Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
Thing 23
Wrapping all the web 2.0 "things" up. This was a lot of information, good though. How would a person implement all of the 2.0 things we learned? My answer is VERY SLOWLY! My plan is to briefly revisit each thing and see what I think will be of the most value, to me and my teaching staff, and figure out an effective and useful way to implement. I plan to start slow.
Personally I have already benefited from some 2.0 tools, blogging comes to mind. I've been trying to find a nice 2-3 day hike I haven't done yet and was stumped, I turned to some blog sites and found some nice recommendations.
Professionally I have lots of ideas. At the Monroe County Middle College I could have a daily blog about the school, events, themes, etc. We could build a library of videos that explain each and every position available in health care. I plan to assess the needs and desires of my teachers and look at web 2.0 and see if there is a way I can use some of the tools we've learned about here can help address these needs and desires. Sharing this information is crucial to successfully using it, all of it. Not only sharing that it's available but how easy a lot of it is to use, a couple on line tutorials, mini lessons and a person can be up and running using different tools. The key is continual usage. To make it part of your normal day and for school leaders to expect staff to use the tools and information.
I want to improve my skills at RSS feeds, I want to develop a very valuable and rich source of information - I don't want dozens of feeds coming in all the time, I want a few useful ones. I need to take time to read and evaluate value in the feeds. Initially I will start with that and try to develop a useful list of these. I will of course share them with my staff and others through del.ic.ious and other means.
Creaing a PLN to me would start with developing a blog site or a wiki where all staff can add their information and guidance to a topic. I plan to create a wiki specific to each core subject being taught in my school and looking for opportunities for my teachers to integrate subjects and provide authentic learning experiences to the students.
So many possibilities, so little time!
Personally I have already benefited from some 2.0 tools, blogging comes to mind. I've been trying to find a nice 2-3 day hike I haven't done yet and was stumped, I turned to some blog sites and found some nice recommendations.
Professionally I have lots of ideas. At the Monroe County Middle College I could have a daily blog about the school, events, themes, etc. We could build a library of videos that explain each and every position available in health care. I plan to assess the needs and desires of my teachers and look at web 2.0 and see if there is a way I can use some of the tools we've learned about here can help address these needs and desires. Sharing this information is crucial to successfully using it, all of it. Not only sharing that it's available but how easy a lot of it is to use, a couple on line tutorials, mini lessons and a person can be up and running using different tools. The key is continual usage. To make it part of your normal day and for school leaders to expect staff to use the tools and information.
I want to improve my skills at RSS feeds, I want to develop a very valuable and rich source of information - I don't want dozens of feeds coming in all the time, I want a few useful ones. I need to take time to read and evaluate value in the feeds. Initially I will start with that and try to develop a useful list of these. I will of course share them with my staff and others through del.ic.ious and other means.
Creaing a PLN to me would start with developing a blog site or a wiki where all staff can add their information and guidance to a topic. I plan to create a wiki specific to each core subject being taught in my school and looking for opportunities for my teachers to integrate subjects and provide authentic learning experiences to the students.
So many possibilities, so little time!
Thing 22
My own PD online! What a great opportunity to let a professional choose what they think will make them better! As an administrator I would have no problem allowing my staff to choose a PD subject/topic/lesson that they thing would allow them to excel in their subject area(s). We talk a lot of individualizing lesson plans for students, individualized education plan, individualize this and that, but often we send teachers to PD or only give them a select few to choose from. With web 2.0 it allows the teachers to create their own PD. I will make this option available to teachers and find an effective way to record it is begin done, and how is it going to impact their daily teaching.
I absolutely would do my own PD online, I am taking an optional 23 things to know about web 2.0! And I think others would if there is a way we can allow the teachers a way to replace an already existing PD activity with a 2.0 activity.
The advantage is subject/person specific professional development. If a social studies teacher wants to start implement Google Earth in his/her lesson plans, and is given the opportunity to learn how to use this in a PD opportunity, instead of being made to go to a PD session on writing lesson plans, what a benefit to the teacher and the students. In a way, I think this might help prevent "burn out" in teachers...?!?
My experience with this course has been positive, more self discipline was needed, and I need to continue (start) to build this type of "work" into my daily schedule. If I just put it in, like it's an appointment I'm a lot more likely to do it! I'm thankful I am at the Monroe ISD and that access to many of these sites are not blocked, reading some of the issues people ran into was discouraging and frustrating for them, I'm sure.
I absolutely would do my own PD online, I am taking an optional 23 things to know about web 2.0! And I think others would if there is a way we can allow the teachers a way to replace an already existing PD activity with a 2.0 activity.
The advantage is subject/person specific professional development. If a social studies teacher wants to start implement Google Earth in his/her lesson plans, and is given the opportunity to learn how to use this in a PD opportunity, instead of being made to go to a PD session on writing lesson plans, what a benefit to the teacher and the students. In a way, I think this might help prevent "burn out" in teachers...?!?
My experience with this course has been positive, more self discipline was needed, and I need to continue (start) to build this type of "work" into my daily schedule. If I just put it in, like it's an appointment I'm a lot more likely to do it! I'm thankful I am at the Monroe ISD and that access to many of these sites are not blocked, reading some of the issues people ran into was discouraging and frustrating for them, I'm sure.
Thing 21
I had no problem using zamzar-it worked seamlessly and I had my video in less than 1 minute! I had a hard time getting vixy to load and I could not figure out how to use download helper with
A simple reward of video in the class is having more tools at your disposal. Some risks include accuracy of content (may take some checking before using-probably not a huge concern), availability of movie if you are pulling straight from the web (could be solved though by using vixy or zamzar), or inappropriate content.
I've always liked this video about the 50 states and the capitols...it's fun!
I also found a cool short video on what a respiratory therapist does, for me and the Monroe County Middle College developing a "library" of these would be fantastic.
A simple reward of video in the class is having more tools at your disposal. Some risks include accuracy of content (may take some checking before using-probably not a huge concern), availability of movie if you are pulling straight from the web (could be solved though by using vixy or zamzar), or inappropriate content.
I've always liked this video about the 50 states and the capitols...it's fun!
I also found a cool short video on what a respiratory therapist does, for me and the Monroe County Middle College developing a "library" of these would be fantastic.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Thing 20
Yeah-I'm sure students would enjoy listening to podcasts, many different ones I'm sure, of course there will be podcasts that students don't want to listen to as well, just as there are books students like and dislike, movies of the same.
Yes, I think students would jump at a chance to use the internet in many of the ways we have in the 2.0 class. I still think most students use traditional web 1.0 services such as email/research/etc. and some limited 2.0 apps such as picture sharing/chatting/document collaboration. But give them a chance to produce a podcast that could potentially be heard worldwide, talk about an audience. I'm sure the quality of work, at least at first, would be to the best of the student's ability.
Personally I have not found any podcasts that are of benefit. Professionally, probably the podcast by Michigan State Superintendent for Public Education, Mike Flanagan's, it's nice to be "up to speed" on his views/ideas of things, it provides for nice talking points.
Yes, I think students would jump at a chance to use the internet in many of the ways we have in the 2.0 class. I still think most students use traditional web 1.0 services such as email/research/etc. and some limited 2.0 apps such as picture sharing/chatting/document collaboration. But give them a chance to produce a podcast that could potentially be heard worldwide, talk about an audience. I'm sure the quality of work, at least at first, would be to the best of the student's ability.
Personally I have not found any podcasts that are of benefit. Professionally, probably the podcast by Michigan State Superintendent for Public Education, Mike Flanagan's, it's nice to be "up to speed" on his views/ideas of things, it provides for nice talking points.
Thing 19
Almost there! Thing 19 was about Podcasting...which I was really excited about because I often want to listen to Mike Flanagan's podcast. I listened to "This I Believe-attitude" which is from a school in Charlotte, MI. It was a motivational podcast.
I did not like the quality of some of the podcasts. It's hard to tell what the quality of a podcast will be by the tag/descriptor. I would combat this by compiling my own list of appropriate podcasts according to subject/topic and allow the students to use only those, or require one of those and allow students to use the web for another.
As teachers students often view us the teacher as the professional on the subject, when we know we are not! The best use of Podcast I can imagine is hearing true professionals on the topic begin covered. It's obvious through browsing through all the podcasts available there is a podcast on many topics and many subjects.
I did not like the quality of some of the podcasts. It's hard to tell what the quality of a podcast will be by the tag/descriptor. I would combat this by compiling my own list of appropriate podcasts according to subject/topic and allow the students to use only those, or require one of those and allow students to use the web for another.
As teachers students often view us the teacher as the professional on the subject, when we know we are not! The best use of Podcast I can imagine is hearing true professionals on the topic begin covered. It's obvious through browsing through all the podcasts available there is a podcast on many topics and many subjects.
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