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