CEdO535 Week 4

The chapter on social networking couldn't have come at a better time! I'm am sooo excited about learning about Twitter, RSS, etc. I've become addicted to my Google Reader! I've always felt that social networking is probably one of the great professional development opportunities for teachers, but it was always difficult to find time to meet with other teachers from other districts. Now, Twitter, Plurk, blogs, wikis, etc. bring the networking to me...I could be sitting at school in from of my computer or at home in my pajamas with my laptop. How perfect is it that I can control where, when and who I collaborate. I am just blown away by all the links to ideas that I have found in just the past few weeks of being on Twitter. I'm following so many tech integration gurus that my mind is swimming with new ideas! I liked the digital storytelling class, but this is by far the most productive and useful class...I love it! And I love the book, too!

CEdO535 Week 3

Sorry it's a little late! RSS feeds are my new favorite web 2.0 tool! I know I should already have known about it and been using it, but it's always seemed very confusing to me. I have to admit, when I set up my Google Reader account and started finding feeds, it was a little overwhelming. But, then I decided to go to my favorite blogs and click on the RSS icon...that was easy. Then, what was actually pretty cool is that the reader found more suggestions I might like, and I found lots of other sites to follow as well! I really like the idea of using RSS with student blogs. I was wondering what the most efficient way would be to check each of their blogs, what a great tool RSS will add to this part of my classroom blogging experience! Another idea, I could have my teachers check my RSS feeds for their professional development opportunities.

CEDO535 Week 2

It's been great learning more about blogs and wikis! Not only are the examples I've found in Richardson's book really good, but further research and links from these sites have given me even more great examples. I just created a twitter account and have found several tech educators to follow. In regard to wiki's, I have to admit that after reading the book, I think I may let go of the reigns a little bit when it comes to my students using Wikipedia. I like the idea of having them make an update to wikipedia and maybe putting in some false information. I'm curious as to how quickly the "wikipedia guru's" will find the false info and fix it.

CEDO535 Week 1

What I learned this week is that my blog needs help! It needs updating. As usual, finding the time to keep it fine-tuned is difficult. In Chapter 3, Barbara Ganley is quoted as saying that a teacher who is confident in their tools is bound to rub off that excitement to their students. She is so right. If I can get myself excited about blogging and use is on a daily basis, then I think I can have real success with teaching it to my students. I really want to teach blogging to my students this year, so this class is coming to me at the perfect time. If I can get a good blogging schedule down in the next few weeks, I think I'll be prepared to teach it to my students beginning second semester.