Web 2.0 class

Task 1: Read Vicki Davis’ blog post Wiki Wiki Teaching about her first experience using wikis in the classroom. Do you think there may be a wiki in your future? Write a blog post sharing your thoughts and observations about the educational wiki projects you have explored. Provide details/examples from at least three wikis that you actually investigated — e.g. What did you notice about their organization, content, tools used, learning outcomes? What was missing? What could you do differently or better? In your post, please also share initial ideas you have for wiki use in classroom, professional or personal learning. Be sure to include “Thing 8″ in the title of your post.

I really enjoyed Vicki’s obvious enthusiasm for the affect the use of wiki’s had on her school.  My Principal is skeptical about the safety of using wiki’s with our students so I forwarded it on to her to review and try and sway her to give it a try. We’ll see.  Vick’s site is very well organized and I have added it to my reader. One of the links I followed on her site was a link to another wiki which is a great link for creating a self grading quiz. That I found on the site for cool cat teacher .

This link gives step by step instructional video for creating a self grading quiz you can email to your students. One upgrade I might do is provide the chart as a downloadable file.

Is there a wiki in my future? I see me working with other teachers to get them started but currently I don’t know how I would use one in my administrative role.

Thing 7a Task: Write a blog post reflecting on your experience and sharing one or more items of interest from your reader. Include links to any posts you refer to. Be sure to include “Thing 7a” as part of your post title.

This reader thing is driving me crazy! I can not keep up with it. Every other day my outlook reminder pops up and reminds me to check my reader. I cringe but I do it, because I always do everything outlook reminds me to do.

Why do I cringe? Two reasons…

1.     I apparently signed up for sites that update on a fairly regular basis because by reader is always full of new articles.

2.     I have discovered I am not a skimmer. I get so caught up in the articles that I loose track of time. I end up reading the whole article and even clicking links in the article and spending even more time I do not have reading. I know that part of this course is to make us better at skimming but I am definitely not there yet. Not something you learned as a math major, can’t really skim a math book or even an article on mathematics. I will keep trying.

The most interesting articles to me are the short technology tips which I can share with my staff. I am sure they are loving me for filling their mailboxes with things I find interesting. But they work for me so no one has said anything yet. Guess I should give them the option to opt out of my emails at the next staff meeting. The latest attack from me was an article on  about how to start your first pod cast on techlearning. I figure if even one of my teachers gives it a try it was worth the time I spent finding and reading it.

What do you notice about the genre of blog writing in general?

I don’t think blogging is for me but I do see how it can be a creative outlet for some of our students and staff. I still prefer an old fashion conversation and actual human interaction. I see, however, that it could provide the anonymity that would allow one to express their opinion freely without interruption.

(How) is blog reading different from other types of reading? How is it similar?

The reading of a blog is an uninterrupted opinion of one person followed by an uninterrupted opinion of another. The links allow you to get more information then you could from reading an article or a book.

(How) is blog writing different from other types of writing? How is it similar?

The main differences I see are the ability to link instantly to any information the writer selects and the ability to give feedback in regards to someone else’s writing.

How does commenting contribute to the writing and meaning-making?

The comments allow the reader to consider diverse opinions of others all in one location as well as an opportunity to add their own opinion.

Is there a “blogging literacy?” How does blogging affect the way we read and write?

To me it seems pretty open. Individuals can blog anyway they like.

(How) can blogging facilitate learning?

It can introduce varied opinions all in one location.

I did find the blog on not giving homework interesting. I am have been teaching for a few years now and believe that homework is important, as long as it is not just busy work.

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  • Which habit(s) may be most challenging for you to employ as part of your K12 Learning 2.0 experience?

• Habit 7 & ½  Play -is going to be the most difficult for me this year. I am a type A personality to start with and I usually schedule everything including play. This year; however, is even more hectic for me. I am in the middle of planning a destination wedding and my fiancé has cast on both of his legs from 2 emergency knee surgeries he just had back to back. With him incapacitated my time is no longer my own. I will do my best to work in some time to play so that I can get the most out of this course. 

  • Which habit(s) will be easiest, or are most resonant for you as a lifelong learner?

  Habit 7 Teach or mentor others-This will definitely be the easiest and most resonant for me as a lifelong learner. I was born a teacher; no doubt about it. Recently I have transitioned into a full time administrative position and I am no longer in the classroom. This course provides me the opportunity to be the mentor to others who take this course after me. I love teaching and will share everything I learn with anyone who will listen.

  • Which habit do you think will be most important for you as you work through this course, and why?

  Habit 7 Use Technology to your advantage – I work with computers all day long and I truly believe in working smarter not harder. I love learning about new technology that will make my job easier. Not a big fan of just using it because it is there.

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