One last thing

I really enjoyed this class. I liked being able to move at my own pace and not feel pressured if I had to keep trying something to get it to work. There were glitches along the way and I had to re-try some steps a few times, but finally had success. My favorites were Podcasts and Google Reader. My least favorite was playing in the sandbox and setting up my Wiki. Even though it was a real commitment of time, I would participate in another program like this because all that I learned is definitely worth the effort. I intend to use all the tools I have learned. As I have been working on these last two things tonight, I have gotten instant messages from two high school classmates on my Facebook! I couldn't believe it!

Thanks to all involved in putting this together.

Thing #23

I explored Classroom 2.0 and was a little overwhelmed at all that was there. I really never knew these sites were out there and I'm sure they are very useful to educators. I visited General Music Co-op in Ning and enjoyed reading about the latest in music instruction. Lots of enthusiasm and talent out there! And I just couldn't leave without doing a search on gardening, and found the neatest site where gardeners meet online, but I didn't tag it in Delicious and now I can't find it! It was fun.

I joined MISD 23 Things Ning network and was excited to have arrived at that point!

Thing #22

This exercise was the easiest one for me so far, because I set up a Facebook account a few months ago. My friends kept trying to talk me into it and saying how much fun it is to be in touch with everyone, so I set up the account but didn't do anything to it. It was like a blank slate and needed some attention. So I went to work on it, added a few pictures, confirmed a few friend requests and it's starting to come to life. I have to be perfectly honest, though, and say I'm just not that into it. I love to hear from my friends, but I don't have any desire to share every detail of my life or post what I am thinking or what my mood is at any given time. I'm like a dinosaur I guess, if I want to talk to someone I would just rather pick up the phone! It really is fun, though, to see someone pop up that you went to school with and be able to catch up! Visit me on Facebook.

I'm really glad to be learning about social networking and how it works. Especially if you are in the classroom because all the kids are doing it. It's going on all around you so you need to be in the loop.

Thing #7b

I had to laugh when I read this post on my Google Reader from Technorati about annoying ringtones! This weekend my granddaughter recorded herself telling me to answer the phone and even though I think it is so cute, I'm sure some people are not amused!

Thing #21

I created a Google Calendar that I can share with my family. It is easy to use and I like the format. I thought Google was just for searching, but it has all these things! I also set up a home page in iGoogle and had fun customizing it with all my interests. I spent lots of time reading all the news feeds. I like the gadgets and they are fun. I really enjoyed Google Book Search and like being able to check out a book to see if it interests you enough to buy it. I can see why some people spend all their time on the computer, because there is so much to check out and explore. You don't have to wonder about something anymore, just Google it!

Thing #20

I created a document and a spreadsheet in Google Docs. I like this format, but don't really have that many opportunities to be in a sharing situation. The majority of the documents I work with are sensitive and could not be out there for others to see. I'm sure it would be great if you were collaborating with others on a project, I just couldn't think of that much I would need it for. I guess I could use it in instances where I email things to myself. However, now that I am aware of it I might use it for personal things.

Thing #19

I looked at all the Voicethreads and enjoyed some more than others. I can see how this concept would be so successful in the classroom, because the students can work with computers and be really creative. I know from talking to my grandchildren about school, that they are going to be much more involved in the lesson if they can be hands-on and then watch the result.

I thought having nicknames for all the students in Multimedia Venn Diagram was really cute. I liked Web 2.0 Promises and Potentials and enjoyed seeing the video again that we watched at the beginning of 23 Things.

In Library from A to Z you can hear the enthusiam in the students voices and realize that being a part of the lessons in library will make them love learning.

Thing #18

I tried to find videos that related to my job and the things I do in our office. I watched several on Custom Animation in PowerPoint, and learned how to fly an airplane on a path across the screen! I also watched several tutorials on how to manage contacts on an iphone. Since the videos are usually short, you can click on several in a matter of just a few minutes. This makes it seem like you are getting more information in less time.

I found this exercise video while searching for arm exercises using a stretch band.

Pilates: Pilates: How To Tone Your Arms

Just for fun I watched a video on playing "Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms" on the banjo. It may have inspired me to start practicing again!


I explored TeacherTube and watched several videos. I thought the students did great jobs, especially on the biography ones. I also watched my favorite, "What Time Is It? School Time!"

Thing #17

I really enjoyed this thing, as I am a fan of books on tape and enjoy being able to just relax and listen and not have to worry with concentrating on the written word. I listened to several episodes on Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tricks. We write so many letters and must be sure we use correct grammar, so it was helpful to me to find this information. When I visited NPR Podcast Directory, I found several interesting podcasts including one on gardening. I visited NPR Education and heard a very interesting story about a Columbia University graduate, who has a History degree and no job. I enjoyed these two sites so much, I added them to my GoogleReader.
I think that podcasting in education is just one more of the many amazing tools for our students.

Thing #16

Oh my gosh, I couldn't believe all the information on LibraryThing! I love books and always have a book going. I find an author I like and read everything they have written. When I really enjoy a book, I look for lists of all the books written by that author so I can be sure to read them all. Also, to check off the ones I have read so I don't check them out again...yes, I am one of our local library's biggest customers! On LibraryThing you can get that list in a flash, as well as additional information on the author and their work. I love searching for information and found the site very interesting.

Thing #15

Well, I played around in the sand box and finally got my bearings. I had to repeat some of the steps to get my things entered correctly, but finally got my wiki set up and added the link to it in the list of other participants. I visited some of my classmates wiki pages and it was fun reading what they had written. Some are so creative! I know that mine will be better when I have more time to just sit and design!

Thing #14

I was amazed looking at these wikis! Whatever the project, the pages were filled with links that click to more and more information. The tools students have now are endless and I was impressed at what is going on in the classroom. I checked out Discovery Utopias and there is a link to Literature Network, where the book can be read online. It's almost like the students can't "not have" what they need to be successful. And in this format it's fun and exciting for them, as in the Wiki Wiki Teaching blog post. Next I visited Flat Classroom Project and thought it was exciting that students from all around the world are participating in this wiki. One neat thing I noticed in the list of schools was that the current time at each location was given, which was just another bit of information. In the wiki Go West I couldn't believe the work of third graders. They used charts, maps, and the writing was surprising to me to be from third graders. I just never realized all this was going on in our classrooms, especially in the lower grades.

Thing #13

I really enjoyed exploring this site. It is great for keeping up with all the web pages you visit. It truly is so much like a filing cabinet and that was very familiar for me as it is an essential tool in our office. When the superintendent asks for something, we have to be able to locate it right then. I have visited web sites that I wanted to return to and couldn't find again numerous times, and it is frustrating. I can use Delicious and have these sites at my fingertips...much like our filing cabinets!

When I added the 23things tag to my sites, it appeared to the right of all the web addresses on my list of tags. I am still amazed at all the new things I am learning.

Thing #7a

I was just reading Technorati Front Page and this blip caught my eye, that British teachers have been told to drop the "i before e" rule. They say there are few spelling rules with more exceptions than the "i before e" rule . That standard works in some words, but not all.

Thing #12

I looked at Gliffy because we sometimes create flow charts in our office. This tool creates really professional looking and stream-lined charts and I am sure our admimistrators would like that.

Another tool I explored was JigZone because it looked fun. I love doing puzzles and having them made from family photos would be great gifts!

I set up Writeboard and I think I would use this on a regular basis. As many interruptions as we have in our office, it would be great to have something that you could close out and go back to, no matter if you were away from your office computer, and have all your thoughts still there. Also, to share and brainstorm with others even after-hours.

I went to the 23 Things wiki and was not able to enter my ideas. I looked for an option to add, but did not see anything like that to use. I seem to be missing something.

Thing #11

I need to spend more time on this thing...there is just so much out there! It is amazing to me how many tools are at our fingertips to create whatever you can possibly think of. When I saw this picture of the 1940's mail woman, I thought that she would not believe how "mail" has changed!

I visited several of the sites listed and some looked more difficult than copying this cartoon, which was really easy. When I have more time I want to go back and experiment with some of the others.

Thing #10

I had some difficulty getting my slideshow set up and I'm not sure it's correct. It loads and starts immediately when you open my blog and continues to play the entire time. I see that others are paused and have the arrow to click on to start, but I couldn't see a step to set that up. If anyone has tips, please share!

The credit for the garden photos goes to the following:
Micki2567
EyeFull Tower
nicubunu
patty_mitchell
lepiaf.geo

Thing #9

I found myself looking at photos of gardens and I really love this one. There are so many to choose from! I downloaded several others to use in my slideshow. I love gardening and can spend hours looking at photos of things blooming. It is also a great way to get landscaping ideas.






This lovely photo was taken by: patty_mitchell you can visit her profile at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pmitchell/496635647/sizes/l/

Thing #8

I have noticed the CC logo on sites, but never knew what it stood for. We have downloaded pictures and video clips from the web for presentations and I never even thought about copyright laws. I certainly will now!

When I was secretary at an elementary school, I remember our principal discussing with our teachers to be mindful of copyright guidelines. I think I might have thought of copyright if I had been scanning printed material to use, but I just assumed that everything that is on the web is okay to use since it is there. I just know that the days of clip art are over and we must be careful of what we choose from the web to include in our presentations.

Thing #7

I left comments on several blogs and I think it is getting easier. It is helpful to see what others have done on their blogs and inspiring for me to see what can be done. Also, I love hearing the enthusiasm and creative ideas of our group.

I have this question and saw it on another blog as well, and that is are you supposed to respond to comments left on your blog? I also feel that I always need to answer back.

Thing #6

I added two additional educational blogs to my reader. One that interested me was about paper does not control me. We hear about industries going paperless, but we will never be able to go totally paperless in central office due to having to keep so much documentation in education. However, we are trying to reduce the amount of paper as much as possible by scanning and archiving.


Since I love gardening, I really enjoyed searching for these websites and found a good one, Texas Gardens & Gardening, which is a wealth of information. One of my favorite things about these blogs is that you can hear from someone who actually tried the gardening techniques and how successful they were. It can save you from trying something that doesn't really work.

I really enjoy reading everyone else's blog, but am so hesitant to comment. I have heard this same reaction from many others, so I suppose it is a common feeling. I would rather be in the group and listen to everyone else!

Thing #5

I liked setting up reader and enjoy having that much information at my fingertips just by a simple click. I learned quite a bit about Twitter and am amazed at the new face of communication. So different from the days of staying in touch with friends and family through mailed letters and long distance phone calls!

However, technology is not always perfect as we all know who have gotten directions off of Google or MapQuest. I read an article on one of the blogs that raised the question of do we rely on technology too much? It can sometimes lead us on a wild-goose chase.

Thing #4

I really enjoyed reading the blogs and it seems that you can sort of get to know the author much more so than when reading a book. It is like you are carrying on a conversation with him or her. I love having the option of being able to move around until I find something that really interests me, with just a click of the mouse. So different that starting a book and trying to make myself stay with it just because I have it in my hand, even if it is not holding my interest.

I really enjoyed the blog Is this SSR 2.0 and thought it was interesting to see how intense the students were when using this new approach to reading. It adds a whole new dimension when you are able to read the opinions and comments of other people, and have access to videos and demonstrations on the subject you are reading about. I think that when students are able to actively move through the material, rather than just sit still and try to concentrate on a book, they will be much more successful in completing the work.

I also enjoyed the blog PowerPoint Reform - A First Chapter because it relates to something I use in my job, which is in central office and not in the classroom. I am aware that presentation styles have changed and want to update my ideas and be modern. It is true that we develop habits over the years, and as a result our presentations become stale and boring. I was excited to find information that dealt with something I actually use.

Thing #2

It is unbelievable to me how the classroom is changing. When I watch these videos about all the technology that is being used and will be used in the classroom, it makes me feel like a dinosaur! I am in the administration office and we are on board to learn how to use all the new tools, and it has really changed how we do things around here.

Since I am not in the classroom, I see things from a different perspective. For example, I see how the new technology has increased our ability to stay in touch with our administrators. We thought when we got cell phones it was wonderful, but now we can text or instant message and communicate with them no matter where they are.

I use the Internet daily to research any subject that we might need information about, as well as answer questions we might have, or locate contact information for staff at universities and state organizations. It saves us so much time and, especially the contact information, is so much more up-to-date than using publications or directories. It think it is a very exciting time!

Thing #1

I think having confidence in myself as a competent, effective learner might be a challenge to me. I am the one who is always hesitant to raise my hand in class for fear of saying the wrong thing! I am pretty sure I know the answer, but not confident enough to speak out. I am always excited to learn new things and eager to put them to use. I appreciate having people to reach out to if I need help, but rather enjoy trying to figure it out for myself. It's also a real challenge for me to put my comments out there for others to read.

Using technology to my advantage might be the easiest for me. In the past few years, we have tried to bring our office up-to-date and be in tune with the technology that is available. Some of our procedures here have been in place for years and every staff development class I have taken has given me ideas on how to make and keep our office current.

The most important habit for me as I work through the course will be to play! I tend to be so intense in trying to learn what I'm doing, that I forget how much fun all of this is to work with and use.

Amazing

I am actually posting my first message on my very own blog!