thing 12

Wow. I am just blown away at everything that we have done. Calendars, feeds, web 2.0, igoogle, news alerts, etc... I believe that a calendar would be very useful in the hands of the children as well as the teacher. I am fortunate that our technology services at school are tremnedous, however I still created my own calendar at http://www.google.com/calendar/render?gsessionid=JMQ-j9OU91Grt-S1vxMtog . My intention is to share this with my family. I set it up such that we all could talk to and change our calendar. I could also see this being a useful tool on sports teams with dates and times of practice and games.

Thing 11

I found visiting a website and looking for the RSS feed much more difficult then simply using a search tool like Technorati which ended up being the easiest and also where my results seemed to be the best (the greatest gains). Contrary to this site, the most confusing was http://www.syndic8.com . This site was extremely hard to navigate and I simply lost determination to keep up a good search. As a die hard math guy, the most useful site to me was NCTM. Lastly, other tool to find/locate newsfeeds was to simply look at their website or go to their website.

Thing 10

I liked the simple fact that everything (all information) was sent to one spot. As a teacher with many extra curricular duties, time is of essence. From the day I walk onto campus it is non-stop. So, the RSS and newsreaders really save time and energy in our technological world.

In school, teachers can possibly show their students how quickly technologies are changing and how quickly anything in our world is changing. This opens an entire world for me as I teach statistics. I am sure to find plenty of data for regression analysis and such.

Actually, in my personal life and school I am sure I could add my school web page blog to google reader. This would cut down on wasted time going from one link to another.

I thought about having a public forum where my students could discuss homework, ask questions, etc on their blogs. If I gave them each an individual voice, I could use this in my lesson plans as a way to help them with homework by taking each blog and forming it under one tool so I wouldn't have to log into each of their accounts.

Thing 9

I found image chef to be particularly interesting as I was able to create little designs important to me and my family, especially on special days like birthdays, and just finding another way to say I love them and appreciate them. I believe it important to celebrate birthdays of my students as well.

They always seem to get a boost when their name is called or they are recognized in some form or way.

Thing 8

I liked alot of the number letter combinations and could see myself using good numbers and letters to help supplement learning in the classroom for mathematics. I guess sharing photos is fine assuming the not so normal people of the world dont do illegal things such as identity theft, child pornography, etc.

Thing 7

I found the flickr sight to be quite fun as I searched from mountains, to skiing, to hiking, to ballon riding. The site was easily negotiable and allowed for alot of fun as I compared different images from the ski vacations my family took to the balloon rides in Southern California. Here is a favorite: http:farm4.static.flicker.com/3147/2751173122_cd47453ffc.jpg?v=0

Thing 6

I found YouTube to be a great website for me as a coach in the sport of wrestling. Though I know we are thinking just teachers, but our jobs are so much more than this. I have coached many kids in our state tournament and even a few in national competitions. YouTube has offered many instructional videos as well as live matches where the students can see a move in action. This becomes especially useful when international greats like Karelin of the Soviet Union are on film. The possibilities here are endless. I was teaching throws to my kids when I referenced Chris Taylor from the 1972 Olympics who weighed 430 pounds. Watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EdNPSgxj9M.

Thing 3

I thought about the many ways that I might use this technology in the classroom. One in particular jumped out at me right away. The ability to invite students to comment or post on issues in order give them a voice. Many times I have felt that if I got more feedback from the student, I might be a better teacher today. To me, giving the student a voice creates an element of trust between the teacher and student. For whatever reason, I always knew my students would be more motivated to work for someone they trust.
The other things I liked was to be able to reflect on your teaching experiences as this probably does not happen enough. Also, describing to fellow teachers what they have experienced what works and what doesn't work in the classroom. Finally, my favorite is to showcase my student's work. After all, its all about them right?

Thing 5

Wow. I found alot of uesful information. The reading was exciting and I cannot believe how much information is out there.

I began reading the Twitter article, 25 ways... and found out that you can join a Twibe, no not baby talk, but really a group of professional educators that discuss everything relating to education and beyond. The website is http://twibes.com/edtech . I believe I will join and join the many already out there discussing our future with technology. I find many teachers today are so traditional and do not want to be judged by their abilities and cosequently do not share their personal philosophies. Maybe not being face to face with another educator will allow for more open communication without judgement. Either way I thought this to be an excellent way to share thoughts and ideas.

I also found the Harvard Law School experiment within "Minds on Fire: ..." to be almost too futuristic to get any learning done, but then I warmed up to the idea quickly. It was trying to show how the social life of internet-based virtual education can coexsist with and extend traditional education.

School 2.0 means to me that times are changing at a dramatic pace within the educational system, especially after reading the many different articles. Much like in India where a DVD is now the main instructional tool for students to learn advanced topcis or how video conferencing can work in little town here in Pleasant View as in one school's case they do not even have a mathematics teacher.

For schools of the future I think we will eventually see that technology and its drive will simply demand politicians to enforce schools to get up to date or get left behind. I really believe for the first time that technology, not people will force schools and politicians to change with the times. There are just too many businesses the demand a high level of techno expertise.

Thing2

Well, I finally learned how to save to my computer. That was interesting. Only took me three hours. Thing 2 provided for some interesting learning. I find this to be an informative and fun communication tool. My dress for the Avatar was just for kicks. The rebel without a cause could not be so far from who I really am. Maybe I will be that renegade someday, but not now.

Navigating the sight seemed to be easy. Except for the hint given on how to load up your Avatar did not work for me. That led to a very frustrating time. Eventually, I got to this yet could not understand why things are working the way they are.

I gather I just have to continue to play with everything until being out of my comfort zone becomes my comfort zone. Hard to get alot done at the house when I have new windows, floors, and kitchen going in. Too much anxiety.

Thing1

I thought one of the hardest things for me to do in this course was habit number 4; having confidence in myself as a competent effective learner, especially in computer technology. This has always been a struggle for me, yet I believe this course might help break me free of my own inhibitions.
What was actually very easy for me is to set goals and view problems as challenges, habit number 3. My entire life I ahve set goals for myself.
Lastly, I like step 7and 1/2 as I typically do not have enough fun.