Warlick, D. (2009). Grow your personal learning network. Learning and Leading
http://istelearning.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Grow-Your-PLN.pdf
David Warlick explains the three different types of PLNs (Personal Learning Network).
1. Synchronous connections are personally maintained networks of people we contact regularly for their input on professional and/or personal issues. These groups of people have grown due to the removal of traditional barriers such as geography, background, language, and culture.
2. Semisynchronous connections are personally and socially maintained networks with a "nearly now" time that replaces Real Time. In other words, you can post a topical question and receive responses from people in a position to be very helpful.
3. Asynchronous connections are dynamically maintained networks that connect you with valuable sources rather than people. The primary tool for this is RSS Aggregator such as Google Reader, Netvibes, or Pageflakes. Using an aggregator is like placing a customized order into a social media network.
Are PLNs worthwhile?
Yes. We are surrounded by innovative technology. Tapping into this area of network technology is an invaluable tool. Using a PLN can only enrich your teaching experience.
How much time should I spend using a PLN?
The choice is yours. Use it to your level of comfort. You will most likely discover that the more you use it, the more you'll want to use it.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Friday, March 4, 2011
Journal 4 "It's Time to Trust Teachers with the Internet"
Ormiston, M. (2010, December 1). It's time to trust teachers with the internet: a conversation with meg ormiston. Retrieved from http://thejournal.com/articles/2010/12/01/its-time-to-trust-teachers-with-the-internet-a-conversation-with-meg-ormiston.aspx?sc_lang=en
This topic is so important right now. The discussion is crucial to the gap that is forming between teachers and students in the world of technology. There is no denying how the internet has become a daily tool for people of all ages. In many cases students are given minimal instruction and guidance about proper and safe usage of the internet at home. It is too easy for students to access inappropriate sites online.
Imagine classrooms across the country that were fully integrated with technological instruction and guidance, and students accessing the internet for research, social networking, and daily school assignments. I like Meg Ormiston's idea of the "tiered approach" where teachers are given full internet access in the classroom, they're given some instruction on helpful teaching websites, and they're given time to figure out how best to integrate the technology into their lessons. And Ormiston's point about educating administrators as well as teachers is absolutely key, since administrators are ultimately the ones making final decisions regarding how restrictive to make internet access in classrooms.
Students are already familiar with the internet, so it only makes sense for teachers to integrate this technology into their teaching methods in order to keep students actively engaged. This is an important issue about keeping up with the times. If we allow students to remain in cyber-space with no supervision from teachers, we are setting them up for disaster. Teachers with a clear vision of technology integration will enhance their abilities to connect with students, and more importantly, provide students with a safe transition into our ever changing world of technology.
Will you use technology in your classroom?
Absolutely! I will continually educate myself on the newest forms of fun and interesting technology through my colleagues near and abroad. I believe this is the best way to engage the students with whom I'll be working.
What will you do if you encounter technology task problems?
I have already promised myself not to let the frustration overwhelm me. It's okay if I get temporarily confused with new forms of technology. There are many avenues available for me to find the answers I need, whether it is through social networks or finding the answers on educational websites. I will work through the periodic "bumps in the road" for the benefit of my students.
This topic is so important right now. The discussion is crucial to the gap that is forming between teachers and students in the world of technology. There is no denying how the internet has become a daily tool for people of all ages. In many cases students are given minimal instruction and guidance about proper and safe usage of the internet at home. It is too easy for students to access inappropriate sites online.
Imagine classrooms across the country that were fully integrated with technological instruction and guidance, and students accessing the internet for research, social networking, and daily school assignments. I like Meg Ormiston's idea of the "tiered approach" where teachers are given full internet access in the classroom, they're given some instruction on helpful teaching websites, and they're given time to figure out how best to integrate the technology into their lessons. And Ormiston's point about educating administrators as well as teachers is absolutely key, since administrators are ultimately the ones making final decisions regarding how restrictive to make internet access in classrooms.
Students are already familiar with the internet, so it only makes sense for teachers to integrate this technology into their teaching methods in order to keep students actively engaged. This is an important issue about keeping up with the times. If we allow students to remain in cyber-space with no supervision from teachers, we are setting them up for disaster. Teachers with a clear vision of technology integration will enhance their abilities to connect with students, and more importantly, provide students with a safe transition into our ever changing world of technology.
Will you use technology in your classroom?
Absolutely! I will continually educate myself on the newest forms of fun and interesting technology through my colleagues near and abroad. I believe this is the best way to engage the students with whom I'll be working.
What will you do if you encounter technology task problems?
I have already promised myself not to let the frustration overwhelm me. It's okay if I get temporarily confused with new forms of technology. There are many avenues available for me to find the answers I need, whether it is through social networks or finding the answers on educational websites. I will work through the periodic "bumps in the road" for the benefit of my students.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Technology Self-Assessment: School 2.0 (NETS 1, 2)
I watched Sir Ken Robinson's video presentation: Creativity and Schools. A classmate had already seen it and highly recommended a viewing. Now that I've watched the video, I am thankful for the recommendation. Sir Robinson makes several excellent points about the learning process of children, and the skewed path of education. His main point is how the essential element of processing data, the element of creativity, has been squeezed out of curriculum.
Sir Robinson noted how public education standards were inspired by the Industrial Revolution. The top two fields of study in education hierarchy are math and humanities, because those are the subjects most needed to obtain jobs.
There are two major problems with education hierarchy. The arts are at the bottom of the list in the order of art, music, drama, and dance. We cannot fit all children neatly into the top two subjects in the current order of education hierarchy. Many children lose the opportunity to advance their strengths in the arts due to their failure to keep up to standards in other subjects. Also, the children who do struggle through and pass the top subjects are then challenged to keep up with "academic inflation." Jobs that used to require a BA, now require an MA. Jobs that used to require an MA, now require a PhD.
I firmly believe that the education of a whole being, including creativity, produces a well-rounded person. And a well-rounded person can most certainly find happiness in his/her work and become a solid contributor to his/her community.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Journal 3 "100 Things That Make Me Happy"
Not in order!
1. massages 2. red wine 3. ocean 4. sand 5. love 6. my husband 7. Brynna 8. Chloe 9. Rachel 10. Cheyna 11. home 12. a baby's laugh 13. Starbucks 14. money in the bank 15. ice cream 16. playing 17. sleep 18. a good haircut 19. cooked carrots 20. funny people 21. sunshine 22. flowers 23. dogs 24. music 25. a clean house 26. a new mattress 27. Christmas 28. God 29. cookies 30. memories 31. birthdays 32. water 33. snow on the mountains 34. excellent report cards 35. sharing faith 36. giving good advice 37. receiving a thank you 38. long hair 39. old friends 40. owning 2 cars 41. my parents 42. piano 43. hugs 44. exercise 45. dancing 46. reading a good book 47. rain 48. crackling fire in the fireplace 49. my kids' "I love you, mommy" 50. a smile from a stranger 51. talking with an elderly person 52. coconut pie 53. my grandparents' house 54. life 55. wisdom 56. courage 57. American flag 58. iced tea 59. snuggling with my kids 60. no cavities 61. learning 62. Kauai 63. warm shower 64. hairbands on a hot day 65. tennis 66. walking the dog 67. weekends 68. fruit 69. sailing 70. dolphins 71. a full stomach 72. the scent of blackberry pie baking 73. excitement in my kids' eyes 74. antibiotics 75. hummingbirds 76. travel 77. email 78. internet 79. empty credit cards 80. new clothes 81. socks without holes 82. soft sheets 83. safety 84. lotion 85. chapstick 86. listening to my daughter sing 87. prayer 88. watching my husband be a dad 89. down time 90. poetry 91. slippers 92. considerate people 93. the color purple 94. unity 95. family 96. watching my kids play soccer 97. gay guys 98. amusement parks 99. dreams 100. listing 100 things that make me happy
1. massages 2. red wine 3. ocean 4. sand 5. love 6. my husband 7. Brynna 8. Chloe 9. Rachel 10. Cheyna 11. home 12. a baby's laugh 13. Starbucks 14. money in the bank 15. ice cream 16. playing 17. sleep 18. a good haircut 19. cooked carrots 20. funny people 21. sunshine 22. flowers 23. dogs 24. music 25. a clean house 26. a new mattress 27. Christmas 28. God 29. cookies 30. memories 31. birthdays 32. water 33. snow on the mountains 34. excellent report cards 35. sharing faith 36. giving good advice 37. receiving a thank you 38. long hair 39. old friends 40. owning 2 cars 41. my parents 42. piano 43. hugs 44. exercise 45. dancing 46. reading a good book 47. rain 48. crackling fire in the fireplace 49. my kids' "I love you, mommy" 50. a smile from a stranger 51. talking with an elderly person 52. coconut pie 53. my grandparents' house 54. life 55. wisdom 56. courage 57. American flag 58. iced tea 59. snuggling with my kids 60. no cavities 61. learning 62. Kauai 63. warm shower 64. hairbands on a hot day 65. tennis 66. walking the dog 67. weekends 68. fruit 69. sailing 70. dolphins 71. a full stomach 72. the scent of blackberry pie baking 73. excitement in my kids' eyes 74. antibiotics 75. hummingbirds 76. travel 77. email 78. internet 79. empty credit cards 80. new clothes 81. socks without holes 82. soft sheets 83. safety 84. lotion 85. chapstick 86. listening to my daughter sing 87. prayer 88. watching my husband be a dad 89. down time 90. poetry 91. slippers 92. considerate people 93. the color purple 94. unity 95. family 96. watching my kids play soccer 97. gay guys 98. amusement parks 99. dreams 100. listing 100 things that make me happy
Journal 2 "Join the Flock/Enhance Your Twitter Experience"
Furguson, H. (2010). Join the flock. Learning and Leading, 37(8), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/issues/Join_the_Flock.aspx
McClintock Miller, S. (2010). Enhance your twitter experience. Learning and Leading, 37(8), Retrieved from http://newsletter.cuebc.ca/enhance-your-twitter-experience-by-shannon-mcclintock-miller/
After reading these two articles, Join the Flock and Enhance Your Twitter Experience, I have to admit that it would be difficult to argue against using Twitter as an educational tool. There is no denying the fact that when you use Twitter for the sole purpose of information-sharing, you can create your own community of professionals right in your own home. And that community is available to you 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
Of course, there is a time commitment involved. You get as much out of Twitter as you put into it. But, it sure is simple. You can search key words like "education," "elementary school," "middle school," "technology," etc., depending on how broad or narrow a spectrum of information you want at your fingertips.
Some of the searching has already been done for you. There are lists available to help you find people you might like to follow. You will then be presented with links that fit your areas of interest, and can potentially become important tools for you and your classroom environment. The possibilities are endless!
Retweeting is a good way to strengthen your relationship with your followers and those whom you follow. It is a way for you to give back to your community, so to speak. And, it is a complimentary act of kindness. You are, in essence, sending a message to the original tweeter of the information that their input is important and helpful enough to share with many others in the community.
Does Twitter appear to be a useful tool for teachers or an unnecessary extra?
I believe you cannot judge Twitter until you have been educated on it's use as a tool for teachers. Once you are aware of the power behind the tweets, a whole new world of information becomes apparent.
Will you choose to share Twitter with your colleagues?
I most definitely will talk to my colleagues about the benefits of Twitter as a teaching tool! When you come across a gem, you are inspired to share the wealth. Teachers are very good at that. :)
McClintock Miller, S. (2010). Enhance your twitter experience. Learning and Leading, 37(8), Retrieved from http://newsletter.cuebc.ca/enhance-your-twitter-experience-by-shannon-mcclintock-miller/
After reading these two articles, Join the Flock and Enhance Your Twitter Experience, I have to admit that it would be difficult to argue against using Twitter as an educational tool. There is no denying the fact that when you use Twitter for the sole purpose of information-sharing, you can create your own community of professionals right in your own home. And that community is available to you 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
Of course, there is a time commitment involved. You get as much out of Twitter as you put into it. But, it sure is simple. You can search key words like "education," "elementary school," "middle school," "technology," etc., depending on how broad or narrow a spectrum of information you want at your fingertips.
Some of the searching has already been done for you. There are lists available to help you find people you might like to follow. You will then be presented with links that fit your areas of interest, and can potentially become important tools for you and your classroom environment. The possibilities are endless!
Retweeting is a good way to strengthen your relationship with your followers and those whom you follow. It is a way for you to give back to your community, so to speak. And, it is a complimentary act of kindness. You are, in essence, sending a message to the original tweeter of the information that their input is important and helpful enough to share with many others in the community.
Does Twitter appear to be a useful tool for teachers or an unnecessary extra?
I believe you cannot judge Twitter until you have been educated on it's use as a tool for teachers. Once you are aware of the power behind the tweets, a whole new world of information becomes apparent.
Will you choose to share Twitter with your colleagues?
I most definitely will talk to my colleagues about the benefits of Twitter as a teaching tool! When you come across a gem, you are inspired to share the wealth. Teachers are very good at that. :)
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