Sunday, June 28, 2009

Thing 19

Social Bookmarking

I am one of the people talked about in the Commoncraft video who creates a long string of bookmarks on my computer. I end up having to duplicate my list (or send links) to my home computer so I don't lose my lists. Then my school computer gets ghosted each summer and I always forget to save my bookmarks. Keeping them in a web based program will solve that problem!

Using a site like del.icio.us will be a great time saver for me. I tried using it once, but not to its full advantage. I'm going to give it another try.

The social networking aspect of it is one of the better features. Of course that means the decision making about tags and notes has to be done with some consideration for others instead of my own idiosyncratic sorts.

Thing 18

Personal Learning Network

I have some mixed feelings about the idea of meeting up with other professionals in a format like Ning. I love the idea of a gathering place for ideas and for input from all over--even outside one's school district. We never have enough time to meet as we should to share and create in a professional way. Even when meetings are scheduled, they tend to devolve into conversations that cover immediate issues--putting out fires--and professional development and sharing ideas get pushed back for another time.

I can see a site like Ning being a vehicle for literacy coaches to communicate ideas across the district and get classroom teachers to participate in the conversations. It makes the information sharing more two-way. Professional development tends to be top down, but all teachers know about how many great ideas are thriving in classrooms.

So now the other side. Participating on line takes time, too. We can manage when and where a lot more, but it takes a lot of time in front of a screen. Face-to-face conversation, I think, is very important. Do you ever send an email question to a teacher in the room next door when you could walk 10 steps and ask it in person? The web is a great tool, but relationships will always be where real learning begins.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Thing 17

wufoo

I had a lot of fun playing around with the form creation site, wufoo. I do surveys, sometimes, asking teachers for their input various topics.

A while ago I worked with a student newspaper that was published monthly. We did a survey each month about books or favorite hot lunch choice or pet preferences. If I had wufoo available, we could have done the survey on line.

I thought comiqs might be something I could use with struggling writers to motivate them to use a creative platform to organize their thinking and create some writing. It can be liberating for strugglers to have a limited space to write in. They don't feel like they have to fill up a page, but they can tell a complete story.

By the way, Hair Mixer is a hoot. You should try it out.

Friday, June 26, 2009

Thing 16

Digital Teaching

The thing I heard loud and clear from the selection of video presentations is "Let me learn and let me show you what I know!"

I think kids love learning. They might not love school, but they love learning. Technology is one of the languages kids speak, so they should use it in their learning.

Thing 15

Podcasts in the Classroom

Snore....

If I had the power to change the way teachers teach, one of the first things I'd do would be to limit the amount of talking teachers do. Keep the lesson short and to the point, give kids a chance to do stuff. Then teach side by side with kids while they work and when they need more expertise from the teacher.

Podcasts are more talking.

I think there might be some students who would love to be more independent with their learning. In this case, children who want more or who need to revisit a topic might enjoy podcasts because the information is focused and tailored to their interests.

Someone might need to convince me of other ways podcasts might be used in the classroom. I'm not a fan right now.

Thing 14

Podcasting

I love podcasts and subscribe to some through my iTunes account. Science Friday on NPR is one that I like to check up on. There's always a fascinating topic being discussed and who has time to listen on a Friday afternoon?

I subscribe to some other NPR podcasts--the game show Wait, Wait, Don't Tell me and Fresh Air are two I like.

I discovered the International Reading Association has some podcasts pertinent to a reading teacher (which, by the way, I am). I attended an IRA convention in Chicago a few years ago and noticed some of the presenters in the convention hall with microphones in their faces. Sure enough, they were creating podcasts about their particular reading expertise. I found the podcasts later on the Reading.org site.

I also found some good podcasts that help me keep up with what's newly published on some of the publisher's sites--Stenhouse and Heinemann, for example. This is more of a commercial use of the podcasts, but hearing the voice of an author can have an impact on whether the work is something I want to learn more about or not.

Students might like to record their conversations around books and literature so others can hear their thinking.

I need to play around with this some more.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Thing 13

Slide Show

I just played around with some of the slide sharing programs. I've used Slideshare before as a viewer but never as a sharer. I present at staff meetings quite often and the way I use PowerPoint is mostly to pace myself and keep from losing track of the focus and direction of the presentation. (You all know how teachers can get off track!) It seems like carrying a flash drive is about the same as getting on-line. Not sure if this will benefit me much in the presentation department.

I thought the Slides site was fun, though. I can see using this just to share photos or pictures. I snapped some pics of some projects I have around the house in keeping with my making things. I included the messy basket of yarn that has a few tangled up projects just to keep me honest. I don't finish everything I start!

Thing 12

Productivity anywhere I find a browser

I visited some of the suggested sites from the 23 Things site and found Remember the Milk to be one I liked a lot. I can use it on my iPod Touch. I use the Apple calendar application, so I already have the ability to share my calendar on line.

Here's a problem I had with some. It might not make much sense for me to be critical about the look of a tool when my blog is so thrown together, but it does make a difference to me.

Some of the sites just weren't appealing to me--Knowtes, for example didn't have any visual appeal.

I keep thinking about Daniel Pink's book A Whole New Mind in which he writes about how Abundance has given us so much choice, we're going to ignore work that doesn't stand out in terms of function or design. Why should we settle for something ordinary when for no more effort, time, or money we can get a design that appeals to us?

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Thing 11

Productivity

I learned about Google Docs from my daughter a few years ago when we decided to create a family cookbook as a Christmas gift. We set up a format for the recipe and invited family members to send their family favorites.

It was great, but we didn't use it to it's full advantage. We could have added family pictures and stories to really personalize it. A few years ago we did a family recipe book in Publisher, which looked good, but took a lot of time because only one person had to manage all the information.

I think I'm ready go give up on Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint. I can see the benefits of using Google Docs in a big school district where curriculum collaboration can be difficult because of scheduling constraints.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Thing 9

Wiki

My friend Melanie talked me into getting a Wiki going at my school. I reluctantly got it started but it had a great reaction. After a flurry activity, it faded away. For a while I posted articles for comment or just "big questions" and we had some good conversation. Then we started a "What are you reading?" space and that led to a "What are you knitting?" conversation.

There hasn't been any activity for a while. When I ask, my colleagues say, "Oh, yeah...I forgot and I have been so busy." It does seem like a decadent use of time--especially at the end of the school year.

I have been asked to participate in a few other Wikis and have to admit I have the same reaction. I forget or feel like I don't have the time.

Thing 8

RSS

I really love Google Reader and have been using it for a few years. I have to admit I don't use it to it's full advantage, but I appreciate the convenience. I am like many who can get lost poking around the web. I have some favorite sites bookmarked, but Reader makes it easy to check in on my favorites.

I use it a lot for finding new ideas or new ways of thinking about old ones. Some of the information I find us useful to share in our PLC meetings and other Professional Development. And it's fun.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Thing 5--pink and three


Three and Pink
Originally uploaded by makesmudpies

This was fun. Not sure how I will use this other than to make things look groovy. Ideas?

thing 4

Originally uploaded by makesmudpies

One of my most memorable experiences was learning about making glass. I had the opportunity to work with some young, creative (and I would add fearless) glass artists. For me, it was as exciting as sky diving or some other wild adventure is for others.

You need to concentrate and focus, use your brain and physical strength all while doing your best not to hurt yourself or others in order to create something beautiful.

For the most part, I didn't really end up with anything that I would show off except for these paperweights. (My pictures don't let you see the mistakes.) (Whoops, I shouldn't have told you there were mistakes.)

It was the thrill of creating that was exhilarating to me.

For me, learning of any kind is like this. This includes learning about the read/write web. I find joy in playing around and trying things out. I might end up with a gem or I might just have learned something I'll never forget that leads me to other adventures.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Thing 3

Seven and a Half Habits

I named my blog before I read about the 7.5 habits. I believe teaching has to be playful because play is the work of children. I learn best when I have the chance to puzzle through a project on my own. I troubleshoot that way, too--I'm a button pusher.

So Play is the easiest habit for me. The hardest? Create your own learning toolbox. I'm forgetful. I tend to forget what I already learned and find myself fiddling around to find my way the second (or third or fourth) time around.

Friday, June 12, 2009

Now I'm a Blogger

Oh wait a minute ... I AM in my pajamas.

23 Things

Thing 3

What do I hope to learn from 23 things? First and foremost, I need to learn to think and write in public. It's generational, I know. I'm from the generation where we put locks on our diaries and passed notes in class so no one could see. This has me feeling like the dream I always get just before the start of school when I show up in my pajamas.