Wrapping It Up...

• What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey? I really enjoyed learning about all the new tools...I particularly enjoyed flickr and how to add widgets and photos and videos to my blog. That was fun for me. I also really liked (and appreciate!) the google tools...those are very cool and user-friendly.
  

• How has this program affected your lifelong learning goals? I LOVE being a student...always have...hopefully I always will. This was a new mode of learning for me, and I like the self-paced aspect. Of course, I procrastinated at times...sort of like the term paper that was being typed up the day before it was due! But I got it done!
  

• Were there any take-a-ways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you? Can't think of any at all...
  

• What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept? I don't know that there is anything I'd suggest to improve. I thought that it was a format that was easy to follow and understand...I really like the embedded tutorials.
  

• If we offered another discovery program like this in the future, would you choose to participate? Absolutely.
  

• How will what you have learned influence your practice as a teacher or school librarian? I hope it will make me more comfortable with utilizing the tools we have...and maybe more vocal about getting the tools we don't have???
  

• How do you plan to keep up with new developments in web 2.0? Recommend a way that you have found to be useful. I'm glad my partners did this with me...it's through collaboration that things get done, more often than not.
  

• every day, ask yourself, "What did I learn today?" Record your responses in your blog. I love this idea!!!

• add your blog URL to your e-mail signature line Great idea, too!!!
  

• re-purpose your blog as your classroom/school library blog Yes!!!
  

Thing 23

YAY! I embedded my badge! And I added the Weather widget!!!

What were your overall impressions?
I kinda' like Ning...I think it's got some neat options and information, if you have time to visit regularly.

Did you find any discussions or resources of value?
I didn't really find any resources I found particularly valuable, except I really like the widget additions! I'm sure there are things there for me...I was kind of curious about reading other people's questions and seeing the responses. That's kind of a neat concept...throwing out a call for help and getting it from strangers!

Do you have any ideas for using social networking in your own professional or personal learning, or in classroom learning?
I can see using the networking for my own personal growth because people seem so willing to comment and reply. I commented on a blog I'm following, and the man responded by saying he actually lived in Mesquite and vacations in Destin...just like me! I'd gathered that he works in Dallas...never dreamed he could be my neighbor! That was kind of cool...Maybe it'd be okay to use social networking in the way we used to use pen pal-ing. I think that would be cool to communicate with a group of kids from another state or country, or even within Texas. Kids would like that.










Visit 23 Thingsters

Thing #22

I've officially entered the world of Facebook. I can certainly take it or leave it...and how all these friends have time to post about every breath they take is beyond me...but I must admit the familiar faces that have popped back into my world is kind of fun. My own page is not much to look at...only sports one family pic, and that only out of necessity so it'd have SOMETHING on it! I am not so very impressed with all the social networking...just don't have the desire to commit to doing it right, I guess. I don't know that I see a whole lot of application at the elementary level....unless it was somehow a special 'class' facebook that was available to my students for some reason. There are just so many other ways to connect with them technologically...I want to know how it works in case I see inappropriate uses during the school day, but other than that I don't think there's a need for it where I am in my job.

Thing 7C

From Google Reader I read a new post by called Good Luck With That One, a blog created by a male elementary school teacher in DISD. His blog name is Learn Me Good...and he's pretty clever and amusing. His postings aren't necessarily enlightening, but are fun to read and easy to relate to. This particular has him musing about the photography company that came to his school, sent all kinds of photos home with students, and THEN asked him to pay for them. Familiar??? I always hate hounding the kids about returning the photos if they don't pay for them...I'm basically telling them their parents are thieves when I say "it's STEALING if you don't bring money or pictures back to school!" It's kind of interesting that the things that bother me are somewhat universal!

Thing #21

I was really impressed with Google News Timeline that I found on GoogleLabs. Plug in any topic at all and you get pertinent newspaper headlines from the week. It was pretty cool...I searched the Mavs, price of oil, Hugo Chavez, and TAKS testing and found some interesting articles to scan and/or read. It was interesting and seemed like it could be a great tool for research. Used in conjunction with Google Notebook, we have no excuse for not keeping up with the world around us. I can see great applications for Google Notebook...what a super way to find sources to cite for research and keep them handy until time to use them. All the more reason for a kid to start the school year with a parent-supplied gmail address.

Thing 20

I had fun with Google Docs. At first I was having a bit of a tough time coming up with a need for a document, but I spent the day with family and conversation naturally drifted to books and Destin, so I took my inspiration from there. I made a set of tables for each family to list titles they wouldn't mind traveling with and will invite everyone to collaborate by filling in their tables. Then we'll have a good list of a traveling library...I asked people to indicate which title they'd like to read during our week on the beach by coloring in the cell the title is located in. Easy enough! We'll see if it gets response...I've only shared with my Mom and Dad so far...we'll see how far it goes from there. I LOVED the linking tool...linked my list with this blog so people could use my shelfari to get descriptions of my titles. My book list is far from complete...it's a work in progress! That could be a good way to use Google Docs at work...make a collaborative list of book titles that were read aloud and enjoyed by a class. Or make a book list that students use to post their fave reads of the year. I liked the drawing tool...it could be used as a collaborative 'doodle' where people are invited to add to a drawing. For classroom use...maybe post a math problem and invite online collaboration until a solution is found????

Thing 19

VoiceThread is very cool! I can think of lots of ways I could use it with my family members...they are so funny and we have such a good time with mass-emailing one another. We definitely think we're the funniest family ever, and there are so many of us that I doubt anyone would be willing to argue the point with us. With school, I can see many applications as well, especially in writing or using parts of speech. One good photo can obviously launch a multitude of responses...we could practice using descriptive adjectives, finding words that name nouns, writing good sentences or making sentences better with description. With math, I can see posting a number and having students brainstorm things that the number represents. For instance, I've seen activities where the teacher puts a number on a chart tablet and the students one-by-one come to the tablet and write their thoughts that the number brings to mind. For example, the number could be 24...students could write "2 dozen", or "6 x 4", or "hours in a day"...that kind of thing, but without the chart paper. It would be just a 5-minute computer lab activity...just enough time devoted to get a little set of brains thinking numerically.

Thing 18

I love podcasts! I've enjoyed NPR podcasts for some time now...I download them onto my ipod and listen while I'm on the treadmill. I especially like Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me, which is LOTS of fun to listen to. I love music, but I also really enjoy talk radio. Grammar Girl had some neat podcasts, for people (like me) who like to write and are a bit goofy about grammar. I thought they were pretty clever. I wanted The Math Factor to be cool...but it had too many words. A real turn-off. The math podcasts all seemed a bit too upper-level for my students, but the potential is there for something helpful. I know some students have successfully made their own podcasts, and that would be ideal. I can see it being a neat tool for getting kids to develop their own 'lectures' or lessons to teach via podcast...if they can explain a concept, they'd have to know it pretty well. Good food for thought!

Thing 16

I like this Library Thing. I really like the idea of the 50 Book Club...setting it as a challenge at the beginning of a school year and encouraging kids to post their titles and reviews. I suppose each kid would have to come to school with a workable email address?? I don't know if I like the idea of setting everyone up with a 'ghost' account...would rather parents spearhead getting their children their own email addresses and having them use them for educational purposes only. Goodness knows they'll be using that more and more as we progress through the future technologically, right? The students have enjoyed blogging so much...it might turn out to be great incentive for them to read more independently.

Thing 15

Delicious..I guess it could be cool, like if I had a reason to give a group of students a specific list of websites they could (or were required to) visit for a set purpose. I don't, however, have much of a need to see my bookmarked pages when I'm away from my home computer. It's so easy to do a search and find what it is you're looking for on google. I don't have much opportunity to piddle around on my computer while I'm at school...I pretty much save the "piddling" until I get home, where I can't seem to go more than 30 minutes without 'checking in'! I think I can live with or without Delicious.

7b

In my 'quick-scan' of my G-Reader, I found an interesting article called Time to Read written by a Scottish teacher...lamenting the same things we lament here in the good ol' USofA...'magine that! He talked about 'teaching to the test'...over-assessing every little thing kids do in the classroom...taking a lot of the fun out of the classroom and replacing it with over-emphasis on number grades, essays, examination. He wants to read some novels in the classroom, just for the fun of reading them and not following them up with essays and assignments. He wants to jump into poetry and not ask kids to analyze every one of them...just to show them that they can be simply enjoyed. It was interesting to read the comments, obviously from fellow Scottish-ites using terminology that was pretty foreign to me, but no doubt common educator-lingo in Scotland. It was a good read, and one I think I'll go back and comment on, now that I think of it!

Thing 14

Wordle was a cool site that I think kids would like. I used it a little bit myself and had a lot of fun. Can't figure out how to embed my creation, but I'm going to keep playing with it to figure it out. Using Wordle could be a neat way to replace the 'all about me' activities we use in the beginning of a school year to learn more about our students. It would be neat, too, to let them create a 'wordle' describing their feelings about a particular subject (like math) in the beginning of a year, and again at the end of a year...maybe they'd feel more competent??? I like the power of the written word, anyway, and think this is a creative site to get kids thinking about themselves. I also found some neat vocab activities on Quizlet...good review of basic concepts from a variety of subjects.

Thing 13

I made a trading card which was a lot of fun. I had made one with a family member, but felt a little weird posting it on flickr for the world to see without his permission, so instead I made one with that relative's horse. Surely he won't mind that! Also went to Image Chef, which was loads of fun as well. Very addictive!

Thing 12

Okay...this was FUN!!!!!!!!!!! I really liked RockYou and when I'm done posting I'm going to some of the other sites to explore.

My youngest is off to the movies, my house is clean, my laundry is complete (thanks to the best husband ever) so I have computer time that is full of NO GUILT!!! I used the photos I downloaded from flickr to create my slideshow, but would have much rathered used my own collection of beach photos. They're on my other computer, which I didn't put Firefox on, so it's all well and good, but I plan on doing this for family ASAP! For the classroom, I see lots of possibilities...it's so user-friendly that kids could accomplish the tasks themselves. They could take a historical concept...like the Civil War...and make a slideshow representing the terms or character traits of the soldiers or a sequence of events retold with modern pictures. My, there's a lot at our fingertips! Photos links and credits:
palmtree by janusz l
seagull by Chris Seufert
dressing rooms by Parksy1964
pier by WisDoc
view from above by Adamos Maximus

Thingamajig 11

Okay...flickr was loads of fun! I'm thinking it would be lots of fun to use in writing lessons...whatever the subject matter. I searched with the word 'geometry' and was treated to a plethora of images that kids could use to reflect understanding of mathematical concepts. What we used to do with magazines can be done more efficiently (and economically...and neatly...and creatively) via the computer. Plus, we don't have to worry about ads for lingerie popping up in the hands of boys who love to ogle and get silly. My search theme for the download of my photos was "beach"...simply because it's what I love the best. This photo was posted by "janusz l" and it sure makes me want to be lounging under that tree with a cold something-or-other and lots of (preferably-related-to-me) children running around. aaaaahhhhhh....it just doesn't get much better than the beach!

Thing #10

I think the cc can be helpful in lots of ways, but as I went and clicked on some of the available links on the OER Commons site, I was a bit wary of downloading. I'm cautious of putting things on my computer from sources that are unfamiliar, so when the warning came as I was trying to link up to a math lesson plan, I decided against taking the risk. I'm not interested in opening myself up to a host of virus problems! Maybe there are built-in protections...maybe it's completely safe...I just wasn't comfortable taking content from an unknown place.

How cool, on the other hand, to have access to so much information that is out there for sharing. I can see how high school and college students could really benefit from the added resources as they work through their research projects or papers. I'll have to explore more to see how I can use it in my own classroom.

Thingie #9

Wikis....I like these things. I think they're pretty cool, and I think I can definitely create one for my family to use as prep for our big vacation this summer. Having siblings from coast to coast, this seems like a great communication tool for us as we plan our travels and cooking nights and evenings on the beach. I experienced a bit of frustration putting it together, for some reason, and getting my link to the 23 Things wiki, but I have a good partner who helped me out. : ) Thanks, Jennifer!

I see lots of possibilities with wikis in the classroom, particularly for research purposes but also for fun projects. Most kids have the computer access they need at home to make it possible to continue the learning after the school day is over, and it's really cool to hear them leaving their research and talk about how they're going to extend it on their own. Plus, parents can get first-hand looks at what their kids are doing. Neat-0!!!

Thing 8...STRETCH

I tried for a wikipedia exploration of the IRS. It's an obvious topic of interest, given the time of year. I've also been somewhat outraged that so many of the new president's picks for cabinet positions have had tax problems. Makes one wonder how many more of our glorified politicians, of ANY political party, have the same issues. It's somewhat maddening, given the attention my father taught me to pay to my financial obligations, that our nation's leaders are "slackers" themselves...and that they get away with it. Anyway, off of my soapbox...the article was as hard to read as the current tax code and the discussion did little to help. The history tab was also BORING, and led me to end my exploration pretty quickly, but it did one good thing...it introduced me to the wikipedia world and taught me how to navigate it, which I'd never really done before. I know enough about wikipedia to know that it's not completely reliable, due to the nature of it, but now I can see why I might choose to visit on an occasional basis, if I had a topic of curiosity.

Thing 8...Wiki

Oooohhh...so THAT'S what a WIKI is! How cool! Had only heard about them re: the library sign-up, but had never needed to use that, so my experience was in the negative-numbers range. Glad to know more about them. I was so impressed with the range of content I encountered...every grade level had participation in some way. I think I read each and every wiki that was listed, spending time clicking around all over the place. I particularly liked the 3rd graders Go West wiki, which allowed young readers to post their learning from a class novel about westward expansion. Turn Homeward, Hannalee was a similar wiki with 5th graders and their reading of a novel that took place during the Civil War. I thought that was pretty cool, and really shows what youngsters can accomplish. I also liked the Schools in the Past. Students interviewed their parents and grandparents about schools in the past to see how things have changed. What a relevant topic as we explore this use of technology in the classroom! I'm more convinced than ever that this is the "candy" that we can't give out in our classrooms anymore. What kids used to do for a jolly rancher, they'll now do for a few minutes at the computer! Oh, how I need more training!

I did have to ask myself if our current class organization style is suited for this type of learning. With the limited amount of time the students have in class period, and all of us feeling the stress of state testing breathing down our necks, it's hard for me personally to find time to 'stray' from the mandated curriculum. Also, I miss and deeply crave the collaborative planning that there seems to be no time for in our current schedule.

I definitely want to explore the use of a wiki before the end of the year so that I can be more comfortable with its regular use for next year.

I really enjoyed reading 10 Techniques to Get More Comments on Your Blog. I read it with more of a teacher-student connection than a me-to-the-world-out-there connection in mind. I think kids respond well to this kind of response request. Must be like a "seeing their name in lights" kind of fascination...suddenly they're somewhat important because their words have been posted for the rest of the class to see and read. How I wish there was more time for this in the everyday world of school...or that I could figure out how to fit it in better?? It's always a rush-rush-rush to get it all in. Does anyone out there have any solutions to fitting it all in when the class sizes are so large? (that's one of the techniques, by the way...asking a question to invite responders! We'll see if it works!)

Yahoo!!! My next thingie is the Wiki!!!

Thingie #7...To Post or Not to Post????

I really enjoyed reading 10 Techniques to Get More Comments on Your Blog

Thing #6

I've been away a few days...partly out of frustration with feeling "tab-overdose". There are times Firefox doesn't work on my home computer...times when I think it interferes with my Explorer. Not a perfect world, but navigatable anyway. Glad to see I'm not alone, as others have commented with some similar feelings. I do love the perusing of the many sites...though it's somewhat addictive and can take us away from the other humans in our lives. Got to be careful there. I really have enjoyed my Google reader, and seeing the comments of others appear right on my own blog updates is really cool. I don't have to go hunting down what others are saying...it's delivered to my screen as if it was written just for me! Scary to think of the many jobs that may one day be rendered useless because of the onslaught of technology. Yikes! Ready for Thingie #7!

Thing #5

After a family dinner at Campisi's celebrating the birthdays of 2 precious nephews, I couldn't wait to return to my lesson on 'feeds'...this is so addicting! One more thing to compete with motherhood, wifehood, teacherhood, etc....gotta' watch it! It's a good thing life takes me away from the computer on a very regular basis...it's easy to see how people lose sight of what's REALLY important! I think Google Reader is the neatest thing ever...I really love NPR and the podcasts I put right on my iPod for good listening time on the treadmill. They are really great! Can't wait to explore GoodleReader even more! I skimmed through many posts to find one I'd like to comment on. The one I stopped on caught my attention. It was about a 'day of silence' so it spoke to me by title alone...how I'd love a day of silence....it was actually for a cause somewhat "out of my comfort zone"...that of gay rights, but the message was one I truly relate to. The power of the spoken word. I just had this conversation with a student recently...how words have amazing power to lift, or to shatter, or to heal, or to destroy, or to empower, or to desecrate...how we should use our words carefully. My students have begun to bring in uplifting, inspirational quotes to add to the ones already hanging from my ceiling. They are thinking themselves about the power of the spoken word. That's lovely to me.

Thing #4

What fun! I think I'll become a professional blog reader! AJ....you got any positions like that open in the near future? What a treasure trove of information there is out there...and I love that some of it is written by kids. I also love that there is an avenue for just about anyone to visit. If you dig long enough, you're going to find something that appeals to you. And if you don't find something you like, you have the freedom to start one yourself! Way cool! I found the responses to be pretty positive and supportive, indicating a fairly respectful crowd out there, which is a good thing. I'm sure there are large exceptions to that, though, unfortunately. I really was intrigued by Mark Edtech's blog about his "new-wave" SSR...because it's an issue I've been struggling with in my own room. His kids use blog-reading as their SSR time a couple of times a week. Very cool. I also enjoyed reading a perspective (maybe because it mimics my own?) about the relevance of homework. I like reading things that affirm my personal beliefs, although it's also nice to read something to challenge your own way of thinking from time to time. I kind of think that no matter what your beliefs, you can find something out there that adds validity and proof and makes you feel pretty smart.

I also loved seeing that I've got people following my blog. One is a wacky viking who admits to having Dumb and Dumber on his fave movie list, but I'll take what I can get (wink, wink!)

Thing #2

Wow! What an amazing description of a school I’d love to be a part of…better yet, I’d love my CHILDREN to be a part of! Is this the answer to waking up those minds that seem to be asleep at the wheel in my classroom??? Could it be the “alternative” setting I’ve been saying schools need to adopt for all those kids who want more, NEED MORE? Seems we are spinning our wheels and going nowhere with a great number of our kids. They so need to be engaged by learning…I need to find a way to ENGAGE THEM in the learning that needs to happen in my classroom.

Web 2.0 feels way out there. As comfortable as I am with technology on a personal level, I’ve never stretched myself to utilize it on-the-job. I’ve made lots of excuses…some of them are probably very valid…but until I break out of my rut and attempt some changes, I will always be wondering how cool it would be “if I did that.” I guess I just don’t know where to begin…or how to get to work early enough to make it happen in my classroom, since it all requires transporting of equipment/supplies which I’m not completely familiar with. Can’t get familiar with something if you never put your hands on it, though, so it’s my own fault. Maybe this is the kind of thing I’m needing to put myself in a more positive frame of mind about the job I have ahead of me…maybe it’s the thing to put my kids in a more positive frame of mind about the jobs they have ahead of them, too. Learning should be exciting and captivating and engaging.

Thing #1

Reflections on Lifelong Learning

The habits I think will be most challenging for me are:
"Beginning with the end in mind." I always WISH I'd done this when I end a teaching concept and realize I didn't cover things as completely as I wish I had. Realized that again today as I gave my students a quiz on standard units of measurement conversions. There's always something we didn't cover as completely as I wish I had; and
"Play." Unfortunately for my own children, going back to teaching full time zapped some of the play out of me. I allow the stress from school to creep into my home...totally unfair to my family.

The habits that will be easiest for me are:
"View problems as challenges." I like coming up with a good solution, especially if it comes about as a result of good collaboration with a few good minds. We have so much to share with one another, not enough time devoted to it.
"Have confidence in yourself as a competent, effective learner." I do like being a student, and I feel I can do it very successfully. I love the act of reading and responding to what I've read. Writing soothes my nerves.
"Use technology to your advantage." I do love the computer. : )

The habits that will be most important as the course progresses:
"Accept responsibility for your own learning." Sometimes I breeze over things and don't read carefully enough...got to slow down so as not to miss something important.
"Create your own learning toolbox." I love this term...I have to make the tools I learn mine by USING THEM...too many times I forget all I've learned because the access to the resources isn't convenient or available. I've got to find a way to practice and utilize my new tools...or be resigned to wasting precious hours I don't have to waste.

Where did I get my title??? From Elton Stetson, who was always asking for "pithy quotes" from our readings. I loved that word, pithy. It's just a great word... there were lots of times I felt rather "pithy"...read things that sort of sounded "pithy"...I'm sure I've made people feel "pithy" at times, too. I still find myself looking for pithy quotes when I read, and sometimes I write them down when they really strike me as profoundly pithy. I love words, the pithier the better. They have so much power...they're powerfully pithy.