THIS IS THE END! #23

The title is not true, as this is really not the end, but a continuation of lifelong learning. Since June I have been embarked on a journey into another world. I actually thought that I was a little computer savy. Ha! The learning curve has been truly amazing.

A few of my favorite things, Flickr, Rollyo, Big Lab, Teacher Tube, U Tube, are all things I can and will use in my classroom. I found the ability to make google more than a search engine, (which I love). Reader RSS also enters the list.

As a life long learner this was a great experience. It brought me into the computer world in entirely new ways, and helped me stay abreast of the changes in the world. The neatest part was in learning something new. The path was not always smooth, very much like physics and the roller coaster, kinetic and potential energy. This is kinetic and potential learning.

The program was well done and laid out. A few improvements: 1) Either make it shorter or give more credit, I spent way more than 18hrs. on this. Of course, meandering off task did some of it. Perhaps for some people it went faster as they started with more knowledge. 2) Some areas needed more instructions, for example: transferring teacher tube or my photostory was very difficult. It took many, many hours, and perserverence.

If another course were offered in the future you can count me in. It was an wonderful way to learn. Too often district in-services are at a awkward time, less than wonderful instructors, and an audience at all stages of learning, so we have people bored, restless, crabby etc. This course allows one to go at their own pace and figure it out. GREAT!!!!!
THIS IS NOT THE END - MERELY THE BEGINNING!

Ringa, dinga, ninga! #22

This was pretty interesting. Something for everyone, the fact that it is by groups is very helpful. Not sure how to use in classroom, perhaps for the students to "blog" about our class. It also would be useful professionally meet with other professionals and compare ideas, thoughts, etc.

#21

I ave the clever science safety video-its on my computer and I cannot get it into my blog. Time to finish #22, and come back, sometimes a break helps. Sooner or later it will get here.

Safety Rules! #21

Inspiration! This little clip was not that hard, lots to learn (what else is new), however the sky is the limit. I already am inspired to create more, more, more. This is late summer when time is an amazing

Maybe We're Tubing!

http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=27f7299713959d92a483

This may not be the right way - however here is a teacher tube from a brilliant man. One that is worth sharing, as it gives an insight into how great minds work and how they can be "taught."

You Tube - Teacher Tube #20

A good time was had in looking at all the videos on both! There are some amazingly creative people out there (and some not). The internet has really given voice to the world. There are some bands that are really cool. Teacher tube - rocks. NOW the problem is getting a video to embed. Somehow that seems to escape me. However I will keep trying.

Awards are Rewarding! #19

This covered a wide range of topics, and as usual I got lost in looking. Favorites that will be visited again are:
Health - especially peer trainer (part of my soon to be implemented program to "shape up." ) the first one - Revolution health was very helpful, and had a holistic link on it.
Visual arts - Color Blender was amazing, for all those times you need a little help in color choices.

Three from the list already in use: Linkedin, Library Thing and Craigs List. Found this useful as it cut throught the tons of sites out there and gave some steerage to good sites.

Production Going Up! #18

Personal preference was Google Docs. As soon as I got into Open Office, lost in the web. Keeping my world relatively simple is key, and Open Office did not appear simple. HOWEVER with exploring further I may get the hang of it.

Google Docs was friendly immediately, maybe because this territory has been used before. There were more things to use, which I can see doing for and sharing with students. Also, the off-line feature is cool. Last year we sent edited forms of tests, lessons etc. back and forth, often it got confusing as to the most recent copy etc. This would eliminate that problem. Neato!

Rolling Along With Rollyo! #17

This was a good site. Last spring my students went to the computer lab to do research for a paper on 'global warming'. If I knew then what I know now! The lesson will be used next spring, BUT greatly improved! A Rollyo will make my job easier, and theirs and the sites can be listed, etc. Also parents can access this and find approved web sites, with good information. The video to Bruce's video did not work well, will try again. What I did see was excellent! Thanks. http://www.rollyo.com/editroll.html?sid=419861 Hopefully this will get you to my Rollyo, however I think the name will be changed as there are alot of science rocks out there!

BUT Science does Rock!

Fun in the Sandbox? #16

Sa(ndboxes can be loads of fun, the real ones. However I could not figure how to put my comments on the site. Tried several different ways, did a few things and hope somehow its there. This is not one of my better moments. Yet, once I sort this out I can think of many ways to use this: Collaborative note taking, possible using the cos. Famous scientists - put one on pass on to others for theirs, etc. Top ten lists for various subject areas, and of course building trading cards.

New Meanings! #15

This was a very thought provoking exercise. Today I went to the library and checked out a few books. The place was humming, no longer quiet, children were waiting for a story show, others were busy on the libraries computers, and still others using wifi with own laptops. Of course people were checking out books too. What is the future of the library? One article I read, starts with 1) Libraries preserve and promote communities. 2) They have a commodity. 3) Product, from there it went on into Web 3D Services and virtual reality. 4) was the Neo library with space for ALL libraries incarnations. This is growth, libraries have to integrate services with the curricula, but alot of the services have to be without training. One big way is by becoming a master learning ourselves (thanks to David Warlick). We must become 21st century literate educators.

Gliterati, literati, technorati. #14

Again, old words brought new, ex: portmanteau - technical version of literati, old version - connect people. This was overwhelming, you definately need to use 'tagging' as an organizational tool as there as an enormous amount of "stuff" out there. Many different ways to find things, one I found very helpful was the tagging, as often when searching for information I need other words to track down what I am trying to find. This site does make me aware of the need to teach our students to be conscientious consumers. Sorting the wheat from the chaff!

Flickerings #?

In reading other blogs I saw the bookshelf and thought, "How did they do that?" Peer pressure is a horrible thing. So off I went... and VOILA!

Choose the Difference! #13

Can you spot the Flicker? The latest experience would allow me to research flickers, gather all the sites together, and share with others. Tags would help me sort the sites into several areas, so if you were doing a science unit on birds there it would be, or wildlife management. It does make me feel a little obessive compulsive, all the organizing! Perhaps I need it, as I do loose things I've looked up. This one for me to think on.

Meaningful Comments! Not Newton. #12

Our friend Newton did not make nice comments to is fellow scientists. He was not one to create a community through commentary. If he had commentaries they often weren't very nice. In blogging in is important to write meaningful comments, let people know you "hear" them. After nosing around, I found some blogs had had comments that destroyed the community, how sad. Don't be a TROLL! This is something worth teaching to our students, as even in their daily conversations they aren't constructive to each other, and in middle school these comments (blogged or live) or can be devastating. The ten commandments are worth posting in every classroom. I then went on to post comments on 5 blogs: random travels, 1 bk, 2bks, 3bks, Access Biology, 60 and still special and lastly Greytpassion. There was the usual - oops how do I do this. BUT I did it. Google Blogs - green building and wildlife management looked very useful.

Wild Thing! You Make My Heart Sing! #11

Libray Thing! I go totally lost. This was totally - totally great. I have always been a voracious reader, and now there is a whole world for me. Created an account and off I went. Posted five books that I have read recently, checked out groups, several were very intriguing. Such as 75 Books Challenge, probably have to retire to do this one. 1001 Books to read before I die. Love looking at others ideas comparing to mine. Science of course. AND the big one,,,,potentially free books...Have to pinch myself.

Science & Art Meet! #10

Newton's image needed a little updating, so science modern art merged! The web siites were very interesting, at times overwhelming! So much that one could do. The site I found most useful (again) http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/. I used this early also, so familarity is good. In the classroom, letting kids make up their own creative science signs, examples: For safety (that boring unit at the beginning of the year), Famous scientists - create buttons, posters, banners. Chemistry rules, physics laws, the list goes on. Students can be very creative.

FLICKERS ARE ALIVE! # 9

There are flickers of an amazing world out there. In looking over the blog sites, the range was amazing. Some were just okay, the best was edublogs. T9here I found a really great link to Smartboard lessons! (Of course I saved it, etc.) Did not like technorati, confusing. Google blog, then going to Library 2 Play, great fun. I am very impressed overall with all the "stuff" out there. Boggling.

Newton Could Have Used This #8

RSS - Really Simple syndication - What a big step into the world! Google Reader is amazing! If Newton had this he could have shared his developments on a blog, (of course he invented calculus and kept it a secret so I'm not sure he would have.) or more in keeping with this man he would keep track of what the others were doing and made sure they didn't one up him. In establishing my google reader I now have more to read, watch and do than ever before. My choosen areas are news, science and FUN. Then they were further defined with specific areas of my curriculum. I would use these for current events and ideas, same for students. Librarians can take advantage of this by using searching for information on films, activites and of course books that pertain to science. Personal use looking up items on building green, music and books!

Did Newton bowl a Google? #7

If Newton bowled a google he must have played at the end of a game of cricket. (Though how cricket is played I haven't a clue.) Perhaps this would be a job for a google notebook! Googling has been a favorite pastime for sometime. Google is more than a word or place. In the classroom I have used Google Earth many times. In an ESL classroom the students googled where they were from, very exciting. The notebook is something worth doing. Calendars especialy useful for students and parents to keep track of subjects and assignments.

Flicker Defies Newton! #6

Newton "discovered" gravity, but our friend the flicker defies him! In this lesson previous lessons were incorporated to create a trading card. Instead of the traditional poster of a famous scientist, and the cube with 7 sides, have students make trading cards. Great use of technology. Students can print, trade cards, add to their cards. Another idea would be to collect cards, scan pictures (no text) creat a mosaic and have students identify each one and one of their accomplishments. Creativity abounds with these ideas!

When is Flicker not a Flicker? #5

OMG! The flickr is alive and well! A real flicker and a flickr combined to make a blog! Truly amazing!. For once the terms key words/labels, category, public and private groups are what they mean in"real life". Next onto to finding pictures, result a real Flicker on the blog, not exactly where I wanted it, but its there! I am overwhelmed! The uses for this in the classroom are many. All types of learners - non-readers, visual, GT, projects, you name it. This will definatelly be explored more. Neato!

AT LAST!!!! Step 3 Posting the Avatar!

The avatar is on the 7 habits page, but it got transferred. Not sure how, but it is there. This was the hardest thing so far, it took several hours. HOWEVER - this can loads of fun. My avatar will have a be better I. One thing this has taught me is just how hard learning can be again! This will give me a better perspective for my students when they say "I don't get it."

WHEW!

7 Habits - Not Sins!

Figuring out how to "post" was hard, BUT you can teach an old dog new tricks. (Of course if I was 13, it would be a snap.)

This blog deals with The Seven Hab its of........ This is something I have tried to following for several years, off and on. Several of these are easy for me. Being proactive and trying to win/win. The negatives or very hard, beginning with the End in Mind, and the tendency to jump to the middle, which of course can cause big problems, especially with new technology.

R

Howdy!
This is the first foray into blogging! From the time I was a little girl, playing school with my hapless brother as student, I wanted to teach, and over all be a "lifelong learner!" The easiest part of lifelong learning is teaching and mentoring others, hardest would be using technology and starting with the end in sight, beginning with the end.