Thing #4–A Collection of Blogs
This blogging thing can be addictive! I had no idea there was so much to be discovered. I found myself hopping from one recommended blog from one on our list to another recommended from that blog and so on and so on! I’m anxious to really learn how to focus on the ones that will give me the information that I need.
I just finished a PowerPoint presentation for our system to use with the visiting SACS team and really appreciate the blog on PowerPoint reform. After doing a couple of trainings with teachers this week, I could really relate to ”The Ripe Environment“. It really made me think about the differences in knowing how to use a tool, and in actually using it so that students gain the most benefits. I also really enjoyed the students’ blogs, particularly the second grade blog about a duck.
What I really have to work on now is doing what was highlighted in “The Ripe Environment” and find the best place for blogging. I’m anxious to learn about some of the other Web 2.0 tools so I can begin to categorize when a blog is best, when a wiki is beat, etc. I know so little about these tools, but I need to learn more before I jump completely into just one them.
October 19th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Linda,
Like you, “The Ripe Environment” made an impression on me as well. It is not just about throwing new and different technology at teachers, but showing, leading, and guiding them to see the overall picture and where technology can fit best.
In a PLU class that I teach on a regular basis, I have the teachers view the “Did You Know” presentation that Jerrie included in this course. It is so powerful and asks them to join the conversation about what type of “shift” needs to happen in our classrooms. Some teachers could not get past a conversation about how technology is not reliable and what would the students do next year if they did not have the same technology, blah, blah, blah! Somehow we have to get to the bigger picture of collaboration, creation, networking, etc.
October 20th, 2008 at 10:57 am
Thanks so much for linking to The Ripe Environment. I love that the course you are taking is encouraging you to comment about older posts that have different styles for blogging.
Anyway, I noticed that you were interested in learning more. I would encourage you to go to http://k12onlineconference.org this week. They are doing their annual conference on Web 2.0 topics (among others). The learning going on there is invaluable.
Oh, and I am blogging at http://learningischange.com/blog/ now by the way.