Thing 13

This was definately fun. My problem with this is that I don't take very many pictures that I would upload to the computer. It would be great though, if the students were doing reports and were able to upload pictures to those reports. I tried creating Power Point demonstrations with my students last year. They enjoyed them very much and they are a lot of fun for the students to create, however, it was extremely time consuming trying to explain all the procedures involved. Emphasis on the words time consuming! Other than that, I can't think how I would use this in my classroom. If any out there has any ideas, I'm all ears.

Thing 11

This was fun. I also thought creating Power Point demonstrations were fun when I first learned about them, but right now, I can take it or leave it - Slideshare. As an elementary teacher of third grade students, I wouldn't use this program to create a power point demonstration or to put my student's powerpoint demonstrations on the web. Perhaps if I had a Smartboard in my room, I would feel differently. Is there anyone out there who would be willing to help me write a grant for a Smartboard?

embedding a slideshare

Cleverwood Mobile Monday1108

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: mobile content)

delicious

Ever since delicious has installed itself on my computer I am receiving error messages from internet explorer and it keeps shutting down. This is very inconvenient. Anyone have any suggesstions on how I can resolve this conflict?

Thing 8 and Thing 10

I've set up my delicious account. It was way too easy and too quick. I like the idea of being able to access my favorites from wherever I am regardless of whose computer I may be using, but I am having trouble managing my delicious account. First, all of my bookmarks transferred over which was not my intention. I tried deleting some, but see that they haven't deleted. I've tried setting up tags and I've spent a couple of hours now working on that, but for some reason I can't seem to get a tag to register. I'm not sure I want delicious on my home computer yet, but there it is, and I don't know how to get it off. A couple of my coworkers have expressed the simplicity of delicious, so I'm feeling rather intimidated with less than average intelligence at the moment. I also tried creating a document on google docs, but don't understand how that one works either even though my fellow teacher and classmate raved about the ease of google docs and how much she loved it! So, there here I sit, trying to manipulate these programs, going round and round, going nowhere. If I had a smartboard at work, I might be a bit more excited about these programs. Anyone out there willing to help me out with a grant for one?

Thing 5

I just completed the section on Web 2.0 and it's effects on the future of education. Honestly, I don't really understand how it's used and I'm sure when I get with my "group mates" we will discuss it and I may then have a better understanding. However, when I read, A Day in the Life..., I was not impressed. I think technology, like anything else, has it's pros and cons. It seems like a sterile environment where people are communicating via computers and sharing ideas, but not enhancing, creating, developing life skills. I'd like to see more trade schools, where people learn practical and useful skills. In that sense, I can see how sharing information over the web would be useful. I think it's nice that people can reach out across the universe, but I'd also like to see people reach out to each other outside their doors. Maybe I'm just not understanding all of this. But, when we get to that place where everything is done on computer only and no verbal and visual communication is taking place, I will probably not be teaching anymore. So, enlighten me, please!

Thing4

According to 23 Things and Thing4, we're suppose to reflect on the changes in education and teaching in general over time. As far as teaching goes, from what I've experienced, we're headed in the right direction trying to make learning more enjoyable for students and trying to create more active and responsible learners. Many people think technology is the answer. Personally, I think technology is just another tool like books, videos, and cameras. Sometimes, I think technology is overrated and overused. If we truly want to engage learners of all learning styles, we need to restructure schools which enable and encourage these various learning styles. Schools are still very linear and becoming more so with the stress on testing. What would be truly exciting to see in schools, in my opinion, and what the "Brain Based" people promote is Susan Kovalik's style of teaching. Susan Kovalik's ideology, from what I understand is similar to the quote,
"Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have
fed him for a lifetime”—Author unknown

Teachers should work as a team within their individual strengths designing lessons that engage all learners in all art forms. Bring in a bicycle. Tear apart the bicycle. Research bicycles. Rebuild the bicycle. Ride the bicycle. Race the bicycle. Build a better bicycle. Not just for 40 minutes a day, but for the whole day until the project is completed before moving onto another project.

Just some thoughts and one idea.

Thing 3

Right now I'm not too excited about blogging. I guess I need someone to convince me of the benefits of blogging and sharing my world with everyone.