Week 5, Thing # 11

It is nice to find the "best sites" in Web 2.0 Awards. There is so much to sort through, it is a time saver to be able to go to a site like this for other sites recommended by category. I browsed through quite a few sites but looked in depth at the sites in the Visual Arts category. Colorblender is a site to "match and create cool palettes easily." While I found it intriguing to look at all the color combinations created by users of this site, I can't think of any reason to use this site in the elementary school setting. Perhaps I will revisit when I am ready to redecorate the living room. The number 2 site in the Visual Arts category  was Swivel where "data entry is entertaining and artistic." This site could be used to create data maps, charts and graphs with an artistic flair. I can see teachers and students using Swivel to create and showcase work in a variety of curricular areas, particularly math.  The third site in the Visual Arts category is VisualComplexity which "specializes in the visualization of complex networks, or data turned art." There are hundreds of projects to view with data being displayed is so many creative ways. I would like to use this site for some it's mapping opportunities. I also think that this site will help students to see that items we use every day (like maps) are also creative works of art.

Week 5, Thing # 10

My creation
Originally uploaded by susanlibrary2art

I really like this Badge Maker in Big Huge Labs. I can see using it in the elementary schools in many applications: name tags for students on those first days of school, identifying staff, highlighting student art with creative and descriptive writing, and many other creative ways. I was able to save this image to my iphoto library and create a contact sheet ready for printing. But I am unable to print until I get back to school next week.

Week 4, Thing #8 and #9

Blogs were totally new to me. I did ask for help from a colleague familiar with blogs for assistance. In bloglines I clicked areas of interest to me and choose several blogs to explore. Linking blogline blogs to my page was of particular interest. RSS updated shared when new information is posted on these blogs. Sending out e-mails to me so I don't have to monitor these blogs for updated information.

Week 3, Thing #6

Big HugeTwo Hearts
Originally uploaded by susanlibrary2art

I hope to use Flickr's Big Huge Lab to organize and highlight student visual art projects by grade level. Art trading cards is part of an ongoing third grade project this year.

Week 3, Thing #5

Is Your Imagination of God Starved? VerseVisions Art; Isaiah 40:26
Originally uploaded by MarkLawrenceGallery.com

After taking a break from exploring Flickr, I found that adding an image to my blog was so simple. I really liked the floaty feeling of this piece of art.

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Chapter 7 Reflection

online safety and security

• It is frightening to think how the anonymity of the Internet has opened our students to the dangers of all types of online predators. 
  
• It is amazing to think that many students think that just because they can download something from the net that it is OK for them to do so. 
  
• I have certainly had my share of frustrations when I am unable to access a certain site available while I planned at home only to find it blocked when I tried to access it at school.
  

Since reading Chapter 7, online safety and security, I now have a clearer understanding of the items listed above. Internet sites are not blocked just to frustrate teachers who have planned fabulous technology integrated lessons. Our students are being protected form online predators. Kids are being taught about fair use, acceptable use, and the ethics involved in using downloadable files by teachers who may not fully understand copyright laws. There are solutions to those great tools that are blocked. There are great sites  designed for teachers with the classroom in mind: David Warlick's Class Blogmeister and Elgg a blog, e-portfolio, and learning space site. But we all need more training to be effective users and teachers of web tools. I believe that most teachers can and will be able to teach online safety and security if they are themselves taught safety and security in the context of the Web 2.0 tools that they will be using with their classes.

Chapter 5 Reflection

professional development

Since I ended my reflection of Chapter 1 with the statement, "I need more training," I thought reading Chapter 5 on professional development would be a good idea.

Before reading this chapter, I didn't realize that so much research had been done on the effectiveness of teacher trainings. I also didn't realize that research supports the feelings that I have had about some of my trainings.  "Brief classes or workshops without ongoing support seem to create few substantive changes." (pg 101) 

I agree with the authors that most teachers still feel uncomfortable using technology in their teaching. In my experience, getting the projector to work to show a DVD  is a major feat. Using Web 2.0 tools as teaching tools is just beyond the realm of comprehension of most teachers. We've got a long way to go. I will share this book (Web 2.0 new tools, new schools) and the way this class was presented with my administrator who is a  supporter of technology integration.

This class has been one of the most effective and useful professional development courses that I have ever taken, I am full of ideas and I have a blog full of colleagues to support me when I have questions. I believe our facilitators have, "taken a page from their own book" when it came to the Web 2.0 training we received in this course. 

Encouraging Participation: Chapter 5, Pages 105-106

• Create an Environment of Trust
• Eliminate Confusion
• Make learning interactive
• Share what is being done on a regular basis
• Constructive feedback from facilitator

I hope to see more classes offered on Web 2.0 tools presented in this format.

Chapter 1 Reflection

new world, new web, new skills

Technology is changing faster than we can keep up. My favorite Web Tools are updated just when I had figured out how to make them work for me. I have spoken with IT support in India and granted remote access to my computer so problems can be fixed. These are  the clearest examples that I can think of to demonstrate the idea of a connected and collaborative world.

I couldn't help but think about my own children (with a bit of fear in my heart) as I read this chapter. My oldest will be heading off to college this fall. I'm afraid that he has fallen in the cracks of the new web. He is a great user of these web tools socially, but he has never been taught how to use them to creatively and effectively collaborate. I will surely encourage him to take college level classes in web 2.0 applications. Is it too late for him? I hope the opportunities exist. When he enters the workforce, will he be prepared? I am more hopeful for his younger siblings. There are more opportunities still in front of them, but web based classes are still electives. Most teachers are not incorporating Web 2.o tools effectively. These tools are not being provided and these kids are not being prepared for the new challenges of international connectedness. 

I feel that since I am now one of the teachers "leading the charge" of 21st Century Skills and the necessity of teaching our students Web 2.0 skills,  I need more training.  

Week 1, Thing #2

7 1/2 Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners: After procrastinating for weeks about getting started on this class, I have decided that my biggest challenge as a lifelong learner may be #1 Setting Goals - beginning with the end in mind and #2 View Problems as Challenges. The problem with getting started was (and still is) lack of time. If I had started by setting the goal of spending 2 hours working on this class 2 times a week and making that part of my weekly schedule I'm sure that I would have been further along with this class by now. So now that the challenge has been met and the goal set, I'm ready to get to work. 

My main goal in signing up for this class was #6 - Using Technology to My Advantage.