Thing #5 RSS and Google Reader/Aggregator

As I've played with the RSS Reader I've discovered so many interesting things my head is spinning.  This could definitely take over your life.  This media format must be managed efficiently or it could be dangerous for a lifelong learner like myself.  I found that I had to limit my time on the "23 things" on this one or it would have overtaken me.

I did find several interesting feeds but one that jumped out at me was the technology piece.  http://www.techlearning.com/article/33120  This site will take you to a short comment about Facebook for educators.  Ultimately it refers you to Atomic Learning (http://www.atomiclearning.com/k12/fbwkshp_stu)  When I arrived at this site I knew it looked familiar.  Atomic Learning is listed in our own districts technology staff development pages.  I checked for the "Facebook for Educators" link there but wasn't able to locate it.  But, our district does support and offer other learning opportunities in Atomic Learning so I've subscribed to that site so I can keep up with more technology.  I'm happy to know our district is on top of things in regards to technology and is keeping up with the times.  I'm having a blast learning my way, on my time, at my pace, and the journey of discovery is causing my 23 Things colleagues at school to smile at my frustrations and tell me to slow down, enjoy!  I'm just too excited I guess.

Getting back to the Facebook for Educators idea, I find myself subtly challenging teachers I work with to stretch, bend, try and get out of their comfort zone to bring this technology to our children.  The biggest hurdle we face is that we older folk who aren't from the digital age don't have our brains wired the way these young people do for all this technology.  For that I am jealous but also thankful they are so willing to teach us.  I constantly chip away at my own fear of trying new things by just bolting into classrooms with the technology, pulling a tech savvy student aside who has completed their work for the class and just putting the technology in their hands and watching them go with it.  It is amazing!!!  Who's teaching who?  Hmm, lets see, I know the content, the direction, they know the technology, we collaborate and surprise.....we both learn new things and share a bond like no other.  This benefits both of our self-esteem.  I get excited because I see connections to anything and everything and want to shout out my process and experiences so everyone so they can enjoy them too.    My question of the day is again, "Why can't we use Facebook to teach and learn in class?"  This goes along with my question in a previous post about using cell phones in class for learning.  We are using ActivInspire and the voters, why not utilize technology that motivates they already have in their hands?

I'm happily exhausted with this Thing #5 and need to move on.  The connections in my brain are going WILD!!!!!!

Thing #4 Using Blogs

The blogs I’ve read are as diverse as the people who have written them.
I chose the following:  

Why Can’t We Do This?

Spies Like Us

A Rationale For Educational Blogging

How To Prevent Another Leonardo Da Vinci

Why I Don’t Assign Homework

While blogging or writing the blog you learn to articulate your thoughts due to the fact that others are reading them. I noticed that most of the bloggers just let it flow and spill out their thoughts from their thinking so as not to lose their train of thoughts and ideas. It’s as if the brain is on overload and they must “dump” it before they forget what instantaneous thoughts they had. Reading these blogs is interesting. You are reading someone else’s thoughts. Who doesn’t want to know what is in a person’s head? How powerful!!! You profit from their research, reading, and understanding. You gain a different perspective and are able to build on their ideas without having to read everything they read. It is different than other forms of reading due to the venue. It is like other forms of print media such as editorials and comments in the newspaper. Writing blogs is similar to journaling, yet unlike it because so many others are able to read it all and comment.

When others read and comment on a blog its feedback. Sometimes the feedback gives the originator a new spin on things and stimulates thinking to the point of changing one’s perspective. It sparks change, and elicits emotions.

The blog comments I have seen all seem to be informative or positive. I don’t recall seeing anything negative. I’m impressed. Blogging seems to be a place to be able to express yourself without being ridiculed. Another positive is that there are no identifiers as to the characteristics of the writer except for their written word. People are more accepting and less judgmental of others in this arena.

The use of blogging to learn is such a fascinating tool. There are no boundaries. What an excellent medium to communicate ideas and share thoughts. Everyone has something to say and this form of communication allows each person to share in his/her own time, pace, and level.

Thing #2 Web 2.0 and Why It Matters

I know I love to learn but usually I learn the normal ways (20th century ways) by reading, listening in a workshop, discussions with others in the form of book studies, etc. But, this Web 2.0 way opens up new avenues I really never considered because I am so behind on the use of digital technology. I've learned (no, really learned) some new words and what they mean such as whiteboard, blog, wiki, podcast, vodcast, and those are just technology words. I knew what collaborate meant but this adds an entirely new dimension to the situation. Making connections comes to mind as something I can assist others in doing as I learn about all of the diverse ways one can learn. This raises questions for me and changes my entire perspective on what a classroom really functions like. Should students be allowed to take out their cell phones and text one another IF the texts are on task. How will I know they are texting the appropriate thing? Instead of ordering calculators in math, why can't the kiddos use their phone calculators? Wouldn't that save precious funds at school? Couldn't they use the calculators in Excel spreadsheet or on the computers? This digital communication is a wide open field when it comes to motivating students. It's also the wave of the future and we have no choice but to learn about it and include it in our ways to instruct and present new material. This form of media can excite many of their senses, not simply provide audio and video. I see simulations in the future. I see virtual worlds where they make the connections based on what they perceive. We already have the Facebook community. One downside to this form of learning is the infringement of one student on another. There are students who don't multi-task well and need a quiet environment in order to learn. We have to find ways to accommodate the learner who thrives on chaos along with the learner who needs less stimulation. Utilizing digital media to learn changes our entire delivery focus in education.

September 15, 2010 7:13 PM 

Thing #1 Lifelong Learning Strategies

 After watching the podcast of 7 1/2 Habits of Effective Lifelong Learners, the most challenging habit for me is is using technology to my advantage.  I feel as though I'm so busy trying to keep up with the new technology I get lost learning one and then, poof, it's a dinosaur.  This digital age causes change too quickly for me sometimes.  Instead of being able to use it to my advantage I drown in learning how to use it.  
The easiest habit for me is to teach/mentor others.  I get so excited when I run across anything new that could help teach and motivate I tend to have overkill.  I annoy others with my excitement.  I think I was a teacher in my past life too.  I can see what could be, the potential in others.
The most important habit for me is to view problems as challenges.  When I have this attitude my mind is open to any possibility and the creative side of me comes out.  Taking time to ponder the problem, try solutions, fail, try again and then seek help as a last resort is part of who I am.