Still not done

Being a lifelong learner has never really been one of my life long ambitions, and I believe that this was due to a misunderstanding of what it means to be a lifelong learner. However, I do respect that being a lifelong learner, someone must maintain an open mind which I hope to always have. I believe a positive and open outlook on life can make your life a much more enjoyable experience. With that understanding, I have somewhat changed my perspective on lifelong learning.

Not done yet

I do not believe that I can put my finger on one favorite experience. They were all uniquely different. Making the avatar was fun, and I even got a few comments on him. Believe they (not naming any names...cough..cough...Dave) said he didn't look like me. I disagree, I'll wear a suit to class next Monday.

......I wander if anyone will realize there is no class Monday...

From Beginning to End and Back to There Again

It began with a journey that opened up a new world of possibilities. Although, this course has run its course, our journey has only just begun. With this new knowledge of technologies capable of doing endless tasks, we educators have a enormous tool to use in the classroom. If this tool is used properly, students’ experiences with learning can reach a deeper level simply because of the ‘fun factor’.

Thing #23

Dealing with the 'Big C' is no longer an issue because of Creative Commons. This was something revolutionary to me. I can see the how Creative Commons has broke new grounds in world of sharing documents or people's personal works. Before Creative Commons it was virtually impossible to legally use someone else's work or even collaborate on it. Thank you Creative Commons!


Credits
Learning 2.0 - 23 Things for Teachers is based on Learning 2.0 - 23 Things, a staff development program for the Mesquite Independent School District. That program was based on the Learning 2.0 program that was designed by Helene Blowers and adapted by the California School Library Association and others. Content and style for Learning 2.0 - 23 Things for Teachers has been borrowed and duplicated with permission, under a Creative Commons License.

Thing #11

I may be somewhat confused on the method of finding these tools the easiest to use. I did however, like the Google blog search and Topix.net. Anything done in Google is self explanitory, and I found it to be the easiest to navigate. Topix.net was also farely simple to use as well. Basically you find a topic, select it, and read whats new. I don't think that any of these search tools were difficult. It is just that some contained so much information on their homepage it was almost distracting.

Thing #22

I listened to a few sports talk radio podcasts, but I was disappointed that my search for Dan Patrick and Jim Rome was shot down with no results. I guess that they do not subscribe to any of the directories given, because I relentlessly searched for their names on all options.

I don't believe that I will be creating any new podcasts myself. With all that is out there, I'm not too confident with what I might bring to the table. As far as subscribing to one particular podcast, no, I will not be doing such. I say that, simply because my current situation, with dial-up Internet connection, I have to access such web tools outside of my home. When I do have access to high speed Internet, I am concentrating on other areas (a.k.a. getting my homework done).

Thing #19

Well yes, I am a member of a online social community, but not any of these. I tried and tried to gain access to them but never received a confirmation e-mail letting me join. I'm not quite sure what the problem has been.

On the other hand, I do have an interest in the various social networks, especially TeacherPop, because of its association. As I have mentioned before in these series of blogs, I believe one can never have too much positive publicity on the web. By positive publicity, I mean association with this blog and others like TeacherPop that allow people to see your name on the web associated with the world of education.

Thing #17

Discovering Delicious.
This site seems great. Search the web, find an educational site, tag it, share it, and everyone who knows about it will benefit. This is a great tool for organizing your personal and professional web sites of interest. Used effectively it could be a useful tool in the classroom or someone elses classroom. For instance, if you are a history teacher and have hunted down a few interesting web sites on the Civil War, you can tag them and make them available to other users of Delicious. I'm still skeptical. If you found the web site you were looking for, then why wouldn't another teacher find that same site if they were really committed? For now my use of this tool, if any, will remain for personal organization of useful or interesting web sites. But who knows, that may translate into something that I could use in the classroom.

Thing #20

NASA Commander Tweets To Take Questions In Space
Like to 'Tweet'? Click the link above to ask a question that will be answered from SPACE from the NASA Commander who will be on board.

Education Today and Tomorrow
This video gives us a unique perspective on how education and how the world has evolved over the years.

Like all other web 2.0 tools that we have toyed with this short summer term, YouTube is a place where you can find anything your little heart desires. That can be a good thing, but it can also be counter productive. With all the pollution on the Internet, it is up to us, the educators, to use this tool in a way that it will be most beneficial to our students.

Thing #21

Video for 23 things:

What I have created is an unorganized video of random pictures that looks fairly professional in a video format. I am pleased with the ease that this web site offered. It did however take a great deal of time to figure out how to embed it into my blog (I may still have it wrong). It could be a handy tool for the introduction to a webquest.

Thing #18

Well, Mr. Mark Zucer***(can't spell last name), has created one of my frequent stops on the Internet. You as the individual will go to this web site, create an account, find long lost friends, and possibly buy something from the advertising page posted to the right. You've done all this work, but who get the money? Mr. Z, that's who.

I have definitely fallen into the category of facebook junky once upon a time in my life. I have recently rehabilitated and have got my problem under control. Social networking makes is so easy to stay in touch with people that you would otherwise be unable to due to geographical locations. I'm not too big on the educational aspects of this particular site, because there are too many distractions. I not saying that I'm not a fan, just not an advocate for use in an educational setting.

Thing #16

1) Which start page did you choose? Why did that one appeal to you? Will you make it your permanent home page?

I chose iGoggle, because it seems to be the most user friendly. Being that I only have dial-up Internet and have to use public Internet access to actually get anything accomplished, no, I will not make this my permanent home page.

2) How can the online calendars be useful to you?

Online calendars can be useful on a few different levels. As a teacher, the education system you could be teaching in may not have access to a tool like d2L. Using a online calendar could help you and your class keep up to date on upcoming assignments and events (and it' free). Personally, a online calendar is useful, because you can make you schedule available to others who on linked up to the web. That way, if there is any question as to where you are or what your doing, people can go to your online calendar and find you. Also, if you use a PDA or blackberry you can update your calendar on the go.

3) What about the to-do lists—helpful, too much work...?

Having a online to-do list is, for me, simply unnessary and time consuming. I have recently began using a palm device and has really become a helpful tool. However, if someone does not have access to such a device then a online to-do list could be helpful. Ultimatly, I believe it depends on the individual. If you are a job that allows you to personally access the web, then you could effectively keep up your to-do list online.

Thing #15

Exploring the wiki tool gave me a different perspective. I used wikipedia numerous times but purely for insight to information I had no previous knowledge. To be able to elaborate about an existing topic is quite revolutionary, and I believe that is the downside of wiki. Individuals that are considered educational scholars do not give credit to the sources of information posted on wiki. It is great starting point to find information that you would like to research.

Thing #14

I fooled around with this "thing" for a good bit of time. I had a hard time getting registered for a few of them. I finally got going with the gliffy online and created a document. For what I can tell, this web tool would have been handy for creating the classroom drawing that we did for 3040. I linked up the document I created in the word document above.

The mind map tool I used was bubbl.us and created this document: ------------------------>

I had a good time working on this web site and easily found that it does have positive educational implications if used as a study tool.

Thing #13

Well, once again, amazed is the best word to describe this "thing". I would have never known about the features of this tool if not for this class. This seems to be just like word (Zoho Writer anyway) and all it perks but with none of its limitations. Limitations such as, the availability of documents without any other storage devices. Also, Zoho Writer gives you the positive features of Livetext (no geographic limitations), but with a much easier way to manipulate your works.

Side note:
Posting this document to my blog was fantastically simple.

Thing #8

If you are having a hard time reading what this picture reads, "HAVING FUN WITH SCIENCE." I know what your thinking, "What is so fun about science?" Well, I guess in short, science is the study of the world in which we live in. My ultimate lifelong goal is to leave the world a better place when I'm gone. What better way to do that than to understand the study of it?

That little rant has nothing to do with this "thing", but I felt it necessary to share it with you. This web site is very diverse in its capabilities; however, I see myself implimenting it more for my personal use than for education. I could see myself using it for things such as greeting, birthday, and cards of celebration.

Thing #7

Image by: little-wings
Once again, I am amazed with the information and its availability on the Internet. Who knew that one day if you wanted to search a thing or a place or even a person, that all we would have to do is simply know where to begin the search and type the name.

I personally chose this photo of the White House on the basis that I had such a great experience visiting the Nation's Capitol. I believe that all students should have the opportunity some time in the educational journey to go see where the decision that shape the world are made. Just being there gives you a feel that it is truly a special place, and more importantly a place that represents this amazing country that we are sooo privileged to live.

Thing #12

The tools of this particular “thing” I found most useful were the calendar and iGoogle page.

When I read the info on the iGoogle page I automatically made it my home page. Being able to add links and news feeds was appealing to me, and it seems to have a similar concept as RSS.

The other tool I chose to research further was the calendar. If anyone else is like me, they would have a hard time keeping up with their head if it wasn’t attached to their shoulders. It is essential to write down what I’m doing, or in this case going to do. I also believe that with the students of today becoming more and more capable of manipulating web based programs as well as having more and more access to computers in and out of school, that this Google feature does have an educational use. An example may include a school that does not have access to a program like D2L. They could obviously not do all the same things, but they could keep a syllabus and schedule of upcoming events.

Thing #10

RSS and newsreaders are a great time management tool. And who couldn’t use a little more time? With these features you can visit and read all blogs or web sites you are interested in at one stop. Like the author on the bloglines web page states, “it’s like having your own personal newspaper,” except with only the information you want.

For instance, in my case I will be teaching science, so it would benefit me to RSS National Geographic, Discovery, or various other science related web sites. Why? > To save time. A high school teacher typically only has 45 minutes to get in a lesson plan, and if you waste your time looking for information on a web site you have previously visited, then you are taking away from those student’s ability to learn.

Thing #9

I personally enjoyed this “thing”. I’ve seen what other folks where doing and just had a blast. Also, I was pleasantly surprised with the ease of creating these images.

I will have to say, that in the future, when I finally become a teacher, I will use this feature to spice up my lesson plans to help get the students more involved. Because, in my opinion, a interested student has the opportunity to much more effortlessly.

Thing #9

How about some "ocean front property in Arizona?" I'm sure "from my front porch you can see the sea."

Thing #9

Who doesn't like Tom Crusie, right?

Thing #5

I choose to visit Google Maps.

From the time that I discovered that I could go onto the internet and find directions to some place unknown, I was, to say the least, intrigued. This web site does that and more. It not only allows someone to search and find a location that they previously have not been, but it give the user an option to view their destination by street maps or a satellite image as well as to get an idea of what the terrain is like. The great attribute about Google Maps is that it is totally free and very simple to navigate your way around. As far as using it in the classroom, the teacher could create a web quest where the students are responsible for finding a route to a suitable place of interest for a field trip.

Thing #6

What does “School 2.0” mean to you?

What does it mean for schools of the future?

I viewed all perspectives that were accessible. I believe that the classroom will never be the same. That’s good. Change in perspectives and the way we view the world keeps things from going stale. In our pursuit to become lifelong learners, we must also pursue to become lifelong educators. Having that goal in mind and assessing what tools we will need to stay ahead, “School 2.0” is fundamental in reaching that goal. Students today are so involved in the latest technology and use them in everyday life situations. As educators we simply must tap into that existing knowledge base and learn to manipulate it to our students benefit. The students of tomorrow, will only be more capable in what we now refer to as the “technologies of tomorrow,” so as educators we must get over ourselves and get with the program, so to speak.

Thing #4

First:

Why is commenting on other blogger’s blogs soooo important?

What I have personally found to be helpful, is that commenting on other blogs gives me some sense of relationship with my fellow classmates that can only come through interaction. In the past this interaction could only come through one-on-one time or group activities strictly in a classroom or face-to-face setting. By implementing this “web 2.0 tool”, students and teachers as well as fellow classmates can establish a working relationship that has no geographical boundaries. Meaning, we are now able to communicate in the comfort of our own home (except for me, I have dial-up internet) and are not forced to fit it in our allotted class time.

Second:

On the “How to comment like a king (or queen!)” blog, I found the post on only making useful comments interesting. As the old saying goes, “If you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say anything at all.” This can especially be applied to what we are doing. The blogger state that making a comment like, “RIGHT ON!” or something like, “Oh man, I feel you there,” this carries no educational value. If we step back and take a look we must ask ourselves the question, “Why are we here?” and the simple answer is to be a better informed and more capable educator, and to accomplish this we must have useful interaction not worthless.

Disclaimer regarding “habit 7 &1/2” PLAY!
“Please do not refrain from leaving me comments about my avatar and how funny he looks.”

In the “Edublogger Etiquette-Responding To Comments” blog, I found the information about responding to the comments that are posted to your particular blog useful. Again, ask yourself a question, “Why am I blogging?” Is it because I like having my name out there and have nothing else better to do? –Or- Is it because learning may strike us like lighting (anytime or anyplace)? There are reasons as to why people are interested in a blog or what a person might have to say. Though it may not be practical that a blogger can respond to all comments, it is essential give some sort of clarity on a particular response or question that one might have to your posts.

Third:

Jeffrey Lane


Fourth:

I commented on Jeffery Lane’s Thing # 5:

Jeffrey, I think you hit the nail right on the head. Technology such as the internet is quickly becoming essential to the advancement of education. I only wander…Do you think we are becoming too dependent upon it?

Why?
I believe in the web, but there are some essential aspects of communication we can only get face-to-face.

To be continued...

Thing #1

Okay, so I’ve got my headphones on and I’m ready to expand my journey in lifelong education.

Listening to the “7 & ½ Habits online tutorial” hit home on a few different levels. I would like to begin with what has proven to be my weakest attribute of becoming a lifelong learner and that is setting a goal and accomplishing it. However, accomplishing my goals has not always been my greatest challenge; it has proven of late to be the proverbial chink in my armor. Goals seem to be one of the most important aspects of success in life as well as in the world of education. We as people tend to lack a sense of direction, and the main reason is a deficit of proper goals. Not only does having a goal give someone a destination to strive towards, it also gives that person some sense accomplishment and self-confidence upon completion of that goal, which in my mind, are essential motivators of success.

Aside from habit 7 & ½ (playing and having fun), my unfailing knack to have confidence in myself is most assuredly above all else my greatest strength. I’m not real sure where it comes from, but my self-belief has never been something that I had to reinforce. This may seem somewhat contradictory to my above rant on “setting and accomplishing goals” leads to self-confidence, but in my situation I found them to be independent of each other.

Things 2 & 3

By now everyone is well ahead of me in their blogging adventure, and I will start off by setting the bar low and hopefully exceed any expectation that anyone may have when they read my blog.

If you haven't already noticed I have created an avatar with the likeness that some agree does not properly represent my true self. That is beside the point I'm sure. I believe that this blogging experience will be beneficial to everyone in this class, simply because this method of communication is relatively new and will only become a more popular way to stay up-to-date in the "goings on" of whatever social or academic community you may be involved with.

Another note:
As future education professionals, we cannot possibly have enough positive propaganda about us, and by registering and maintaining a blog on the 'world wide web' we are ensuring just that.

Peace out!

just getting started. this should be an adventure.