Reflecting--again and again

Each time I try to publish a post I end up with Firefox shutting down and my wireless shutting off. This is the 4th time I've tried! So, if this works I'll reflect...again.

Reflection is Key

I am still having a hard time believing all of the things I've learned in just three days. And this blog has really helped me think back and remember them. It is important to reflect and go over what you've learned. It's funny, I actually look forward to my homework in this class. This class gets me excited for where my teaching style may go and evolve to better fit the students of today.

In previous classes (way back when in college) I used to not look forward to class discussion, but through this class and my other graduate classes I've learned to value class discussion and talking about issues and questions. I guess I have grown up a bit and you can learn so much just from listening.

Only Day 2???

I feel like I have learned way too much information for only having class two days so far. I'm glad that I'm not overwhelmed. I feel lucky to have taken a class in the Spring semester, it has definitely helped me understand and keep up with the information that is being shared. If I hadn't had taken that class I feel that I would probably feel lost in a sea of web 2.0 tools.

There are a lot of things that I'm pleased about with this class. Some of these things are: our discussions are very valuable to me as a young professional, hearing real applications of all of the tools, the speed at which the class is going, being able to "practice" some applications with the other sections, the time allotted to "play" with the new tools, and because we are so busy and engaged the day goes by very quickly. Something I could do without is the temperature of the room, but I won't hold that against the professor...

All in all I'm really excited to learn more tools that will enhance my teaching and make me a more well-rounded teacher.

Day 2 Reflections

There are so many ways we can use Skype, backchanneling, Ustream, Wikispaces, etc. When students are given the tools--Internet connectivity and handheld something, the classroom will be transformed. We can use Skype for speakers, class experts, and collaboration. I would use backchanneling in chucks; teacher talk a little, class discussion a little, then backchannel a little and so on. Perhaps even take the time to summarize the backchannel discussions. Ustream and
Wikispaces could be also used as a class station. Both can be used for students to teach students.

Reflections Day 2

Having using Wikispaces and the Wiki in our SharePoint site at IU 13 I understand how much value they can be. They are an excellent resource which can easily be utilized in almost any classroom for effective instruction. It's great for an instructor to have the students actually create something collaboratively which is so easy to do.

I actually learned some new tricks in Google Docs today. I had been very familiar with the Documents, Spreadsheets, and Forms, but had never applied any of the widgets or shortcuts Jim showed us today. After evaluating the differences between the Microsoft Live and Google Docs I have come to the conclusion that Google Docs has a better end user experience for collaboration. This is not surprising due to it's maturity. It will be interesting to see what new features Microsoft can implement to compete. They have an uphill battle though as many of the extras for Google have sprung from Open Source projects.

Many Things I Didn't Know

I love backchanneling! This is great! I can see so many ways to use this during presentations, for faculty meetings, for chatting when I don't want to listen--just kidding. This is one I'm going to explore quickly so that I can get permission right away.

I feel a WWI wiki coming on! I also read in one of the posts about using them as review tools. I think that is a wonderful idea. Thank you.

Google docs is a very interesting tool. I can see many applications for both faculty and students. This will be great to use with the curriculum committee--I can now avoid having to reformat every time a change is emailed. Talk about a time saver! I hope I can talk the Science teacher into using the forms for her Science Fair projects, I think it would really save her some time. My students complete National History Day projects each year. I can see all the aspects being useful in helping them create and work together on these projects. I've only gone to Nationals once and I'd really like to go again!

Reflections Day 1

I don't really think it's blogging if it's private but that is just my personal opinion.
Blogging is a great way for students to express their opinions. It socially levels the playing field to some respect. Many students will submit posts to a blog way before raising a hand in class. I think students need to be aware and able to take criticism which is something many of them struggle with. I don't have a particular idea for a student blog that hasn't already been done, I can only point to Penn Manor School District which has blogging on their Wordpress student newspaper site as a great idea which is working well so Kudos to their staff for opening the doors.
Most of my concerns are similar to any administrator in the "what if" category for liability and litigation. I feel though that I am one of the few who believes that the responsibility is on the students and their parents to display good citizenship and common sense. Most students who post online have no ideas that they are contributing to their "digital portfolio" so they need to be cognizant of that when posting.

Day 2

I feel the same way I do after touring the Met Museum of Art - saturated, overwhelmed, but totally enriched. I'm glad we have a couple of weeks off before we start again, because I need the time to process everything. It seems I finally get to where I'm supposed to be in class, and we've already moved on to the next thing. I'm looking forward to time to just sit, try everything out, play with it a bit, and figure out how I'm going to use it. My biggest confusion right now is Twitter and the Tweet Deck, how to make them work for me so that I can figure out the purpose! Right now I envision my brain as a word cloud -- blogs, wikis, flat worlds, skype, google docs, et. al.

What Makes A Blog, A Blog?

Blogs are great tools to incorporate into a classroom. But there are many things to think about before incorporating this kind of tool. Private or not private? That is the question. I think it's important to share blogs. When dealing with older students (middle school and above) if you keep the blog private you are just sheltering them for the real world. Allowing them to share their work with whomever would like to read it will help give them a dose of reality, if people respond. As students grow and in order for students to grow they need to be exposed to criticism and what others think. If we shelter students we are setting them up for failure.

Reflection is an important piece to the learning process. Blogs serve as a fantastic tool for students to reflect about what they have learned that day or week in class. Blogs allow the quiet student who rarely talks in class to have a voice. It allows all students to think about what they've learned, in addition to being tested. Memorizing and regurgitating the information is easy, but actually digesting it and letting it settle is what we strive for our students to do with the information we throw at them. A blog can help channel those thoughts and help in retaining the knowledge.

No matter what you do with students there are always concerns. Are they going to like it? Will they actually put in effort? Will it turn out the way I hope? Going into anything, especially for the first time, it's important to set up some grounds rules, so that everyone knows what is expected. Examples are always a good way to show the students an exemplary response, a good response, and even a bad response. Showing what "to do" and what "not to do" are great ways to showing students what you are and are not looking for from them. By laying out rules and having consequences to violating those rules prior to blogging is necessary to having a successful experience.

Blogs can take your classroom to a whole other level. If you implement them properly, writing integration and reflection can become a daily or weekly assignment in a class. Not only helping students to learn the content better, but maybe even help them with understanding how they learn themselves.

Blogging - Worldwide

After reflecting, I have come to the conclusion that blogging offers students a unique way of communicating their learning. As we discussed in class, students often share their work with a limited audience. With proper support and planning, blogging can challenge students to take their writing and thinking far beyond any level a single teacher could expect. This tool opens a world of opportunities and creates an environment conducive to self exploration and growth. To conclude, those embarking on the path of bringing blogs to their classrooms aught to plan thoroughly and be open for an adventure that could bring a world-wide perspective to each and every student. What more could a teacher want?!

Blogging with Students

Can it be done? Absolutely! As an English composition teacher I love the idea of writing with my students and reading their writing on a variety of topics. Blogging is more of a conversation and allows students to revise their thinking as the conversation continues.

Blogging With Students - Can It Be Done?!

There are many different reactions you could get if you bring up the idea of blogging with students of any age. My response is why not? Blogging with elementary students not only helps develop their writing ability, but also helps develop their typing skills. And, as a former middle school keyboarding teacher, it is important for elementary students to practice keyboarding before they hit middle school only because typing expectations. Blogging with middle school and high school students is a fantastic way to develop higher level writing abilities. It also allows for students to be open to criticism and feedback from others.

It's extremely important to make sure that you are being backed up by administrators prior to starting a blog with students. Not only should you be backed by administrators, but also parents; making sure that all parents are on board and understand the relevance of the blog. And if they are not on board with you, being open to accommodations for students whose parents wish for them not to participate.

Using Blogs with Students

Before setting up a blog with your students, it is best to inform your principal of your intentions. Also, let parents know the purpose of the blog. Student should know their blogs will be public and their comments should be on the topic and appropriate.

Blogging Made Easy!

All parties need to be reminded that blogging for educational purposes must be relevant, academic, and appropriate.

Blogging with students

Can I blog with my students? Of course I can! My curriculum includes such a wide variety of topics to choose from I already have theme ideas. After choosing a theme I feel I would need to outline the goals I will set for my students. When I feel that I am prepared, I would make a presentation to our administration to receive permission and outline the parameters that I would need to follow--to remain academic and appropriate. Finally, before presenting the information to the students, the parents would need to be contacted and informed of the guidelines and my expectations of the administration, students and parents.

Student Blogs

I believe that blogs should not be blocked by school web filters as they are in many of the schools in Pennsylvania. Blogs are valuable classroom tools for collaboration when implemented properly through the facilitation by teachers who have received adequate training.
For students, they provide an outlet for discussion which many of them do not feel comfortable doing in class. So please, contact your school administrators about the benefits of blogging or better yet, have them attend a session on blogging in education at one of the many technology conferences held every year.

Welcome to the LTMS600-01 blog

This will be the blog for our class (HBGU). We'll use this to reflect on our learning throughout the course.