Signing up for delicious (I forget where to put the "dots") was the easiest thing I've done so far. I can't believe how easy it is to manage my bookmarks and locate them when I need them! I've used the tag feature to find additional websites--the whole process is addicting and so much more productive than my previous system. I've even shared my bookmarks with colleagues.
The social bookmarking information has come at a very opportune time for me. As a literacy support teacher, I am working with two other support teachers to create a "best practices" course for veteran English teachers. Our district has limited funds for professional development, so our idea was to put together a book study on best practices for nonfiction writing. The problem we found in early November was that there is no one book to help us, so we started looking at a group of books, and played around with the idea of developing a course using sections of books, videos, websites, and Web 2.0 tools. Then delicious appeared. I can research sites, provide them to teachers, let them research the latest strategies and Web 2.0 tools, and I think I have the foundation for the "book study" I hope to launch in February 2009. While this project may not help students directly, it will eventually meet 1b and 2a standards for NETS-S. I think it is interesting that in all my research, I found wonderful textbooks on reading strategies, but nothing that dealt with writing--writing is such a complex skill to teach and to learn!
My challenge is to create a specific focus that will help teachers create strategies to help students become more confident and effective writers. I'm hoping Web 2.0 will create additional interest both for teachers and students.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
RSS Feeds and Education
The NPR feeds are FANTASTIC!--variety, substance, topical.
I'm also following a blog suggested by NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English) which is entertaining and informative. The blog from "Secondary Section" first connects with me--she talks of the research paper coming just after the Thanksgiving break and then realizing (surprise!) that one more unit will be needed before Christmas break. The equivalent of "Oh no, what do I serve for dinner?" which sometimes occurs to me at 5:00 p.m. I can SO relate to her blog. Then she gives the equivalent of pizza on the Saturday after Thanksgiving: a note-taking unit she introduces to her students between Thanksgiving and Christmas, which I found very helpful. It's all about timing and what can we teach that is relevant and how can we keep students engaged and still recognize the challenges of the holiday season?
As a librarian, I am considering starting a blog where students "review" books. We always discuss books on an informal basis; creating a blog will just extend that discussion online, plus it will give my more reticent students an opportunity for a voice. I could use RSS to track the blogs. I could also post a question or comment (on my library blog) about a popular book and track the responses I get using RSS. Social studies teachers could track certain journalists or authors or diplomats through RSS --or show their students how to do so.
In terms of meeting NETS-S, I think I could be using Standard #2a; 3b, andn 6a.
I'm also following a blog suggested by NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English) which is entertaining and informative. The blog from "Secondary Section" first connects with me--she talks of the research paper coming just after the Thanksgiving break and then realizing (surprise!) that one more unit will be needed before Christmas break. The equivalent of "Oh no, what do I serve for dinner?" which sometimes occurs to me at 5:00 p.m. I can SO relate to her blog. Then she gives the equivalent of pizza on the Saturday after Thanksgiving: a note-taking unit she introduces to her students between Thanksgiving and Christmas, which I found very helpful. It's all about timing and what can we teach that is relevant and how can we keep students engaged and still recognize the challenges of the holiday season?
As a librarian, I am considering starting a blog where students "review" books. We always discuss books on an informal basis; creating a blog will just extend that discussion online, plus it will give my more reticent students an opportunity for a voice. I could use RSS to track the blogs. I could also post a question or comment (on my library blog) about a popular book and track the responses I get using RSS. Social studies teachers could track certain journalists or authors or diplomats through RSS --or show their students how to do so.
In terms of meeting NETS-S, I think I could be using Standard #2a; 3b, andn 6a.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Here I go again
I'm still trying to wrap my head around wikis--I think I'm making them more complex than they are, and I'm confusing them with moodles. Now it's time for the rubber to meet the pavement, and I've contacted 7 teachers in my building who are willing and even excited to start a wiki in their classrooms. Three English teachers and I are going to try the suggestion made by the TeachersFirst link provided in the syllabus--using vocabulary words, students are going to write and edit and add to a story using the vocabulary words for the week. I still don't feel very comfortable; however, I've created two wikis: one for the online class I'm taking, and one for a book study I'm creating with two other literacy support teachers. Some of the teachers I've contacted have used wikis in the past, and I plan to take full advantage of their knowledge! A math teacher is going to create a wiki with me for her geometry students, and a science teacher is going to work with me to create a science wiki. In a week or so I hope to be more knowledgeable about the actual workings of the wiki.
I feel like a struggling student who is trying VERY hard, but still isn't getting it! An uncomfortable place to be, but it places me in the unique position of truly empathizing with my students who are struggling with concepts I know and understand perfectly well, but my students don't.
The wikis my teachers and I create will meet the NETS-S standards 1, 2, 3, and 5.
I found Brian Lamb's article "Wide Open Spaces: Wikis, Ready or Not" very helpful; PBWiki was relatively easy for me (except that note that said "create a wiki in 30 seconds" was not true for me! As I was muddling through all the information, my tech director suggested five wikis that are for librarians that have been EXTREMELY helpful, although I haven't edited a thing yet.
I feel strongly that any wikis I create have to add value: to me, to my dedicated, overworked classroom teachers, to the students we serve every day. Wikis are a tool (one of many) that will help teachers help students to be more effective communicators when they leave our high school.
I feel like a struggling student who is trying VERY hard, but still isn't getting it! An uncomfortable place to be, but it places me in the unique position of truly empathizing with my students who are struggling with concepts I know and understand perfectly well, but my students don't.
The wikis my teachers and I create will meet the NETS-S standards 1, 2, 3, and 5.
I found Brian Lamb's article "Wide Open Spaces: Wikis, Ready or Not" very helpful; PBWiki was relatively easy for me (except that note that said "create a wiki in 30 seconds" was not true for me! As I was muddling through all the information, my tech director suggested five wikis that are for librarians that have been EXTREMELY helpful, although I haven't edited a thing yet.
I feel strongly that any wikis I create have to add value: to me, to my dedicated, overworked classroom teachers, to the students we serve every day. Wikis are a tool (one of many) that will help teachers help students to be more effective communicators when they leave our high school.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Second Blog of all time (for me)
It took me about a week to finally write a blog. For some reason, it was scary for me. To think that I am publishing something that can (theoretically) be viewed by anyone is daunting. I kept making excuses why I could not write it. But here's my second attempt in two days. (I finally published a paragraph last night.)
I've found some blogs to be extremely helpful, some just a waste of time. I am totally overwhelmed by the amount of information available, and I know I must figure out a way to just attract those blogs that I will find helpful. Once I can narrow my search to a few helpful sites, I think I can be hooked. I'm still a little leery of publishing globally, however. I suspect I will do a lot of reading before I respond to someone else's blog.
I will use blogs with my students--my "students" are the teachers who teach in my high school. I want to show them how to blog so they can show their students. Currently I'm seeking a book for English teachers, and I'm going to set up a book study online through blogging. I'll map out the text, ask questions, and respond to participants online. My goal is to help them (and me) get comfortable with blogging so that they can then help their students set up blogs as well. I'm looking for a book that is interesting to English teachers in particular to discuss best practices. In terms of one of the NETS-T standards, I think this goal applies to standard 1a: "Promote, support, and model creative and innovatie thinking and inventiveness."
For me personally, the biggest hurdle is getting comfortable publishing to so many--even if it is theoretical. For teachers, I think I will need to help them feel comfortable with keeping students safe--and there are safeguards and strategies we can use to make sure students use blogs responsibly. For example, limiting respondees to just people the blogger identifies. Setting up the blog so that an adult can preview responses before they get published publicly is also an important consideration.
Another goal I have is to establish a blog wherein students can review books online. They read a book from our high school library and submit an informal review of it for others. Would they recommend "X" book? Why or why not? sort of thing. Others could respond and a dialogue about literature could begin. In looking over the NETS-S, I believe this applies to 1a and b: "apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products or processes" and "identify trends and forecast possibilities."
The idea of blogging fascinates me: I'll get people (both teachers and students) to think critically using innovative technology. It gives a fresh spin to bookclubs, and it's much more convenient and accessible.
I've found some blogs to be extremely helpful, some just a waste of time. I am totally overwhelmed by the amount of information available, and I know I must figure out a way to just attract those blogs that I will find helpful. Once I can narrow my search to a few helpful sites, I think I can be hooked. I'm still a little leery of publishing globally, however. I suspect I will do a lot of reading before I respond to someone else's blog.
I will use blogs with my students--my "students" are the teachers who teach in my high school. I want to show them how to blog so they can show their students. Currently I'm seeking a book for English teachers, and I'm going to set up a book study online through blogging. I'll map out the text, ask questions, and respond to participants online. My goal is to help them (and me) get comfortable with blogging so that they can then help their students set up blogs as well. I'm looking for a book that is interesting to English teachers in particular to discuss best practices. In terms of one of the NETS-T standards, I think this goal applies to standard 1a: "Promote, support, and model creative and innovatie thinking and inventiveness."
For me personally, the biggest hurdle is getting comfortable publishing to so many--even if it is theoretical. For teachers, I think I will need to help them feel comfortable with keeping students safe--and there are safeguards and strategies we can use to make sure students use blogs responsibly. For example, limiting respondees to just people the blogger identifies. Setting up the blog so that an adult can preview responses before they get published publicly is also an important consideration.
Another goal I have is to establish a blog wherein students can review books online. They read a book from our high school library and submit an informal review of it for others. Would they recommend "X" book? Why or why not? sort of thing. Others could respond and a dialogue about literature could begin. In looking over the NETS-S, I believe this applies to 1a and b: "apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products or processes" and "identify trends and forecast possibilities."
The idea of blogging fascinates me: I'll get people (both teachers and students) to think critically using innovative technology. It gives a fresh spin to bookclubs, and it's much more convenient and accessible.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
First Voyage
It's taken me three days to set up this blog. I am afraid, excited, suspicious about posting my writing/thoughts/ruminations in so public a forum. What will happen? Who will respond? Will it meet my expectations?
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