When I started on this journey, I was so cocky. I titled my blog “My Journey to Web Dominance” because I thought that there was not a whole lot that I didn’t know about technology and using it in the educational setting. Boy, did I have a rude awakening. I know that technology is always evolving but I thought I was keeping up. What I learned in this class will help me to grow as an educator and in my personal life as well. I am looking forward to sharing what I have learned and dare I say it, looking forward to the start of the school year.
On the professional level, I learned about several tools that will help me with communicating with my teachers, administrators, parents and students. I had used Google Docs but never paid much attention to how important a tool it could be. I want to use it to better get information to my teachers and receive information from them. I don’t have to send a memo or remind them to read email. I would also like to start a blog specifically for special educators and share things that I find of interest to that community.
Personally, I definitely plan to use my wiki page and start a new blog about teaching special education.
My action plan will incorporated the use of as many of the tools as feasible but specifically, I want to utilize Google Docs for the reasons stated as well as
Monday, July 25, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Diigo - I want to love you
I am still trying to figure out how to use Diigo in the classroom. For whatever reason, I am not grasping the concept. That fact however, just makes me more determined to figure it out and to use it and once I do. I look forward to becoming proficient in it’s use and sharing this information with my colleagues. I am especially looking forward to forming groups for special educator’s and sharing information relevant to us and our student’s.
Friday, July 8, 2011
RSS - Really Serious Stuff
I knew that RSS feeds existed but never really or paid any attention to what it was or how to use it. Now that I know, it’s like a whole new world has opened up to me. I am a book and magazine lover. I have also learned to love eBooks and own more than I can count. With RSS feeds, I can now create and customize my content and share with friends, family, and colleagues.
As far as using RSS feeds in my professional life, I see it as another tool to share with my teachers who are a little less excited about technology as I am. I want to show them how beneficial this particular tool can be to them regardless of the subject that they teach. I will also show them that the content does not have to limited to teaching resources in the hopes that this will make it more exciting for them to explore. I would also like to incorporate RSS feeds on my blog. Working on that now.
I have currently subscribed to the following feeds that are of particular interest to me:
Dynamic Lesson Plans
I Want to Teach Forever
Social Media Explorer
I am looking forward to adding more as I explore the world of RSS further.
As far as using RSS feeds in my professional life, I see it as another tool to share with my teachers who are a little less excited about technology as I am. I want to show them how beneficial this particular tool can be to them regardless of the subject that they teach. I will also show them that the content does not have to limited to teaching resources in the hopes that this will make it more exciting for them to explore. I would also like to incorporate RSS feeds on my blog. Working on that now.
I have currently subscribed to the following feeds that are of particular interest to me:
Dynamic Lesson Plans
I Want to Teach Forever
Social Media Explorer
I am looking forward to adding more as I explore the world of RSS further.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
e-tools in the classroom
After looking at all of the sites, I think that I would most likely use classtools.net and alicechristie.org. With classtools.net, you can create free educational games, quizzes, activities and diagrams and host them on your blog, website or intranet. As a special educator, I use a lot if teacher created materials to supplement the curriculum. I really try to find sites that are interactive for my kids. This is a double bonus because not only is it interactive but they can be hosted on a blog which I plan to create for my department this year.
alicechristie.org is a site is dedicated to virtual field trips. I teach at a low income school and many parents cannot afford the cost of field trips. My students seem to be affected more than the comprehensive population. With this site I can take my students on virtual field trips or create my own field trip. The site utilizes tramline which is a site for educators to visit, develop, and discuss virtual field trips. The site hosts a wealth of virtual trips to museums, walking tours, and even the planets. I am excited about using this site for my students.
alicechristie.org is a site is dedicated to virtual field trips. I teach at a low income school and many parents cannot afford the cost of field trips. My students seem to be affected more than the comprehensive population. With this site I can take my students on virtual field trips or create my own field trip. The site utilizes tramline which is a site for educators to visit, develop, and discuss virtual field trips. The site hosts a wealth of virtual trips to museums, walking tours, and even the planets. I am excited about using this site for my students.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Google Docs Vs. Wiki
The similarities and differences between Google Docs and Wikis:
With Google Docs, the user can upload and convert Word documents, OpenOffice, RTF, HTML, text (.txt), open Office files, or create documents from scratch, format documents, invite others to edit or view your documents and collaborate online in real time and chat with other collaborators. You can also work with spreadsheets and presentations in Google docs.
The Wikipedia definition of a wiki is website that allows the creation and editing of any number of interlinked web pages via a web browser using a simplified markup language or a WYSIWYG text editor wikis are typically powered by wiki software and are often used collaboratively by multiple users. Examples include community websites, corporate intranets, knowledge management systems, and note services. The software can also be used for personal note taking.
Google Docs and Wiki’s are basically the same except for one important difference, that being that Google Docs allows you to collaborate in real time, whereas a Wiki will not allow you to work at the same time that someone else is working in it.
1. How can Google Docs be used in School Improvement Efforts, Curriculum Writing and/or classroom applications?
Google Doc can be used effectively in the School Improvement process. It can be used to survey staff on the different items being asked in the school improvement process and to collect data. It can be used by the staff to collaborate on ideas for bringing the plan together. Google Docs could be used for curriculum writing or in the classroom in the same manner.
2.What foundational skill set would be required before moving forward with this?
Teachers obviously would have to be trained on the use of Google Docs and be willing to use it for it to be effective.
3. I would basically use Google to post assignments, timelines, countdowns, etc
With Google Docs, the user can upload and convert Word documents, OpenOffice, RTF, HTML, text (.txt), open Office files, or create documents from scratch, format documents, invite others to edit or view your documents and collaborate online in real time and chat with other collaborators. You can also work with spreadsheets and presentations in Google docs.
The Wikipedia definition of a wiki is website that allows the creation and editing of any number of interlinked web pages via a web browser using a simplified markup language or a WYSIWYG text editor wikis are typically powered by wiki software and are often used collaboratively by multiple users. Examples include community websites, corporate intranets, knowledge management systems, and note services. The software can also be used for personal note taking.
Google Docs and Wiki’s are basically the same except for one important difference, that being that Google Docs allows you to collaborate in real time, whereas a Wiki will not allow you to work at the same time that someone else is working in it.
1. How can Google Docs be used in School Improvement Efforts, Curriculum Writing and/or classroom applications?
Google Doc can be used effectively in the School Improvement process. It can be used to survey staff on the different items being asked in the school improvement process and to collect data. It can be used by the staff to collaborate on ideas for bringing the plan together. Google Docs could be used for curriculum writing or in the classroom in the same manner.
2.What foundational skill set would be required before moving forward with this?
Teachers obviously would have to be trained on the use of Google Docs and be willing to use it for it to be effective.
3. I would basically use Google to post assignments, timelines, countdowns, etc
Monday, June 20, 2011
Creating My Wiki
Creating my first wiki was an exercise in patience. I consider myself tech savvy but this was a bit challenging. I look forward to the challenge of getting it up and running smoothly. Suggestions always welcomed.
Friday, June 10, 2011
What's a WIKI?
What’s a WIKI?
Last week I created my first blog and I was excited and I could not wait to continue to explore the uses and ways to make my site more appealing. I thought about using it as a tool for my teachers, especially the ones new to teaching. This week, I was introduced to wiki’s, I can’t contain myself. Wiki’s are different from blogs in that with a blog, you are giving information and receiving feedback. With wiki’s you are sharing information and more information can be added or edited. I am looking forward to showing my teachers how to use it to make the classroom more exciting. Technology is WONDERFUL. With all I am learning, I am beginning to want to return to the classroom to share this with my students. Well, maybe not. I will share this knowledge with my colleagues though.
I think that wikis will be a great tool for teachers and students. Teachers can use wiki’s to get a discussion started and keep it going, or to post Math questions and have students work out the answers, just to name two uses. It is a great way to share information and the added feature of being able to edit is a bonus. I would love to see all of my teachers using wiki’s in the classroom and interacting with their students and parents using this collaborative tool.
The only downfall that I can see is the possibility of students deleting another student’s work or stealing another student’s work. I am hoping that the benefits will outweigh negatives.
Last week I created my first blog and I was excited and I could not wait to continue to explore the uses and ways to make my site more appealing. I thought about using it as a tool for my teachers, especially the ones new to teaching. This week, I was introduced to wiki’s, I can’t contain myself. Wiki’s are different from blogs in that with a blog, you are giving information and receiving feedback. With wiki’s you are sharing information and more information can be added or edited. I am looking forward to showing my teachers how to use it to make the classroom more exciting. Technology is WONDERFUL. With all I am learning, I am beginning to want to return to the classroom to share this with my students. Well, maybe not. I will share this knowledge with my colleagues though.
I think that wikis will be a great tool for teachers and students. Teachers can use wiki’s to get a discussion started and keep it going, or to post Math questions and have students work out the answers, just to name two uses. It is a great way to share information and the added feature of being able to edit is a bonus. I would love to see all of my teachers using wiki’s in the classroom and interacting with their students and parents using this collaborative tool.
The only downfall that I can see is the possibility of students deleting another student’s work or stealing another student’s work. I am hoping that the benefits will outweigh negatives.
Friday, June 3, 2011
You did it!!!
It will get easier and easier :D And just when you feel comfortable, they will switch something on you....lol. But you did it and that's half the battle!!
It's exciting to watch so many people out of their comfort zone. What a cool journey we are on! No wonder everyone wanted to get in the class ;)
It's exciting to watch so many people out of their comfort zone. What a cool journey we are on! No wonder everyone wanted to get in the class ;)
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Will I Ever Learn?
Okay, so this was not easy. I have never created a blog before. I was a little intimidated and kept coming back. I think that once I find my stride I will become an avid blogger. (Can't wait to get there.) For now I will muddle through. I like the idea of blogging and I am hoping that I can get good enough to create on for my department next year.
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