Thing #6

I checked out the website for Writeboard. This would be a great site for organizing student writings. I believe with this site that it is possible for each student to have a portfolio of their writings that I would keep up with through Backpack which integrates with Writeboard. This site could also be used for organizing a student newspaper as a group project. What I love about the site is that any writings can be edited and old versions of it are saved as well as the new. A simple click will get you back to the original. This would allow students to edit each other's work without destroying the original. Students would also be able to e-mail me their documents from their home computers instead of telling me they forgot it, or lost it. One concern about the site is that until I actually work with it in setting up student portfolios, I am unsure of how easy it will be to keep track of all of the student writings. Link to this site - http://www.writeboard.com/

Thing #5

School 2.0 is a term to describe the use of technology in the classroom - specifically using the internet as a learning tool. The web once was a research tool used in classrooms where students could access information - usually from home - print it and use it. Now the web becomes the classroom as students interact with it. There are interactive sights where they can play educational games. There are sights where they become the creator - My Space, YouTube. Schools will need to step up to the plate and provide classrooms in the very near future with computers so students can have daily access to these tools. Schools of the future will use these 2.0 tools for enhancing student learning. Geography teachers can have maps at their fingertips with Web 2.0 tools - Google Maps. Students can interact with grammar and math games to get immediate feedback on whether they are grasping the material covered in class.

Thing #4

Part 2
I have decided to follow Amelia Bedelia Becomes a Teacher, Blog by Bowman, Mind of a Tennessee Math Teacher, Stefie #39's learning process and tdezellem from our community of 23 Things. Stefie and I sit right next to one another in class and are often lost and confused together. It is comforting to walk through this process with someone who is new to all this like I am. We often help each other out. She helps me more than I help her. I was surprised to read tdezellem's blog and find someone else whose favorite movies, music and books are identical to mine. We share a future profession teaching English and she has found some great resources already that I have been able to add to my growing list of technology tools. Amelia and I share two classes together and are on the same team in Classroom Assessment. It will be fun to read her blogging thoughts. The other two spots I chose are really to help my husband who is beginning the process of getting a teacher's licensure to teach math. He is just beginning to lean towards a future in teaching as the market for Architects is slim to none in Nashville. He loves exploring the internet and reading blogs from people who have things in common with him.

I have already added a comment for Stefie concerning the setting up of an Avatar. She and I experienced the same difficulties with the process but found it was a fun activity nonetheless. I also thanked tdezellem for finding http://www.lulu.com/. I believe this site will help me with some publishing I want to do with my students.

The two bloggers ouside our class that I have added to my RSS is the White House and Dangerously Irrelevant. I like discussion about the political issues that surround education and want to keep informed about what is going on from every angle.

Part 1
Commenting on blogs helps create a sense of community and interaction because people with like interests can come together and share their viewpoints and differences. I believe we begin to respect each other through our views even if we disagree. Blogging narrows this big world into a smaller community by bringing people together who serve a common purpose. We are all seeking to be better educators now or in our future jobs. Sharing our thoughts and experiences makes learners out of us who are teachers.

Coolcatteacher points out in her blog that we need to create meaningful comments. Blogging's purpose is to converse - not to get people attracted to following our blogs. She points out that just saying "right on" or "yeah" is not enough. We need to expand on our comments so that the author and those following the blog receive meaningful insight and discussion can continue on an issue. She very wisely cautions new bloggers not to be put off when "Darth Commentor" invades and posts nasty comments. These "negative Nellies" need to be deleted and not responded to.

Edu Blogger Etiquette points out that it is rude not to respond to comments made to your blog. However, it is acknowledged that some bloggers prefer to quietly e-mail someone instead of respond to comments directly on the blog spot. Encourage those who respond to your blog by acknowledging their effort by responding back in some way.