not a great teacher's blog

Thing #9

2009-07-10T08:30:00.000-07:00

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2150/2218677169_ed35178805.jpg?v=1201293102
Photo by: Steven King Photography (http://www.flickr.com/photos/steven_king/)

This photo shows what I will be doing before my family reunion. It is probably the funnest thing to do during the summer, especially when we are frying down here in Texas.

I tried to find photos for the subject I teach, chemistry, but I kept getting pics of "chemistry" between people. Maybe my students will have more luck in their projects.

Thing #10

2009-07-08T15:20:00.001-07:00

I have never noticed the CC logo. I definitely look for it now. That would explain how so many can use someone else's work to somewhat inspire their own work. If that's what you want to call it. It is a great way to give the less creative, like myself, an archive of sorts to go to for creativity. Even though you can't claim the work as your own, your work seems incredibly inventive. While I become more "creative", the very generous persons allowing me to borrow their creativity becomes introduced to a market they may not have been introduced to before.

Things #8...Wiki what?

2009-07-08T15:19:00.001-07:00

Wiki seems cool enough. I visited several sites. My least favorite was Code Blue. I guess I thought it would have more blogs. However, it did not and I was so disappointed. There were only links to body systems, info, games, and how stuff works. The next site I ventured onto was Dr. Reich's Chemistry Wiki. It was much better than the first. It was a great place for students to see assignments, post information for others or get help if needed. The Math 12V Outcomes Portfolio wiki was pretty good source of information and help for the students. Wiki pages seem to be a great place to share information. Students and teachers can use them to communicate effectively, but my preference is blogging.

Thing #7-comments

2009-07-08T15:14:00.000-07:00

Becoming lost in the numerous blogs and comments is easy. One reader may post a blog for all to see and other readers will not see the comments posted. Creating a system to classify blogs and their comments based on the main idea or most important information could ease this our frustration. The ability to find information from both blogs and comments this way could make searching blog topics very simple. Utilizing such a system could revolutionize the manner in which we blog. Beibg able to catalogue blogs might help those people who cannot organize other things in their life.

Thing #6

2009-07-08T15:13:00.000-07:00

Readers are the best! I never imagined having access to such unimaginable amounts of information. That are tailored to my specific interests. I don't have to search and attempt to filter through thousands and thousands of sites on my own. It is done for me based on what I add to the reader. Now I only have to filter through about ten or twenty a day for each blog added to my reader. Technology rocks!

A great example of how great readers can be is the blog posted by The Networked Teacher. When I read the blog and looked at the picture posted, it made me think. It gave me perspective about how everything in our society is tied to technology. As I asked myself the questions at the end, I came to a shocking realization. It does represent me, but how do I get it to represent my lessons and teaching style?

Thing #5

2009-07-08T14:37:00.000-07:00

The blog titled Don't Save the World really caught my attention. As I read, I could relate to the student and her dilemma. My summers as a high school student were quite similar. Hanging out with friends at the mall or at home was the norm. There was an occasional weekend trip or family vacation, but nothing that would make the headlines. The small amount of community service I did paled in comparison to the life-changing experiences of the teens in the article mentioned.
Her honesty about not really wanting to save the world is amazing. Your average teen isn't going to say that in a blog that the entire world has access to read. The risk of receiving criticism is huge. However, it was ironic to hear see her plans for the next summer did include a project to impact the world. I guess we all have to start somewhere. Hopefully, most of us can gain some great intuition.

Thing #4

2009-07-07T13:34:00.000-07:00

Blogging is a great way to connect people with similar interests. It gives everyone a voice. No matter your age or intellectual ability, there is a place for you in the world of blogging! Bloggers have the ability to post their thoughts and comment on other's thoughts, hopefully without being too harshly critisized. It is a superbly innovative manner of expression. Ultimately, blogging could increase literacy simply by giving people the freedom to say what they are thinking.

Blogging can facilitate learning by allowing anyone to blog their own thoughts, which might lead to someone else taking that thought even further and leading to something great.

Thing #1

2009-06-15T15:18:00.000-07:00

The most challenging thing for me of the 7 1/2 Habits of Effective Lifelong Learners
is: have confidence in yourself as a competent effective learner.

The easiest thing for me is: begin with the end in mind. This is what helped me through getting my Masters degree.

The most important thing as I work through this course is: use technology to your advantage. I am hoping to become more technologically able-minded through this course.

Thing #2

2009-06-12T12:48:00.000-07:00

I think the whiteboard would be a great way for teachers of the same subject to compare notes on a certain topic or test, especially when they do not have time to see each other at work.

I would worry about students being able to figure out how to change what the teacher might have written on the whiteboard, especially when it comes to a due date for an assignment.

This digital world that we have gotten ourselves into is making student lazier about doing things the old fashioned way (such as reading a clock). I feel stupid compared to some of my students when it come to dealing with computers and technology. The use of power points makes it easier for students when it come to taking notes and for teachers when it comes to lecturing on a topic.

I hope that some of the old fashioned ways of doing things, such as keeping in contact with family, does not go completely digital. It would be a very bad thing for letter-writing to go the way of the dinosaur.