comment section at the bottom of this post.
-I would like to use a blog in my classroom as a means to communicate with parents. Not only will I be able to post pictures and photo stories for parents but I will be able to post some of the students computer generated work onto the blog. I looked around online for some other first grade blogs and I found some really neat ideas of things to do. One teacher did some literature circles with her students and then recorded podcasts of the kids reading their presentations. Another teacher would give the kids a weekly or monthly writing prompt, the students would write their stories and the teacher would post them all under one post on the blog. And another teacher just used her blog to post their weekly newsletter and spelling words. So, in looking at these different sites I really feel like I have a good grasp on some neat things I can add to my own classroom blog.
Chapter 1
What a wonderful way to jump into this study. This book put it into plain English for me as well as helped me to reflect on how I learned during elementary school. I even thought of when I first started using the WWW. It became popular when I was a sophomore in college. It seemed as though we were opening a door to the outside world. Man times have for sure changed for this generation!
I still couldn’t view the 1st video but I really like the other two videos. I thought it to be very powerful and it really emphasized how these students “in the 21st century are digital learners”. It made me realize that these kids go home everyday and are engulfed in technology at home but are limited in the classroom. How cool is it that we can be the stepping board for these kids! I began to think of my 4 year old and how differently he is going to be learning in school. The possibilities are endless to this upcoming generation.
The websites that I visited were very easy to navigate and user friendly. You don’t realize all that is out there until you start navigating your way through. It seems as though you start looking for one thing and end up sometimes in another world looking at some very cool ways to use technology in the classroom. I really like the avatars’ that you can create for yourself and they “speak” for you. Very cool!! I know by playing with these tools myself I will become more familiar with them and feel more comfortable teaching the students. Lots of neat ways to incorporate teachers, students and parents all at the same time!
Chapter 2
Again very good videos that were informational. It is so true how people (in this day and age) are the reporters as well as the publishers. Also that everyone has a say in “news” these days. I liked in the book the statement that people are learning how to read/write together. How powerful!
Here are my thoughts on using blogs in the classroom and how I can incorporate it in the classroom:
1. Setting up a blog for information purposes first. Parents like to be informed and this is an easy to accomplish this.
2. Using the blog as a platform to answer questions. Some children that may not answer or like to talk in front of others may find it easier to write their response in blog form.
3. I like the fact that students can create projects and they can be uploaded to the blog for others to see. What a great way for instant feedback and “4 start reviews”.
4. I think my best way to get this started is for me to be familiar with the process and then move it onto my students!
What are your thoughts about the videos you viewed? I agree that most kids come to school with a wide load of technology skills that we do not incorporate into their daily classroom learning. I loved the point in one of the video that said most of the jobs our students will have in the future haven't even been invented yet.
Why is it important to you to keep up with the newest technology? My four year already knows how to navigate her way around www.noggin.com. I'm sure my 2nd graders are far behind that level. In order to teach them effectively to enter the workforce I need to be on top of the technology game.
Which tool/application (on any of the Web 2.0 links above) did you find, could be utilized in your classroom or area of study? I love the blogs, online survey sites, and wikis.
After viewing some of these classroom blogs and reading the chapters, brainstorm and post your ideas of how YOU would like to use a blog in your classroom? Post to the comment section at the bottom of this post.
I love Mr. Hancock's blog. I can see this would be a very powerful tool. More times than I could count by students would ask for the web address to sites we viewed in class. They would write down the addresses but I always wondered how many of those tiny little pieces of paper every made it home and if so how many were 100% accurate. I could post those websites on the blog for students to view with their parents at home. I also love that it gives the parents a view of what happens during the school day. Many parents ask what else they can do at home, the blog would keep them informed.
Chapter 1:
The videos bring it all home for me. When I compare the way I learned as a young student to the way students learn today, I am amazed at how they embrace changes and challenges in technology. The importance of keeping up with new technologies as an educator is all about being willing to let our students lead us into the next new waves in that vast ocean of technological innovation. I’m most interested in professional community blogs and am excited about learning more through just going ahead and applying all of this through our blog book study and beyond.
Chapter 2:
As a new assistant principal I am considering ways in which I can communicate and share with others in our learning community. I have a few ideas for blogs I could use.
•Teacher/Administrator to Parent on topics of interest to our educational community
•Literature studies
•Staff to Staff Blogs—sharing ideas and inspiration with a buddy school
•Vocabulary Blog—Post words of the week and share encounters with these words and new ways we used them
•Independent Study Blog Group—Blog about a year-long exploration into a topic that has always fascinated you. Bloggers could even pair up and study the same topic, visit points of interest and share learning.
As a younger teacher I can relate to the fast paced world of technology. While watching the videos I had a huge Ah-ha moment with blogging. I have had my own blog ever since my husband and I got married 5 years ago, and it just never dawned on me to use the tool in my classroom. It made me realize that if I am not using the most up to date technology with my students I am not doing them much justice since they are growing up with even more than I did as a kid. They know how to use emails, make their own websites, make photostories, etc. To me it is crazy that I had never really thought about how to use technology more in the classroom besides powerpoints and videos. We all use these tools, but for our student’s today that doesn’t seem anything new and to them it probably seems like old news. They are growing up with a vast knowledge of different types of technology and if we don’t challenge them with it and utilize it, they may not be as prepared for the real world as they get older. They may know the basic skills of a computer, but by engaging them with the web tools, we can better prepare them for their future. I am thinking of using the blog in my class along with Animoto to make learning more engaging for them throughout the year. With the blog I envision using it as a tool of communication with my students as well as allowing them to post their work from across the curriculum. I also feel it will be a great tool for parents to keep up to date with things happening in the classroom. With the blog I can see it taking many different shapes for different reasons over the school year.
Videos: the video that was my biggest ah-ha was the first video of the K-12 student. It all just came together in those short minutes about how much the students need to be involved and challenged more using our technology. The videos just put a new perspective on technology and has "energized" me to become more creative this summer and to get prepared to fully embark on the new journey next year.
What are your thoughts about eh videos you viewed? Why is it important to you to keep up with the newest technology?
After watching the videos, the one thing that I keep thinking about is if we don’t keep up with the changing technologies, we won’t be able to keep up with our students. When I think back to the teaching styles of most of my school teachers, it’s no wonder I really didn’t like school. I’m an ADD, out of the box thinker, who doesn’t like to be pinned down too long. I found the “Turn to page 45 and complete the questions at the end of the chapter,” or “Please finish your worksheet packet by the end of the day,” style of teaching quite boring. Today’s learners need to be constantly engaged and “plugged in” to their learning. For us to expect students to power down and unplug before they walk into the classroom is just as bad as my teachers that provided me with a day after day worksheet filled education.
Chapter 2 – For me using blogs would be different from the regular ed classroom teacher. I set up a blog for school last year that discusses various technology related things I want to highlight. This year I want to up it a little bit and include courses that are being offered, step by step handouts, and some how to videos.
It’s my plan to have my principals using blogs as well. I had one on board last year. The staff found it a great way to share information. I was disappointed that very few staff members commented on the blog, but there were also few posts that needed commenting. My hope is to get the majority of the staff signed up with a Google account. I’ve learned baby steps sometimes work best. If I can get them to get an account, I can get many of those people to start a blog to use with their parents and students.
What are your thoughts about the videos you viewed? Why is it important to you to keep up with the newest technology?
Which tool/application did you find, could be utilized in your classroom?
After viewing some of these classroom blogs and reading the chapters, brainstorm and post your ideas of how YOU would like to use a blog in your classroom?
As a tactile/visual learner it is difficult for me to wrap my brain around the abstract, technological world of Web 2.0. As I watched The Networked Teacher I pictured myself swimming in a very deep sea of confusing technology. That’s a little scary because many of my students (if they don’t already) will have no inhibitions towards the World Wide Web. I can see that for my first graders, Web 2.0 and all of its applications will soon be as natural to them as visiting with a friend. It is important for me to keep up with the newest technology because my students will need to be prepared for global thinking, communicating and learning on the web. If I don’t learn this new way of communicating and learning myself, my students will be leaving me behind (technologically speaking) and as an academic facilitator I have to understand my students and develop engaging lessons that will motivate and engage them. Blogging will be an easy way of using Web 2.0 with students and their families. It will be a great way to dialogue about what is going on in our classroom as well as a way to provide extensions of learning outside the classroom. I would like to teach students to find interesting sites relevant to what we are studying and teach them to write about what they find. I would also like to use it as a way for our grade level team to share links and reflections about curriculum and instruction.
I thought the videos were very interesting. I teach Robotics and Animation and it is amazing what the students can do on the computer! It is also amazing how creative they can be. I am not as up to speed as I would like to be with technology, and that is part of the reason I am taking this class. I am very excited to use many of the tools talked about in these two chapters. I have come up with many different ways that I can used these tools from articles to ways to present Famous Animators and Inventors. I am very excited to learn more so that I can get busy and begin my planning for the upcoming school year.
I would love to have one place where the students can go so that they can look up many facts about Robotics and how they are used in today's society. Also, I have many websites bookmarked that have a wealth of information about Animation and Animators.
# What are your thoughts about the videos you viewed? Why is it important to you to keep up with the newest technology?
The videos were very enlightening and easy to understand. The one video with the children holding up signs made me pause and think about my own classroom. Being a child-centered teacher means moving forward and keeping up with technology.
# Which tool/application (on any of the Web 2.0 links above) did you find, could be utilized in your classroom or area of study?
I liked the tool Ning. I teach the GT students and on the Ning site was a link to the “brooklyn art project”. In my class we use famous artwork for writing prompts and to help us use critical thinking skills. I also liked the application “Library Thing”. I thought it would be a great way to post books that we are reading in class for my classroom families.
# Any other thoughts you would like to share?
I was a bit overwhelmed at first but I am feeling a little more comfortable about “blogging” and just all the new vocabulary. The whole study is very eye opening.
Chapter 2
After viewing some of these classroom blogs and reading the chapters, brainstorm and post your ideas of how YOU would like to use a blog in your classroom?
I am so excited! What a fantastic tool. I loved visiting the other classroom blogs. I teach 1st grade and I know parents will love being able to see what their child is doing in school. I plan to start a classroom blog and use it as a way to communicate to parents about what “specifically” is going on in my little classroom:). I also, think about a parent being able to share the classroom blog with grandparents, etc...
What are your thoughts about the videos you viewed? Why is it important to you to keep up with the newest technology?
My thoughts about the videos are that they are absolutely correct. Technology is changing the face of every aspect of our lives; how we socialize, learn, share, and promote our opinions of the world around us.
As teachers it is our responsibility to provide a learning environment that will best prepare our students for their future. Students are growing up in a very different world from what we experienced, so we must continue to push ourselves to provide a curriculum that will meet the demands of their future.
Which tool/application could be utilized in your classroom or area of study? As a facilitator, I will utilize weblogs and wikis to keep my campuses better informed about campuses events and new web 2.0 tools. I’ve seen many great examples of other facilitators’ blogs, and I hope to offer my teachers the same great resource.
http://cguy321.blogspot.com/
After viewing the videos, my hope is that I can, as a facilitator, continue to spark interest with more teachers to find that desire to welcome Web 2.0 into their classrooms. Our digital learners need to be engaged and these tools are a wonderful way to allow and promote creation and collaboration among them. It provides a way for all students to tap into their unique abilities and share with their world.
It is not only important to keep up with the newest technology, it is now necessary. As educators, we must be educated in the newest technology so that we can facilitate and model in our classrooms life-long learning. As students are allowed to explore we may find out how much we can learn from those we teach.
What are your thoughts about the videos you viewed? Why is it important to you to keep up with the newest technology?
I have seen these videos prior to taking this class and still can’t get over how powerful they are each time I watch them. I get inspired each time I watch them and show them to teachers. I feel it is important to make teachers aware of where technology is headed and to emphasize we are teaching digital learners. As educators we have to make the move to this direction. The higher order thinking skills a long with the collaboration with teachers and students learning this way is extremely important; it opens the door to many opportunities. I know after showing these videos to teachers, they do get that “aha” moment but at the same time they say “I just don’t have time to do this and everything else.” I feel it is my job as a facilitator help teachers to learn that using technology isn’t something “extra” and help train them to using technology seamlessly in their lessons and helping them realize the children are still learning everything that is needed to be taught but just in a different way..
Which tool/application (on any of the Web 2.0 links above) did you find, could be utilized in your classroom or area of study?
There are so many it is hard to choose. I really like the use of Wiki’s in my area for collaboration and sharing information on the newest technology. I think it is great way for students to do a research project, and share ideas and learn from each other. It is very easy to set up and use…and extremely resourceful.
Any other thoughts you would like to share?
I realize it is a big step for teachers to jump right in and start using Web 2.0 tools. I think starting small and modeling with them using the tools that they will start seeing the benefits from it.
After viewing some of these classroom blogs and reading the chapters, brainstorm and post your ideas of how YOU would like to use a blog in your classroom? Post to the comment section at the bottom of this post.
I am a technology facilitator, so my goal is to set up two different blogs with my teachers. I would like to set one up that is more of fun type blog like the Need Me Nots one Kiki created. It would be just to let the teachers see how easy it is to blog and spark interest and desire for them to want to start using one. I feel if they use it and enjoy it, they will automatically start generating ideas of how they could use one in the classroom for different things and realize the benefits they would gain using it with their children. I would love to see at least 50 percent of my staff creating their own blogs for classroom use. My second blog would be a technology blog to share information blogs and giving them different classroom blogs to visit to see all the ways a blog could be use. I would use it for all sorts of technology news as well.
Chapter 1:
What are your thoughts about the videos you viewed? My head was spinning a bit after watching all the videos, especially after realizing that all of these technology tools are not the future, but the present and as educators, we had better jump on the train or get left behind, which wouldn't do our students any favors. The video that spoke to me was the IT Curriculum one when it said that literacy, communication, and thinking skills are more important than "computer skills". It made me think about this new technology literacy in a different way.
Why is it important to you to keep up with the newest technology? I think change is hard for a lot of people and learning new technologies for some(especially those of us older folks) is extremely mind boggling. Like anything else, using it and practicing it over and over will help to make it a habit and reduce anxiety over its integration into daily life. Our students need for us to be totally computer literate in the web tools so we can teach them the way they learn. We have to break out of the old mold and be flexible in learning new ways.
Which tool/application did you find, could be utilized in your classroom or area of study? I will definitely create a webblog for use with my students to be able to communicate with my parents about the program I teach ( I am a Dyslexia Therapist) and hopefully get my students involved with some writing activities.
Any other thought you would like to share? Students today need to be taught how to analyze information for truthfulness, and to be able to determine the truthfulness using critical thinking skills taught to them in school.
Chapter 2:
After viewing some of these classroom blogs and reading the chapters, brainstorm and post your ideas of how YOU would like to use a blog inyour classroom: communicate with paretns about the classroom dyslexia activities; interactive learning for students and parents; psot short reading assignments with questions that students can post answers and reflections.
I really like the ideas of lit. Circles someone mentioned. Someone else used the phrase plugged in and this is so true of all of the students in the world today and if we use what we are learning here it will be that much more powerful of a learning tool.
What a way to differentiate instruction!
My campus has mentioned using a blog for our building leadership team to do a book study together...this would be great.
Also, I have a delicious account and have for about a year now; it is great professionally and personally. You know when you are out there just surfing to surf and you jump from one page to another and then sometimes lose where you were before or want to know how to get back to some page...well no more, with just the click of a button bookmark them when you find them. There are also those times when you are asked by loved ones what you would like for your birthday or other special occasions and you can never think of anything but you know when you are out surfing on your own you see cool stuff and think, wow that would be neat to have...well bookmark it when you see it and then when the question arises refer back to it and you will have an answer.
Sorry I am a little late on this one ladies and egnts...my computer at home has been on the fritz and being summer vacation it was not the top priority for me to get fixed and my husband was out of town so I had to wait for him to return and for him to have time on the weekend to figure out the issues. It is better, but not back to total normalcy (whatever that really is), but functional I suppose.
Anyways, I loved the videos, I had actually seen one of them before, they showed the video, a vision of the k-12 student today at a staff meeting one day on my campus. It got many ooos and ahhs, but I did not see much come from it. Everyone always agrees that we need to do things and times are changing but during the school year when we learn these great new things we do not have the time to use them again after the workshops to actually really start using them with our lessons in class.
I think I will use the blog. I am the department head for SPED at my campus and wear many hats, but can usually be found in the learning lab if I am not running around the building. Our learning lab is open to all students in the building. I think I could use the blog to assist them all in posting things going on at school as well as what assignments are due and test coming up for all grades and subjects. We had a teacher a few years ago who wrote this on the board and all of the kids loved it and frequently referred to it. Although, I am not sure if a Wiki or a Blog would be best for this. I also like to find out information about many things, my 2 favorite are things around town and special education so maybe add those to my blog as well.
The videos are just a reminder of how different school environment can be from the home world. Its not new information that students see the classroom as boring and dull, but we are even more separating our selves by not including technology. Engage students, that is something that I try to do everyday, think of how we can make a simple project, fun and engaging, instead of pencil and paper use technology in anyway. As a professional, you will get left behind in the business world. As a teacher you will lose your students interest. I feel it’s very important to keep up with technology not just as a professional but also as an adult, its always sad to hear that you’re kids are better with the computer then you are.
I’m always looking for fun links to use as warm-up’s for my art kids on our blog page. I’ve just recently found out about this web 2.0 things, and I love it! I’m all about sharing and learning more way to improve our lives! I found this photo sharing site that you create a group and everyone that is a member can upload and blog on each others site. (Much like our wiki’s I believe) the site I’m referring to is Watkinsadcox.shutterfly.com. For our extra thoughts it definitely seems that if you are not a life long leaner then you will be quickly left behind! We have to set the examples!
The videos are just a reminder of how different school environment can be from the home world. Its not new information that students see the classroom as boring and dull, but we are even more separating our selves by not including technology. Engage students, that is something that I try to do everyday, think of how we can make a simple project, fun and engaging, instead of pencil and paper use technology in anyway. As a professional, you will get left behind in the business world. As a teacher you will lose your students interest. I feel it’s very important to keep up with technology not just as a professional but also as an adult, its always sad to hear that you’re kids are better with the computer then you are.
I’m always looking for fun links to use as warm-up’s for my art kids on our blog page. I’ve just recently found out about this web 2.0 things, and I love it! I’m all about sharing and learning more way to improve our lives! I found this photo sharing site that you create a group and everyone that is a member can upload and blog on each others site. (Much like our wiki’s I believe) the site I’m referring to is Watkinsadcox.shutterfly.com. For our extra thoughts it definitely seems that if you are not a life long leaner then you will be quickly left behind! We have to set the examples!
After viewing some of these classroom blogs and reading the chapters, brainstorm and post your ideas of how YOU would like to use a blog in your classroom? Post to the comment section at the bottom of this post.
I would use my blogs as warm-ups, homework or sharing important information. Also this year we did a research project and having a site for all the information found, or a central place you can post other sites for students to use…
After viewing some of these classroom blogs and reading the chapters, brainstorm and post your ideas of how YOU would like to use a blog in your classroom? Post to the comment section at the bottom of this post. As a Tech Facilitator, I will continue to use my blog as a resource for teachers at my campuses. I will post upcoming trainings, links to helpful sites for the classroom teacher, and use it as a place to post helpful technology tips.
Marissa's Comment submitted by Dovewhisper
Which tool/application (on any of the Web 2.0 links above) did you find, could be utilized in your classroom or area of study?
I think the most applicable and easiest tool to use is a classroom blog. I'd like to start there, along with moving into podcasts. I really think the students and parents will enjoy the new face of technology in the classroom
This is a link to my weblog. Enjoy!
http://schaefferpage.blogspot.com/
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