I tackled Diigo some more. I love highlighting and adding sticky notes! One problem–I didn’t realize that it adds the page as a bookmark. I think you should only get a message reminding you or there should be a link on your dashboard that lists your highlighted pages/sticky notes. I also completed a table of contents on our class wiki. It took a long time to get the formatting and links together. Someone in class wants to get rid of the authors’ names. Does she know how long it took me to do that??? What if I said, why don’t you delete a section from your page? Funny how things change when the shoe is on the other foot.

I also added the Creative Commons License logo to each of our modules. I hope she does not have a problem with that either.

As the beginning of the new school year looms over my head, I still wonder how can we get around the massive filters and firewalls in order to include web 2.0 in our classrooms? Must we settle for desktop software applications? Of course, it is not the same. I read through my classmates’ module about virtual reality in the classroom. I found it very interesting. I particularly liked Whyville, Webkinz, and Club Penguin. I saw many ways that I can use virtual reality to teach and for students to learn.

I am looking forward to our special guest speaker, Tom Barrett. I am very curious about his project that involved the game Myst.

I am so sad that we are approaching the end of class. I am not sure if I will ever experience anything like it again. What an awesome round table we have!! The class continues to open and stretch my mind.

And now here are some more questions***
How do we prove a site is worthy to unfilter?
Should/must we (educators) send an approval request for each site we encounter that really should not have been blocked in the first place?
Who are on these committees that decide which sites to filter or block?
How can we get administrators to include more teachers (who believe in and utilize effective technology integration) and edtechies in decision making?

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I am continuing my discussion and reflections about my IDT classes.

Authoring Instructional Course-ware
*I completed my final project for this class. I created an on-line slidecast using Zohoshow. It is about objects that appear in the day and nighttime sky. I used photographs, clip art, and videos to enhance the project. I am looking forward to using this presentation with my students. I also plan to diigo and del.icio.us all of my on-line work for teachers everywhere. I am gaining a lot of confidence in my technology skills. However, I am not sure if this class teaches about effective technology integration. I’ve got some great tools to teach with but I would rather learn about ways the students can use the technology. This is a great segue…

Teaching and Learning with Web 2.0

I love this class no matter how much work it is (lol). Let’s finish up the topics that I mentioned in my last post. Tuesday’s homework was to review modules on the class wiki about Web 2.0, Internet Safety, and Balancing Real-world and online identities. After reviewing the modules, we discussed them in class onThursday.

I think I got a lot from the Web 2.0 and Internet Safety modules. Some thoughts were distinguishing the terms Internet and World Wide Web (the Web). The Internet is the interconnection. The Web is the online tools. I see the shift from Web 1.0 to Web 2.0. There are fewer sites in which you are a passive observer. Most sites are becoming or already designed to be interactive . I liked the module creator’s (Amanda) term, iWeb. It stands for interactive Web.

I found the Internet Safety discussion to be scary, powerful, and thought-provoking. I didn’t think of cyberbullying as a serious threat until Suha (the module co-contributor) pointed out how far and widespread the bullying can get. She spoke about students commiting suicide and mothers wondering how did they get to that point. It reminded me of real-life bullying that I experienced in junior high. The feelings were hurtful, real, and very serious to me. I had my own suicidal thoughts. It affected my desire to be at school and my entire self-esteem and self-worth. I cannot imagine experiencing the devastating effects of someone creating an online profile about me and spreading rumors throughout the school. We came up with a lot of strategies to resolve the problem. One of which was a school wide Acceptable Use Policy that is strictly enforced. It would be a contract that students, and even parents would sign. I also believe that it is important for classrooms and schools to create a community that spreads teamwork, togetherness, unity, and positivity. One where students care for, help, and look out for one another. When we focus on cooperation rather than competition or even the ever-so-popular “you’re on your own” mentalities, then we can change the environment. It will shift from the negative environment that breeds such nastiness and cruelty to a more positive one.

Another interesting point that I got was to not add everyone who wants to add you. I think it is important for adults and children to filter their online associates (”friends”). I have not always done that. We have to move beyond popularity contests and feeding our egos with notions of so-called grandeur.

The balancing real-life and online identities was more humorous than anything There was a quiz that you can take to see if you have an internet addiction (Beware: prepare yourself for the results lol). However, the module did make me think. I began to wonder:

How much time is too much to spend online?

What criteria determines which online activities are more important than others

How does one prioritize the activities that one participates in online?

Are we really spending less time with our families/friends than we did before the Internet? (What about work and school? People have always had to do both?)

How does our online life affect our real-life?

Last, is it really that much of a big deal?

I am kind of on the side of no to the last question. I do not think that internet addiction is as rampant as the media and older generations suggest. This may show my age but I just think that it is something different. I do not think seeing someone or speaking with someone online is less interactive than face-to-face. There are less technological glitches. But hey, people walk away from face-to-face conversations just as confused as an online video conferencer. So hmmm…

Finally, a few words about Diigo

Dr. Mims showed us some cool tools to use with Diigo. Since then, I have only played around with tagging and adding descriptions but only because I couldn’t install the toolbar on Safari (??!!??). So, I installed it on my Firefox toolbar. I fiddled around with the highlighting function and highlighted supplies I want for this school year. I will delve into it more later on this weekend. I will keep y’all posted.

TTYL

In class, Tuesday, we reviewed the wiki module for Teaching with Technology. I worked with three other students on this module. After speaking with the class, reading the class chatroom remarks, and listening to our speaker, I am more confident in my stance on teaching with technology. I believe now more than ever that effective integration and exposure to technology is crucial for all learners. The world is changing. The way people communicate, share, do, learn is changing. Nowadays people can do almost anything online. I definitely believe that I had already used technology in my class but after reading and rereading about TPACK, I wonder if it was always integration or especially effective integration.

Some very interesting questions were brought to my mind.

Does my generation use technology differently?

How does the experience with technology affect the way my generation views technology, learning, and social interaction?

Is my generation more disconnected than its predecessors?

Can you multitask and still produce stellar products?

How does multitasking affect quality of work?

I am still on the fence with some of my answers to these questions but they will resonate with me for awhile.

Next, I will discuss Web 2.0, Internet Safety, and Balancing Real-world and online identities.

This is Patti Labelle on Sesame StreetWow! The Alphabet should always be sang like this.
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I went to the school for a workshop last Thursday. It was about classroom management. It was presented by Susan Lockhart at our school. It was from 8am-4pm. I enjoyed it and I learned a lot of strategies and techniques that I can use for classroom management. Susan is so cool and down-to-earth. We found out that she and I have a great deal in common. We are both PKs (preacher’s kids) and both of our fathers fought in the U.S. army. I am going to email her and hopefully we can remain contacts. Hopefully, I can get her to contribute to my Wikiand even “convert” to the twitterverse.

Grad School “It’s what you make it.” Dr. Clif Mims

I am saying that half truthfully/half sarcastically. He wasn’t talking about grad school when he made that statement but I am coming to that line of thinking about grad school. I have had one of the worst weeks of my life. I had a car wreck, my power went out, I got a low grade on an assignment. I was just low.

I will refresh my new readers (ha). I am currently enrolled in the Instructional Design and Technology (IDT for short and many people call it edTech) M.S.ed program at the University of Memphis. I started this June. I took Computers, Technology, and Learning with Dr. Mims. I learned about various ways to use technology and the internet to teach and enhance learning. I learned about using NTeQ, Kidspiration/Inspiration (Concept Mapping), Word Processing, Spreadsheets, PowerPoint, Online Artwork, Webcomics, and Online slideshows. I enjoyed his class and learned so much!

Right now, I am taking two classes this summer (phew!) One class is completely online. The other is sometimes on campus and sometimes online.

Authoring Instructional Courseware-

This class is about developing and implementing instructional design products appropriate to the learning environment in which the computer-based instructional product will be implemented. We also develop computer-based multimedia instructional products using desktop or web-based programs and interactive media appropriate to the tasks. At the end of this course, I should develop educational leadership skills like decision-making due to the process involved in courseware development.

We must create a linear and non-linear PowerPoint, slidecast, virtual tour, and a online photo slideshow that we can use for instructional purposes.

Teaching and Learning with Web 2.0

This class introduces and extends the learner’s knowledge and experience with Web 2.0. It about developing a personal learning community (PLC) and using Web 2.0 tools/websites to teach and learn. We have a class wiki. We journal, create/edit pages on the wiki and do a lot of telecollaboration.

Here are links to my modules. Microblogging, Social Networking, Teaching and Learning with Technology (I did NTeQ and Assessing Digital Work).

I love this class but it is extensive! OMG, I think I worked for 8 hrs straight on an assignment in this class before. Thank God for Twitter. I was so defeated, stressed and overwhelmed one day. I tweeted about it and within minutes people I didn’t even know were sending me positive and uplifting messages. I felt a lot better.

I like learning about the different technologies. I am loving RSS right now. I can pick and choose what I want to pay attention to on a blog or newspage. I also like that you don’t have to go to the page and login. The information comes to you. I also like jott and twitter. I like jott because you can record messages on your phone/computer and send them to whoever (including yourself). The messages can be an email or a phone message. Jott even transcribes what you say (I learned very quickly to use my best grammar and speak clearly lol). I am slowly but surely getting people that I know (especially educators) hooked on twitter. hahaha. My plan is working. j/k. It’s all a part of connecting.

Oh I want to share a few cool things that I have stumbled upon these past few days.

Facebook Newsflash
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Phdcomics

PCweenies v2

I am so excited about developing my PLE. I recently began taking courses in Instructional Design and Technology this summer. I took a class about integrating technology with teaching and learning. Right now I am enrolled in two classes. One class is about PowerPoint and Multimedia Presentations and the other class is about Teaching and learning with Web 2.0. I have been apart of Web 2.0 for some time but I just learned about the term last month. Since that time I have joined Twitter, Ustream, Wordpress, WetPaint, GoogleDocs, Zoho, PBwikis, Wikispaces, Several Ning networks, Diigo, Del.icio.us, Skype, and probably some more that I cannot think of right now.

I am looking around for people who share my interests as far as education and technology are concerned. I am especially interested in educators in the early childhood/kindergarten field.

I am also currently working on two separate assignments.

• I am working on designing a nonlinear PowerPoint that serves as a lesson or teaching tool. That will be pretty easy. I am going to look through my county’s kindergarten curriculum guide and select a subject. Before I create my presentation, I will continue researching the purpose and resoning behind nonlinear PowerPoints. I will also look at examples online. I have four days to complete this so I will finish it after the other assignment.
• I am also working on completing a module on my class Wiki about Teaching with Technology. It is fairly extensive and has several components. I am working with three classmates. It is due tomorrow night.

Teaching with technology - Donna Jennifer Angela - DUE before class on 7/22/08

1. Those who cannot claim computers as their own tool for exploring the world never grasp the power of technology…They are controlled by technology as adults–just as drill-and-practice routines controlled them as students. 
   Source: Toward Digital Equity: Bridging the Divide in Education
2. http://newliteracy.wikispaces.com/
3. instructional design, models, frameworks
   1. TPCK
      • TPCK - Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge
   2. , ASSURE, NTeQ, etc 
      
   3. Refer to Mims’ book chapters
   4. http://edorigami.wikispaces.com/Readings
   5. http://www.bloglines.com/blog/andrewch?id=4
   6. http://teachweb2.wikispaces.com/ 
   7. Big6 - Shari - DUE before class on 7/22/08
4. Bloom’s digital taxonomy - Corey DUE before class on 7/22/08
5. DLSI?
6. Assessing digital work - Donna
   1. Lots of related resources here
   2. See the Assessment tag in Clif’s Diigo bookmarks
   3. Dy/Dan’s blog frequently has assessment-related resources
      
7. What else? …

This class is interesting and informative but it is tough! Wish me luck, please.

This is my first professional blog. Welcome to my blog! This part of my blog will be my vents, ideas, experiences and just information I feel is relevant to education. I am going to create a page that is for my fellow kindercators and prekindercators to share, express, vent etc. So stay tuned.