Fall 2010

One more school year...this year's class is so immature. What's up with kids today...they show up in class with no manners and no attention span?
Are the eighth graders today the result of all that small group work and book clubs in elementary school? I don't know what educational philosophy this exemplifies, but IT'S NOT WORKING! I feel like a have to be an entertainer, not a teacher.

T3 Class on going May 7th

Okay, more thoughts...need to link my Blog here with my Blog on the Spring Branch Wiki site. Notes to self again:

1. to embed a url link on my wiki and blog: type a title/phrase/word or maybe a picture/symbol

2. highlight said picture or phrase

3. go to the web page (open another page) and highlight the url address/Edit > copy

4. go back to the wiki or blog and Edit > paste over the highlighted phrase or picture

More notes:

1. the pencil on the wiki or blog is the "edit" button

2. you gotta save it to use it

3. Just so you don't forget the url from the Spring Branch wiki is:

https://sbwiki.springbranchisd.com/ (do not use 'www' in this address cause it won't work.)

Okay, come up for air now! I still need to link my other blog...

5/7/2010 class continued

Note to self...check out Flickr map for History lessons next year...all those wars... Second note to self: find that video from class on Digital Ethnology (?) hmmmmm :The_ Machine_ is_ Us_ ing_ US. mp4

Uhh..you need to work on a lesson for the kids modeling a presentation like the Common Craft guys...Love the way they explain things. Good lesson in the making...

Darn, we're back to my nemesis...RSS...Yikes! Let me go back to Library Things to check my understanding again...

Wikis and more

In training today for the T3 and it looks like Wikis and Blogs are on the menu for today. I'm hoping that this class and what I remember from Library To Play will help me set up a Wiki for my classes next year. And I want to use my blog to take notes...we'll see how this work...

Region 4 Podcast Class

Hard to believe that its been about 4 months since I was in this class...part of a grant for ELL and podcasting...great class. After completing the 23 Things to Play, I thought that I would be a little more savvy with the podcasting, but...this RSS thing still boggles me. I may need to go back and re-do the RSS information. Help...is there an easier way to figure this out?

Thing #23

I've said it before and now I'm going to repeat myself, "This is one of the best training classes I've ever taken." One of my favorite discoveries has been to create my own blog. (1) This has floored my kids (and myself). I want to maintain it and probably add it to my TeacherLingo Ning. I hate to admit it, but emerging technology when I was growing up (whoops! I'm going to date myself on this one) was going from a manual typewriter, to an electric typewriter, to word processors, to working on computers the size of a VW Bug with the memory capacity of a lima bean. (2) I was really beginning to feel out of loop on technology. But, I think 23 Things has given me the self-confidence to try new things and explore what's out there.
I used to be the last one to sign up for technology classes (3); now I can't wait for next summer to take part 2 of this course. Who knew?!
I can't imagine changing anything about this course. (4) Having the get togethers in the beginning of the summer helped me through the initial rough patches. Without that help, I may have given it up because I was truly in over my head. The face - to - face meets bolstered my self confidence and every one was so nice I didn't feel like the village idiot.
(5) I would so take another course offered like this. I have learned so much! I will probably need the school year to practice what I've learned and to revisit 23 Things so that I can keep going back to all the different web sites. Besides I love the CommonCraft guys!!
(6) Unlike other staff development courses/training where you sit and watch other people demostrate or listen to other people's explanations, I actually had to explore the different websites, create blogs/videos and join web based communities. Your motto should be "Go Forth And Learn!"
Thanks for an outstanding class!

Thing #22

I really enjoyed exploring Nings. In fact I joined two Nings - the NCET and TeacherLingo. I like the idea of having a forum for like minded, like interested people. I have always felt that it shouldn't be necessary to re-invent the wheel everytime someone wants to expore something new or try out an idea. There's alot a really talented people out there. I'm hoping I can join up with some on my Nings and hopefully contribute to the effort as well.