One Last Thing

     One word:  Amazing!  This is the best way for me to convey the journey through Dr. Walls' 23 Things.  The amount of content and the ability to self explore have placed this class in my top two favorite classes of all time.  The information provided through this blog experience has both influenced me and educated me on how I may be most effective in reaching the students of today.  In fact, I am already using some of the tools in tutoring my own daughter.  Although upon initial glance, she was dismayed... she now has fun learning and expanding her horizons.  Anytime you can make learning fun vs. tedious, students are sure to listen.

     Throughout this journey, there have been several components that will be influential in my growth as an educator, such as Google Reader/Google Blog Search; Flickr, Mash-ups and Tag Maker; Zoho Writer; Pageflakes, My Stickies and Del.ic.ious.  I really could continue on as there are so many components that are useful throughout this learning experience.  Until this class, my thinking has remained creative, but conventional.  Now I can actually provide my creativity with a technological playground to thrive, while providing experiences for students that are both engaging and informative.

     I honestly have only one issue with this entire learning experience, and it really has nothing to do with the program.  The issue instead, pertains to me.  At the beginning of this journey, I accepted a new position with a university in Kentucky that made time management a challenge.  For this reason, I got a bit behind in maintaining consistency in reflecting on ideas.  Once I got started though... I simply could not stop.  I would spend hours captivated by the various concepts and really drilling down through the information and resources provided.  On the flip side, the only improvement I can think of is to actually make the experience longer.  You know that you have a great product when students are asking for more work!

     Going forward, I plan to continue using the tools mentioned above along with many others.  In fact, I am currently working with Animoto to create Christmas gifts for those "hard to buy for" family members.  Google Reader will be my main tool for staying abreast of new technologies and resources as I have registered to follow various Web 2.0 sites/blogs, including the Learning 2.1 Blog.  For the first time, I truly feel empowered to reach students of all levels.  The desire has always been there as I am very passionate about influencing new generations to be successful, and I want to empower them to make a difference in the lives of others.  Now I feel that I have a tool box and collaborative professional pool to ensure successful delivery of ideas and concepts to future generations.  Together, we will all make a positive difference in the lives of others!

Thing 23: Creative Commons

Thing 23:  Creative Commons

     I am relieved to know that I can now utilize components of other professionals works, to enhance the learning environment of students.  There are so many great concepts that have been placed in motion and, as a teacher, they are beneficial in delivering instructional components.  The challenge is that, when utilizing others works, the information does not always follow the exact components you are teaching to.  Now you can tweak the content to positively impact the dissemination of information by noting the respective author(s) and maintaining the standards, just as Dr. Wall has performed with 23 Things.  As an example of how references are notated, you can visit the bottom portion ,of the overview page, of Dr. Walls' 23 Things.  A copy of the reference is provided below:

*Note: This project is loosely based upon the website 43Things (which allows you to set and track personal goals) and the Stephen Abram article titled 43 Things I (or You) might want to do this year (Information Outlook - Feb 2006).

     I feel that this will be very influential in the creation of lessons and educational aids for classroom instruction.  In order to both protect the integrity of the original work and provide a resource for other students, I will certainly utilize this tool when creating educational components that I wish to share.  Additionally, I will utilize this with regards to personal videos, photo books, etc. to further protect the integrity of the document and the identity of the individuals featured.  This is a great resource and I am excited to see how it will enhance my personal and professional development.

Thing 22: Podcasts

Thing 22:  Pod-casts

     Wow... talk about sensory overload!  There are so many pod-casts readily available that you can spend hours searching for useful feeds.  As I began to search for useful sites, especially pertaining to mathematics, I found Pod-cast Alley and Learn out Loud to be the most helpful.  Both of these websites were aesthetically pleasing and easy to navigate.  I especially like the categories offered, paired with capabilities to refine searches to further narrow your options.  From the two, I personally prefer Pod-cast Alley the most, and I will likely utilize this site in the future.  The most influential component in favoring Pod-cast Alley is that you can view text overviews of the featured pod-cast sites, without having to actually access the site.

     In my search, I decided to subscribe to TILT - Teachers Improving Learning Technology, Teacher 2.0 and Math Tutor.  Each of these sites contribute varying components to aid in my personal development and instructional intelligence by exploring creative activities and Web 2.0 resources.  Teacher 2.0 is actually an audio feed which allows teachers to continue about their normal routines, without having to be locked to a computer screen; the other sites have informative videos to coincide with topics.

     I certainly feel that pod-casts are a great resource for today's classroom and I will likely join in the creation process.  I feel that it is important initially to continue and explore the resources already available to further define how I may best contribute.  No matter what level you consider as an educator, keep in mind that standards and styles vary by state and individual.  Therefore, if you want a pod-cast that directly reflects the style of teaching you provide, you will likely need to create your own, so not confuse students.  Keep in mind though that students need varying types of stimulation to be most effective, so maintain an open mind when incorporating different educational pod-casts, and technological resources, in the classroom. Here is a quick pod-cast of mathematic resources that I found to be helpful ("Math Fact Websites are Fun!"), maybe you will too!

Thing 21: Animoto

Thing 21:  Animoto

     I love learning about various technologies and software programs, and I have now fallen in love with Animoto.  Animoto allows you to create short 30 second videos for free, or you can pay to upgrade to unlimited full length videos as well.  The program allows you to utilize personal or stock photos, in fact Animoto provides links to various websites to retrieve photos.  Once your photos are selected, you then will select a song for the video from either their selections or simply upload your own song.  Lastly, Animoto will professionally mix your photos and music to produce a great video!

     I was very surprised at how easy it was to create a video.  There are actually only three basic steps to producing the video.  Additionally, you are able to easily edit your video as well.  I would strongly encourage you check this out if you have not already as it will not only enhance your memories of events, it will serve as great gifts for those hard to buy for friends and family.  Do not simply take my word for it... check out my video below, then take time to visit and play at Animoto yourself!

Thing 20

Thing 20:  YouTube

     YouTube offers a variety of informative videos that can easily be incorporated into the classroom.  Whether you are in search of an inspirational clip that demonstrates the value of perseverance, an instructional clip that demonstrates the concept of variables and algebraic equations, or a comedic relief clip to offer a nice break for intense instruction, YouTube serves as a great resource.  The videos are easy to search, however, due to the volume of videos it can be a bit labor intensive to locate appropriate videos.  Since anyone can publish a video on this site, it is also imperative that you carefully screen the full content of prospective videos to ensure that they are age and content appropriate.  In my search, I opted for a little comedic relief to help relieve stress within the math class.  Take a moment to check out Ma & Pa Kettle Math.

Some of the features that I liked most were the capabilities of searching videos by category and the ability to tag videos for future reference.  I also like that you can make notes about videos, as they may offer direct insight into the components of each video without having to wait for them to download and play.  The download delays are perhaps my biggest complaint.  Even though I have the fastest Internet speed offered by AT&T, I still experienced multiple delays in playing each video for the first time.  I also did not like that some videos were inappropriate for younger audiences.

     I do feel that YouTube could be a good resource for school libraries, especially when considering instructional videos and learning related television shows.  However, I am not sure how well the site can be regulated to ensure that students are not exposed to all videos.  Until appropriate blocks can be placed on content, I feel that YouTube may be a bit inappropriate for middle schools.

Thing 19

Thing 19:  Other Social Networks

     Prior to reviewing the various networking links mentioned in Thing 19, I had thought that the only prevalent social networks were MySpace, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.  I had no idea that there were so many social networking organizations/sites.  Until now, I had opted to utilize LinkedIn as my networking site and I am a member of the National Assn of Catering Executives and Middle Tennessee Society of Human Resources groups.

     Originally I had planned to only maintain my LinkedIn account.  In reviewing various social networking sites I will now be expanding my horizons.. especially with regards to Classroom 2.0 as I feel it will be an excellent resource for me as I continue to transition into education.  When looking for social sites, I want am interested in professional development resources that support forums for discussing best practices, and sites that foster open discussions about today's classroom environment.  This is the reason that I have never been interested in maintaining MySpace and/or Facebook accounts, as I am not interested in sharing the personal aspects of my life for everyone on-line.  Nor do I want to be consumed with monitoring the actions of others I am associated with on these sites.

     I realize that I may seem a bit old fashioned or simply too overly cautious, but first impressions are very important to me.  I want to ensure that prospective employers see me for my accomplishments, experiences and interests, not the size or content of my social network.  Perhaps once I have established myself within a school, and witnessed the impact of social sites on other educators, I may alter my perspective as I do feel that maintaining a sense of community is important.

Thing 18

Thing 18:  Social Networking

     The challenge presented was to take some time to review MySpace and Facebook in an effort to gain an understanding of their application within education.  Due to the popularity of Facebook with some of my friends, I decided to create a profile under Rawls.  Personally, I was a little uncomfortable in partaking in this exercise as I really do not have any interest in utilizing either site.  I am a private person to begin with, but I certainly do not want to be judged on the actions of others that I may be connected to.  I did spend time exploring both to gain a better understanding of how each are currently being utilized as I feel that it is important to stay abreast of technological advances to best relate to students and other educators, especially since social networking is becoming increasingly popular in today's business community.

     In reviewing both sites, I can quickly tell why Facebook has been described as a more mature site, due to its professional/uniform layout.  MySpace operates in more of an HTML format with a wide variety of customization options; although the individual profiles are more captivating, it makes navigation a little more challenging due to the inconsistencies in the layout.  Both sites offer a wide variety of options and customizations, but I feel that Facebook offered a more cohesive product overall. 

     I can certainly see Facebook as being a good site for maintaining a school page as it would allow parents an opportunity to stay abreast of school activities and to connect with other parents.  Additionally, students/alumni are able to maintain contact with friends of the past.  With regards to the classroom, the only use I could envision for social sites would be to reach out to other professional for best practices or to elaborate on resources within a computer or business class.

Thing 17

Thing #17:  Del.icio.us

     Wow!  I continue to be amazed at the technological advancements I have learned about through EDU 5500 at Austin Peay State University.  I have been awakened by the plethora of resources and I am excited to incorporate them into my professional development and general classroom instruction.  Del.icio.us certainly ranks in the top five sites I have discovered due to its ease of use and categorical organization of websites.  The site is very easy to navigate, and when paired with the RSS Feed feature its impact is quickly enhanced.

     I have been a long time fan of bookmarks as it provides a boost to my memory by saving useful websites for future reference.  The downside is that my bookmarks had become as congested as my email, with no means of being able to organize the sites.  The best aspect of Del.icio.us is that its utilization goes far beyond a sophisticated bookmarking feature to a useful instructional tool and resource.  Aside from the apparent use of the social networking feature for teachers, it also allows a platform for students to share helpful websites for other students to investigate.  As teachers, we strive to provide useful web resources to students that we feel are both stimulating and enjoyable.  Although, we are often successful... fellow students can be a more intelligible source for deciding what their demographic enjoys most.  Allowing students to discover resources from both teachers and fellow students will allow more freedom in creating individualized learning patterns, led largely by the students themselves.  Teachers will be able to monitor student suggested websites via the social networking feature as well to ensure that proposed resources are beneficial and accurate.  Teachers may also bookmark favorable sites for future students to consider as a plausible resource.

Thing 16

Thing 16:  Get Organized with Web 2.0 Tools

     As I experimented with various Internet start pages, I opted to join Pageflakes.  The main factors behind my decision regarded the utilization of email, calendars and task lists to keep me organized.  I was also attracted to the aesthetics of the web page layout and the general ease in formatting the actual page to quickly view topic headlines.  I was so enamored by the concept, that I did opt to create my own customized page that included local and national headlines, links to some of my favorite sites, organizational tools and of course... Sudoku!

     In considering which on-line calendar to utilize, I opted to register with Google Calendar as I currently utilize Gmail.  The Google Calendar will sync directly with my email account, including retrieving contacts and making the calendar both useful and easy.  My goal is to utilize Google Calendar to manage my personal appointments and school work, in an effort to remain organized, as I continue to juggle family, work and school.  I was impressed by the Salesforce Calendar from Jot.  The only reservation I had regarded the fact that it was not a free site.  I am not sure how it would be perceived by company executives, but I do plan to offer this as a suggestion at our next departmental meeting as I do feel the value is worth the investment.  If you have a moment... check it out, especially if you work in sales/marketing.

     With regards to "to do lists," I personally am a fan of keeping tasks organized.  My shortfall is in juggling professional and private lists.  There is certainly a little extra time involved in creating and managing lists, but I do like the ease of manipulating tasks in Google Calendar.  I also feel that the additional time required to manage this account will be minimal, largely due to the utilization of a personalized start page.  As with anything, time will tell as to the actual value of maintaining personal and professional tasks, but I remain optimistic that things will flow smoothly.

     In reviewing other Web 2.0 sources, I would suggest taking a moment to review MyStickies (on-line post-it notes) and Engrade (classroom organization/grading software).  MyStickies allows you to incorporate multiple colored post-it notes to various websites, thus allowing a means of tracking important components of various sites.  This feature outshines bookmarks as it denotes the value as to why pages have been marked; this information can be most helpful when conducting research.  Engrade enhances the process of maintaining, tracking, recording and sharing grades/assignments with parents and students.  This platform allows parents to remain abreast of classroom activities and student performance via weekly email updates, thus alleviating any surprises at the end of a grading period.  It also allows teachers a means of maintaining organization of attendance, grades and assignment statuses.
    

Thing 15

Thing#15:  Wikis

     A Wiki is a website that allows for collaborative learning, researching and brainstorming within team and individual environments, as well as globally.  The premise behind a Wiki is simply to share information/ideas and encourage the involvement of others to provide new perspectives/approaches to the situations presented.  The best component is that information can be shared in real time, even with regards to modifications, without the tedious utilization of endless emails and phone calls.  Once changes are made... alerts are sent to other users so that they may observe and make alterations as needed.

     Within education, collaborative learning environments are highly utillized in an effort to most effectively communicate concepts to students.  Although individual aptitude, for teachers, is essential in fostering trust and confidence in students; effective teachers understand the intrinsic value of seeking best practices from other educators to ensure that they are providing the least restrictive environments and tools for students to utilize.  The other exciting component of Wiki utilization in the classroom format is that it allows students to embark in self discovery of topics by sharing information gained through research and experimentation with other students.  Additionally, students can add/alter information to further perfect the document.  Personally, I can see myself utilizing this aspect regularly to gauge the level of proficiency in understanding educational concepts.  Furthermore, it will provide students with a study guide to aid in their future learning endeavors and most importantly... it will serve as a reflection of their personal successes and demonstrate the intrinsic value of team collaboration.

Thing 14 Go with the Flow

Thing #14:  Go with the Flow

     In consideration of the differences between flow charts and mind maps, I found myself at a crossroad.  I had never participated in a mind mapping activity and I was at a loss as to what is truly different.  In reviewing the materials provided, I chose to embark on this journey of discovery through the utilization of Gliffy and Bubbl.us.

     The general principle of both format is to form an outline of information that can be easily processed and digested by the general public.  Although both flowcharts and mind maps may seem very similar upon one's initial glance, the conceptional framework is actually more diverse.  Flowcharts, as utilized in Gliffy, utilize a myriad of alternative shapes, colors, designs and images to portray relationships between outlined components.  There are a myriad of options in creating flowcharts, and the overall design is directly managed by the user and it is easily manipulated.  I actually chose this site so that I could utilize the SWOT analysis software. However after muptliple attempts to download the software... I was unsucessful in retrieving the software component. 

     The major deviation between  a general flowchart and mind mapping was witnessed via the utilization of Bubbl.us.  Mind mapping is a learning technique that applies visuals and color/shape combinations to outline concepts or ideas.  As learning takes place in real time, it is imperative to have a software program that is responsive and easy to connect concepts/techniques.  Bubbl.us allows for such ease and versatility, as you can easily connect various thoughts/ideas into manageable pieces very quickly.  This ensures that the user does not miss pertinent information in the meeting/classroom.

Thing 13: Zoho Writer Overview

 Thing 13:  Zoho Writer

  
     I am intrigued at the ease of use and functionality of Zoho Writer.  The flexibility of collaboratively working on a document, and the ability to make comments, with a group of colleagues in real time offers insight into the value of web based software.  Additionally, the "tag as folders" feature makes locating documents a breeze and the automatic save feature proved to be a life saver within this short post.

     Being a middle school math teacher, I am impressed at the level of options in writing math problems and equations.  I find Zoho Writer to be much more proficient than Microsoft Word in this fashion.  The three main options offered in Zoho Writer are:

1. Subscript: 
2. Superscript: 
3. Insert equations: 

     In consideration of some of the components I like least, my number one complaint regarding the software is the manner in which it manages misspelled words.  With Microsoft Word, you can actually right click on the misspelled word and it will provide you with the correct spelling.  In Zoho Writer, it will denote the word by placing a red line under it, but it does not offer the shortcut for correcting the word.  Additionally, I miss the paintbrush formatting option that Microsoft Word

     Apart from this minor flaw, I find Zoho Writer to be liberating, just at the photo above portrays.  It will certainly prove to be a defining force in future document writing by providing a new age approach toward team engagement and production.

Thing #12 Google Tools

In reviewing Google tools, I identified with Google Alerts most as it provided options that are both applicable in the classroom and in my personal life. The premise behind Google Alerts is that you can have newly posted information sent directly to your email or feed reader as it is posted online. The program focuses on news, web, blog, video, group and comprehensive (a collage of the items previously mentioned). Personally, I have set-up an account to post information regarding my community directly to my Google Reader account for easy access. I felt this was the better option as I can review the information much quicker than if I had to open up individual emails. From an educational perspective, it offers an avenue to stay abreast of current events that are occurring in the world around us and changes in our respective field of study. As with many programs, you set the parameters of what information you would like to receive, then the program performs a data mine to retrieve the information for you. This is a great time saver and further maximizes the efficiency of the teacher.

The other tool I reviewed was the Picassa Web Albums. Being a big fan of Google, I thought that this would be a good way to share photos with other family members which is something I had never done online. Setting up an account was very easy, but I ran into complications trying to figure out how to add photos. Apparently, you need to download the Picassa software package as well to utilize this program and I was a little aggravated that this was not denoted up front; I actually retrieved this information when I searched the help section. I did not like the fluidity of the program, perhaps it is due to my own inexperience with posting online photos, and I decided that I will not be utilizing this service. My initial plan was to utilize the program to house personal photos for our family to review, as well as student photos that their parents could access to see what is happening at school. Despite the challenges, I am still a Google fan, just not this program.

Thing #11 Finding Good Feeds

In previewing the various feeds, I have come to the realization that Google Blog Search is a very natural resource to utilize, especially when utilized from a more global perspective. You can easily search for RSS feeds by predetermined categories or simply conduct a user defined search for the items that you are most interested in. I have additionally found that Google Blogs returns a tremendous amount of resources, which is both good and bad. With this in mind, your searches need to be more detailed to reduce the amount of search returns, but I feel that this is the best resource for the classroom as it offers more diversity. Additionally, I really liked Topix from a personal perspective as it focuses on what is occurring in my surrounding areas. This allows me to quickly stay abreast of everything that is occurring by topic, especially those that I have not predetermined as topics I would like to focus on. I did not find much application for this program beyond the confines of my surrounding area.

I was very impressed with the Technorati layout; in fact I felt that their layout was more aesthetically pleasing. The site is easy to navigate and it includes both topic suggestions, along with top rated sites, and a recap of sites that have seen the largest recent decline in usage. Although its layout is similar to Google Blog Search, I felt that it did not offer the degree of versatility offered by Google Blog Search. On the flip side, I was least impressed with Syndic8 and Feedster. Both of these sites lacked the versatility of the programs listed above and they seemed to focus more on a business perspective than an educational one. Both sites offered a user defined search feature, with a few predetermined topics, but the layout was not user friendly and seemed to offer more text than features.

Throughout my search, I tended to seek sites that would provide feeds to my county of residence so that I may keep informed of current events. As I live in a smaller community, Google again offered the most options. Some sites did not even return any suggestions. I did decide to join a site of concerned parents that closely monitor the Cheatham County School System. Since I have a daughter in this school system, I felt that joining the site would be a good idea. The initially blogs seem objective, but it remains to be seen how true to form it will actually be.

Thing #10 RSS & newsreaders

I am continually amazed at how technology has evolved over the years. Just ten years ago, we were communicating by speed letters in the company I worked for and now… we are twittering from space. If you are not familiar with a speed letter, it is a carbon copy memo that simulates email correspondence. The forms we utilized had three copies: one for the sender, one for the recipient to respond and the original, which contained all correspondence. What once took all day can now be facilitated within the span of about a minute! With RSS and newsreaders we are now able to apply this same concept of efficiency by following our favorite blogs and websites without ever directly accessing the websites. I love the ability to stay abreast of the latest developments in the news with just a few simple clicks and that I can actually view multiple news releases simultaneously in a quick recap format. Taking time to visit each site individually was very time consuming, especially given my early onset of dementia (although I do not actually suffer from this ailment, I tend to be forgetful). I also like that the programs tracks what you read, and that in one simple click you can start following the website you are viewing.

I can assure you that I will be utilizing this feature to keep abreast of the breaking news both locally and nationally in order to stay in tune with my surroundings. Additionally, I am looking forward to following various blogs and professional learning communities in an effort to hone my craft. For these same reasons, I feel that teachers can benefit greatly from RSS and newsreader feeds as learning is a continuous process. We should each share in the best practices of others, seek advice of other professionals and strive to improve our own skills and knowledge pool. Additionally, as an educator we are now capable of following the latest advancements within our specific fields of study and we can infuse the findings into the classroom to further demonstrate the relevance of the topic in the real world. In consideration of the fact that this generation of students requires a variety of stimulation in small concise doses, RSS and newsreaders will provide fresh educational alternatives on a daily basis. Perhaps the best component is that educators can now maximize their efficiency and allow a little more time for relaxation/family time by utilizing these resources in preparation for current events in the classroom. Below are some of the resources I follow:

MSNBC
The Tennessean
The Cool Cat Teacher
Slideshows for 'Web 2.0 tools for effective teaching
Let's Play Math!

Thing #9 - Images for the classroom

An unleashed mind is certainly a powerful thing, as proven in this little exercise. I never realized the magnitude of resources/generators that are available to create text images. Until now, I have solely utilized Microsoft Office to develop classroom and presentation images, largely due to the hefty price tags associated with some popular graphic design programs. Now, the sky is the limit as to what one can create and achieve.

After playing around on numerous sights today, I focused my attention on three sites that I particularly enjoyed: Monopoly Card Maker, Danger Label Maker and Tags Maker. The component that I most admired with Monopoly Card Maker was the ability to create motivational cards as a reward for studious behavior that embodies a sense of citizenship amidst students; It can also be incorporated into disciplinary actions such as warning cards, if desired. Most importantly, due to the popularity of the Monopoly board game, students easily relate to the concept and can become excited at the prospect of playing a game. Additionally, students associate the cards (rewards and warnings) as a positive message due to the positive light reflected by the board game in our family lives.

With label maker, you can actually create signage that helps to both set the mood for a room and relieve stress via comic relief. The Tags Maker generator follows this suit, but it also allows you the opportunity to expand your message with additional lines of text. Most importantly, the images you create are going to stimulate discussions and create excitement in the classroom. Students need stimulation to stay on task and they need motivation in their lives, which many often lack in their social life.

The most amazing component of all of the sites I visited, was the shear ease of creating images. The host program sites are simplistic and systematically laid out in stages (typically 4-5 steps) to ensure steps are not omitted. It also aids with the instruction process of children as the sites are easy to navigate. Additionally, there is little guess work to be performed due to their structure, which maximizes productivity time for students by minimizing question and answer sessions. Take some time to visit these and other image/text generating sites and contemplate ways that they may enhance the learning environment of your own classroom.

Thing #8 More Fun with Flickr and Mash-ups

Flickr features a fresh approach to managing photos and creating fun posters, cards, etc. Within education, this site would serve as a great resource for retrieving photos that represent history, geography, science, language arts and even math. Additionally, pictures represent a universal language of learning as a photo is not defined by an single language. Therefore, projects that incorporate photos aids in leveling the playing field of the students by breaking down language and, in some cases, aptitude barriers.

I do feel that as a future math teacher, the opportunity to utilize Flickr for math lessons is fairly restrictive, with the exception of geometry as there a multitude of shape options to retrieve with a creative mindset. Flickr also lends itself well to evaluating tessellations, in fact there is an origami tessellation group on Flickr that creates and shares ideas on incorporating origami projects in the classroom. I did enjoy playing with some of the mash-ups and I felt that the puzzle maker was a neat tool that could easily be incorporating into teaching lessons. In utilizing jigsaw in the math class, it will aid in offering students a visual aid to discuss proportions, percentages and fractions by evaluating the values of the completed portions and uncompleted portions of the puzzle.

From an artistic component, there are numerous options to incorporate math related art into the classroom such as Spell with Flickr, which is utilized at the top of this blog. There are also various options for creating posters, cards and calendars. One of my personal favorites, is Motivator; it allows teachers the opportunity to create motivational posters with students from your class. Now that's cool!

The one component that makes me a little uneasy in utilizing personal photos on Flickr is ensuring that the photos we create remain private. I feel that it is my personal obligation to protect both the identities and images of my students. I do realize that Flickr allows you to keep photos private and limit access to photos to select group of individuals. As technology continues to advance, I feel that the opportunity to surpass security features is a legitimate concern. Perhaps I am being a little overly cautious, but I do feel that this is a legitimate concern.

Thing #7 Discovering through photos

In exploring Flickr, I was intrigued by the vast array of photos, and videos, available for use. Perhaps the component that I admired the most was that Flickr actually combines a customizable digital photo database, with photo enhancement and design software under one umbrella. Diversity, especially within a free site is very appealing. The site is also very easy to navigate, but I must admit that I was a little disappointed with the advanced search feature, as I felt it was too restrictive. It would have been nice to perhaps follow in the footsteps of some libraries in offering multiple keyword searches. All in all, I would definitely recommend this site as a good resource for photos and videos.

In perusing the site, I actually came across a photo from KristinaVF very quickly and despite reviewing hundreds of photos, this one really resonated with me. In her picture, she managed to capture the essence of the impact that one source could have on its surroundings. Appropriately entitled “Faith, Hope & Charity,” the photo allowed for much reflection and interpretation into each of these areas, and it led me on a journey of discovery. In considering Faith, the light to me represents God and his eternal grace. Despite our imperfections, he is there to brighten our paths and to make us whole and beautiful again. As for Hope, I feel that each person has an innate desire to hold out hope for their futures. Generally speaking, most people are optimistic, whether they choose to believe it or not, and they are nurturing. These components are what has allowed us to evolve as a nation that is respected; a nation that is sought after as the land of opportunity. With hope, it only takes a single seed to sow a garden of faith.

Despite your personal views of religion and hope, charity to me represents a universal language of love; A simple gesture can impact not only one person’s life, but quite possible an entire culture. In reality, people tend to focus on the differences in others. Not with respect to simply alienating people based on differences, but as a component of evaluating a person and determining how they fit in your own world. You see, the actual meanings of charity, as defined by Encarta Dictionary, is to provide assistance to those in need, to judge in a favorable way and to impart love of others. In order for us to truly evolve in our thinking, we must seek to understand the differences of others and embrace the opportunity to learn how they enrich our own lives. Sometimes, we tend to get lost in our daily routine and as long as things are going good, we see no need to alter our path. How often do you stop and watch the comportment of others? Do you wonder how they or their actions could benefit you in your own life? Do you instead, take a negative stance and contemplate ways you could fix or improve the other person?

Life is an evolution of experience and faith, and each person’s journey is unique. Although, we may each have our views of right and wrong, who are we to try and direct the actions of others or alienate them for their differences; after all… who is actually right?

Thing #6 - Web 2.0 Award Site

In considering various Web 2.0 Awards sites, I chose to focus within the aspect of organization as I feel this is an area that we all can improve upon. In reviewing the options, I decided to tour BackPack and I was amazed by the plethora of options the program offered. The premise behind this program is to allow users to create pages that contain notes, to do lists, files and even a calendar. The program will allow you to create pages to store collaborative materials for events such as a meeting or trip. For instance, if you were to take a trip, you would simply create a new page and enter any notes, attach files and photos/maps that you need. You can also input your “to do” list and notes regarding people you are meeting with. Your colleagues back at the office can also view your page, if you grant permission, and they can make alterations/additions to better equip you in servicing your clients. In addition, you can collaboratively communicate via blogs and monitor the latest activities to your account and others via the newsroom page. You can even instruct the program to send reminder emails and text messages to yourself or others.

Within the scope of education, this would be a great tool to utilize as it provides a platform for teachers to interact and share best practices or opportunities they may be experiencing in the classroom. Teachers could also share lesson plans for themselves, as well as substitutes, and you can allow other teachers access to make modifications or suggestions. You can even categorize the materials to ensure that the lesson plan is easily understood and adhered to. This tool is also a good source for school administrators as they are able to easily monitor teacher schedules and plan events around those schedules. It also allows a quick means of disseminating time sensitive information while providing a paper trail at the same time. My only regret with this website is that I wish I had known of this tool when I was still working within Corporate America, as it would have certainly made my life much easier. I will certainly be integrating this resource in the future and I look forward to the countless possibilities it offers.

In considering various Web 2.0 Awards sites, I chose to focus within the aspect of organization as I feel this is an area that we all can improve upon. In reviewing the options, I decided to tour BackPack and I was amazed by the plethora of options the program offered. The premise behind this program is to allow users to create pages that contain notes, to do lists, files and even a calendar. The program will allow you to create pages to store collaborative materials for events such as a meeting or trip. For instance, if you were to take a trip, you would simply create a new page and enter any notes, attach files and photos/maps that you need. You can also input your “to do” list and notes regarding people you are meeting with. Your colleagues back at the office can also view your page, if you grant permission, and they can make alterations/additions to better equip you in servicing your clients. In addition, you can collaboratively communicate via blogs and monitor the latest activities to your account and others via the newsroom page. You can even instruct the program to send reminder emails and text messages to yourself or others.

Within the scope of education, this would be a great tool to utilize as it provides a platform for teachers to interact and share best practices or opportunities they may be experiencing in the classroom. Teachers could also share lesson plans for themselves, as well as substitutes, and you can allow other teachers access to make modifications or suggestions. You can even categorize the materials to ensure that the lesson plan is easily understood and adhered to. This tool is also a good source for school administrators as they are able to easily monitor teacher schedules and plan events around those schedules. It also allows a quick means of disseminating time sensitive information while providing a paper trail at the same time. My only regret with this website is that I wish I had known of this tool when I was still working within Corporate America, as it would have certainly made my life much easier. I will certainly be integrating this resource in the future and I look forward to the countless possibilities it offers.

Thing #5 - School 2.0

School 2.0 features a fresh approach to continuous learning. Unlike our more traditional forms of learning, Web 2.0 operates in real time and in real world settings. It allows students and other professionals the opportunity to utilize a bountiful resource of information from reputable educational resources to revelations from experts in the field of study. The concept is based on a collaborative learning style in which students and professionals alike, can actively contribute content and review best practices via blogging, wikis, content sharing and many other sites as identified by John Sealy Brown and Richard P. Adler in their article entitled “Minds on Fire: Open Education, the Long Tail, and Learning 2.0.”

With the introduction of School 2.0, we are able to enhance the learning environment of our schools by providing free tools and resources that creatively engage students in a collaborative form of learning. An example would be the ability for schools to utilize the Faulkes Telescope as a learning tool for Astronomy. This resource allows students to view our stars and solar systems with the world’s most sophisticated telescope, as well as providing an opportunity to interact with scientists currently working in the field of Astronomy. Within this scope of learning, schools are no longer limited to their financial resources for hard copy materials, nor are students placed at a disadvantage for limited educational resources. The web is capable of turning a deficiency into efficiency by simply linking students and teachers to resources pertinent to their scope of instruction/learning.

In reviewing “Minds on Fire: Open Education, the Long Tail, and Learning 2.0” by John Sealy Brown and Richard P. Adler, I firmly believe in the intrinsic value of working within a group. In pursuit of my bachelor’s degree, I actually had the opportunity to work within a study group and I certainly feel that I retained a broader scope of information within this collaborative setting. It is important to consider other peoples thoughts and opinions, as two heads are certainly better than one. This setting allows people the opportunity to teach, refine and create materials that both support and enhance the educational effectiveness of information. Open Source Communities allow for this same format amidst strangers that share common interests or beliefs. Let’s face it; our textbooks are only as valid as the date that they are written or published, for the most part. Life continues to evolve with each passing minute and it is impossible to expect you to be prepared for all that life throws at you without having a real time resource such as Web 2.0.

The 2008 Horizon Report provides and interesting time line of how technology continues to advance. Currently, we are experiencing a significant influx of social sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, along with grass roots video blogs such as YouTube. In true Web 2.0 form, groups of individuals are being brought together by blogs, wikis, etc. and we are able to share information more easily via the collaborative web. As smart phones continue to enter into the market place, there is an ever increasing desire for users to access these same resources via the web. Although the study shows integration by 2011, I personally feel that this is too late and I know the technology is present as Mike Massimino recently made history when he sent a 139 character Twitter post from space. It will be interesting to observe how readily this new technology, and the concept of focusing learning on both people and collective intelligence within the academic community. In the academic community, concept has served as the main focal point of learning and some institutions are simply slow to change. I feel that three to five years is a good estimate, but I sense that for some institutions, this may take a little longer.

Thing #4 - Commenting

Commenting within blogs serves as a means of openly communicating ideas/ideals about a multitude of topics in a manner that allows and often encourages full expression. When you are engaging in “face to face” conversation, we are constantly monitoring the non-verbal cues of the person in front of us and we adjust our conversation based on these observations. In doing so, many times we fail to reach the true belief or direction as we chose to take a more politically correct stance. Within the blogging community, you are free to openly express yourself without the distraction of reading the other person’s comportment. We are able to genuinely be ourselves, and we are often encouraged, by other members of the post, to express our opinions no matter how controversial they may be. Blogging also allows an avenue for you to seek individuals who share your interests and ideals, and create a format for you to communicate, brainstorm and grow through a combination of your experience and theirs. Encarta defines virtual community as “a group of people communicating with each other over the internet.” The correlation of interactive conversations of both similar and disparate views creates a sense of community and fulfills the very definition of a virtual community.

In reviewing some of the suggested websites presented by Dr. Wall, I was especially intrigued by the Cool Cat Teacher’s blog as I felt it was by far the most informative and encouraging. I valued the Cool Cat Teacher’s perspective of becoming a part of a blogger’s life by simply taking time to post meaningful comments. The comments validate the insecurities of a blogger and it shows that you have taken an interest in their writing, whether you agree of not. It also, encourages the blogger to continue to write and engage others in active conversations. Many times, the blogger will begin to visit your own site and reciprocate the kindness you have shown in their blogs.

I also enjoyed Darren Rowse’s “10 Techniques to Get More Comments” as it touched on some key areas of interest. As with any form of communication, we often utilize open-ended questions to encourage conversation, so it is not unusual to introduce this technique in blogging. What I found to be interesting was the fact that only 1% of bloggers are actually actively engaged in conversation. I suppose that this does make since as I will read various blogs, but I usually choose to not contribute. I felt that actually inviting comments was an effective approach as it signifies to the readers that you are interested in their thought. Additionally, when a blogger posts responses to guest comments it further substantiates the bloggers interest in openly communicating.

Thing #2 - A Reflection of Me

In contemplating the most appropriate blog name for myself, I thought carefully about what encapsulated my personality, traits and beliefs. I am a passionate, active personality that thinks in the “big picture.” I believe that change is a positive force intended to better prepare us for life and I maintain an open mind and readily seek new means of personal development. By its definition, a catalyst is somebody or something that makes a change happen or brings about an event. Not only is this true in my personal life, it is a fair representation of my professional life as well as an educator. I feel that it is my professional responsibility to provide learning tools to students and to serve as a catalyst, merging their intellectual and social obligations in a form that will aide each student in realizing their maximum potential.

With a posting name identified, it was now time to create an avatar to reflect me. I chose to create an avatar that reflected my personal appearances and sense of style. Although, I was raised on a small farm, my mannerisms and fashion reflect a more modernistic style, so I chose a cityscape background and an argyle sweater. The shoes reflect my interest in golf, which is my favorite pastime. I had a lot of fun in creating the avatar, despite some initial challenges with regards to uploading my avatar on my blog. I found the actual creation of the blog to be very easy. Despite some initial hesitation about blogging, I now view this blog as an opportunity to experiment with a new form of communication and I am looking forward toward acquiring a new found resource.

Thing #1

In considering the life learning habits, I began to reflect on my own personal comportment in an effort to determine my current degree of proficiency within the seven and a half habits identified. In an “a typical” fashion, I immediately migrated toward what felt natural, almost second nature in my thought process. This examination into my mannerisms instantly brought me to habit three: “view problems as challenges.” Perhaps it is my eternally optimistic demeanor or my tenure within the hospitality industry that introduced this habit into my life, but whatever the rationale this habit is embedded deep within myself and it is by far one of my strongest traits. Despite the obstacles that may arise, one is still in charge of his or her destiny. For me, I enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that I have strived to preserver any challenge presented in my life and I have taken time to reflect on the circumstances surrounding the obstacle.

Bernice Johnson Reagon once stated “Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they're supposed to help you discover who you are.” The wisdom gained through surmounting obstacles allows one to make more informed decisions and enhances one’s level of maturity. For me, I have weathered my own storm of negative forces from abuse as a child to the absence of a fatherly figure in my life. At times I was definitely down for the count, but I chose to never give up. With this in mind, the challenge in itself became a positive force that called me to action. You too can achieve great things by allowing your own achievements to lead you to determine your own destiny. Don’t stifle your ability to persevere by allowing the negative forces, associated with the term problem, to paralyze your judgment. Instead, focus your energy on engaging your mind, body and soul to persevere the obstacle at hand.

Being a positive person, I found it much more difficult to examine my own weaknesses. I came to the realization that I least associated myself with habit seven and a half, “Play!” Although I enjoy playing from time to time, I surround myself with a multitude of activities that monopolizes my time. Additionally, I tend to take on a little more that I should as I have a difficult time with the word “no.” I have a tendency to place the needs of other before my own in most situations.

I must admit though, my recent transition from the corporate sector into education has awakened a new found energy and general zest for life. During my six month transition, I dedicated my energy toward enjoying life, spending time with family, and tackling the “bucket list” I had created for myself. Ironically the fear of transition in a highly competitive and talent saturated job market subsided and a feeling of bliss engulfed my body. Who knew that taking time to play could be so invigorating? Let’s face it… life is too short to sweat the small stuff. Don’t imprison your personality and general well being by shackling yourself to a desk or task. Rejuvenate yourself and dedicate some time to investing in yourself. Believe me, the benefit is life changing.

As part of the course criteria for “Technology in Education,” we were asked to experiment with Web 2.0 tools. I was amazed at the amount of information readily accessible via the web regarding Web 2.0. Finding this information was fairly simple; however the dissemination of information, to determine what would be best suited for your needs, tended to be a bit more challenging. At times, I found myself enthralled with the creativity and fun various sites reflected. I am definitely looking forward to incorporating the interactive experiences these programs feature into the classroom, as well as, interacting with educators via blogs and seeking their “best practices” and experiences. Introducing Web 2.0 tools into the classroom will be one of my top priorities as a teacher and I cannot wait to continue to grow and learn new ways and of providing a superior learning environment for students.

I hope that you have enjoyed reading this blog as it is my very first. I have found it to be refreshing as I reflect on various components of my life, and much more pleasant than I initially thought. Creating a blog was surprisingly easy. I did experience some challenges with uploading my avatar, but I am very pleased with the final result. This experience is definitely out of my comfort zone as I am very much a “people person;” I enjoy talking face to face. Despite the lack of direct human contact, I have enjoyed this task and I look forward to expanding my level of comfort to include a more proactive utilization of blogs.