I chose to review the session Asking Bigger Questions About Assessment by Gardner Campbell. I picked a topic that I know is on the forefront of educators’ minds. I enjoyed the way Campbell put a Shakespearean twist on assessment. He pointed out how Web2.0 tools, like we are using in this class, can help students become true “witnesses”. For example, student techonolgy showcases can be one way they are actively testifying that they understand.
I think Flickr is a wonderful resource for educators and students alike. I have used this site to find examples of caches for my geocaching class.
This image was uploaded by g2 Duckworth from Milan. With the current budget constraints, I don’t see any trips abroad for furthering my gps experiences in the near future. Ha!
When I did a advanced search for “geocaching” my image results ranged from landscapes to caches to travel bugs. Some photos, like the one above, even had notes embedded in them by the person.
I can’t count the number of conference sessions I have attended on copyright laws where I have left more confused than when I entered! Just watching those 2 videos helped clear up a lot of the confusion. The whole concept of Creative Commons is indeed a blessing. I believe the collaborative vibe of Web 2.0 and CC are fine compliments to each other. I”m sure you have heard the saying….”Teaching is a sharing profession”. It looks like it just got a little easier to do just that!
I can envision many ways that a wiki could be part of my future. Some things that I really liked on the wikis I visited include:
Salute to Seuss - I liked the fact that participants weren’t limited to text comments. Folks linked to photo albums, web sites, and more. I love variety!
Thousands Project – Using a wiki for the first time can be daunting. I like the way they added simple instructions for editing.
Math 12 V – This was a no brainer to pick. We all know kids learn better from each other than they do from us. What a great way for them to collaborate!
I have created blogs for some of my professional development training. I encourage participants to use the comments link to give me feedback on what they learned. See my Geocaching Class Blog. Now that I have been exposed to wikis, I am interested in seeing if they can be incorporated in a similar manner.
I must confess…I have a sickness. I am a blogaholic..ha! I subscribe to waaay too many feeds. Most of them are well known blogs that Jerrie has already recommended. These bloggers are usually authored by very prominent, well known leaders in the education and technology field. Folks I could perhaps see present at conferences. Great conferences like GaETC…just to clarify. I guess I want to use this reflection to give a shout out to feeds authored by folks that I actually know. Here are two of my favorites:
Be sure to visit these links above. I’m sure you will be hooked on them too!
I have been a subscriber to Infinite Thinking Machine ever since I discovered blogs and RSS. And while new postings don’t occur often enough for me, I find that what they do post is well worth the wait. I have even shared their Election Theme posting with some teachers. If you visit the post you will notice that they are sponsored by Google. As a Google lover, you know I am all for this feed. OH….don’t forget to watch their videos. You will see some really cool and innovative ways that students are using technology.
Thanks to Jerrie for sharing some great sample blogs. I subscribe to several others and these are a really nice smorgasbord of what is out there! I even found some new ones to share with the T3 Grant schools that I am working with. I especially like seeing students maintaining their own sites and really taking ownership. I teach a digital image class and use the Duck Diaries blog and Mrs. E’s blog as examples on how to incorporate pictures in your classroom. You can also visit Edublogawards to see more great blogs.
The whole Web 2.0 movement has already affected my professional practice. I get 90 % on my professional development through blogs now. I try to set aside time every day to check my Google Reader for the latest posts from blogs I subscribe to. With the click of one button, I can read about the latest uses for digital cameras in the classroom to getting help with an issue I am having with an interactive board. Sure, I still attend classes and receive technology- focused magazines but having the information already digital (and searchable) is a real time saver! And did I mention I am a mother of a 3 year old…time is of the essence!!!!
Let the blogging begin…..
Which habit(s) may be most challenging for you to employ as part of your ETC K12 Learning 2.0 experience? Okay, Habit 1, begin with the end in mind, makes perfect sense. But sometimes I get a little distracted and veer off in different directions. Remembering the finish line and remaining focused can be a bit challenging for me.
Which habit(s) will be easiest, or are most resonant for you as a lifelong learner? If I had to pick, Habit 2, accept responsibility for your own learning, would be the easiest for me to identify with. I truly am a lifelong learner, I LOVE learning new things. I even was able to stretch a 4 year Bachelor’s degree into 6 years! My parents were worried that I would never get out of school. Ha!
Which habit do you think will be most important for you as you work through this course, and why? As I mentioned on the VoiceThread, Habit 3 is the most important for me. Viewing problems as challenges is all about having a positive attitude. Not to get too deep here, but it also helps keeps things in perspective.
