A Cold Winter Day...

Ughh... this is when I wish I lived in the south... I hate these bitter cold temps! Brrrr!!! But it gives me a reason to stay inside and actually get some work done. I think I've got a whole grasp on this Blog thing now. I've even following a few good ones that have a lot of great information especially about technology. I know that I have mentioned about students being able to use blogging as a writing journal or where they could place their thoughts but as I was reading about Blogging in our text I found even more ways to use blogging. I had never thought of using blogging to introduce a new concept or new type of genre of reading. I feel that you could do this in several ways by either showing them (with blogs) or by having them write what they find in their blogs. I also liked the thought of using Weblogs for those older students who want to do an extended study or reflection on a topic. Seeing new inventive ways to do school work with technology makes me jealous. I wish some of these things would have been around when I was going through school. I am definitely a faster typer than writer, so it would have made writing for me more enjoyable as well as more interesting. (I hated getting hand cramps!) Another neat things I read from Richards talks about using blogging to communicate with students around the country even around the world. Also, you could use blogging across the curriculum. I never thought of blogging in terms of math or comparing problems with peers. I thought of more of the writing aspect. I'm really enjoying our text because it gives you tons of ideas on how to use each piece of technology. Like I said, I hadn't thought of some of the ways to use a blog, and now I'm interested to see how they use other pieces of technology.

Trying to learn about Web Quests

This technology is completely new to me. It's amazing how I think I know so much about technology since I've started my masters in this program just to find that there's more for me to learn about. As I was reading through the article "WebQuests: Can They Be Used to Improve Critical Thinking Skills in Students?" I was getting excited. As a second grade teacher I'm always looking for more engaging ways to get my students to enhance their critical thinking skills and I feel this is going to be a great way! I feel that it will require a lot of work at first on my part, but once you have it in place it will be smooth sailing from there. I think it will also let me relax a little and not be so nervous when it comes to letting my students search for their own websites. Through the WQ process I will have the opportunity to have already screened many of the websites and know that the website they are visiting does have information that they will need. I see many pros to this type of technology. But I also see many obstacles for myself when creating it. Hopefully throughout more reading and several emails to the professor, I'll be able to figure out everything in order to create my very own WB!

The Stress is Setting In...

I'm already finding myself a little overwhelmed with my class. I'm thrilled to be learning about all these new pieces of technology but at the same time I feel I have been thrown into everything at once and I'm trying to keep all of it straight while still trying to understand it. I hope that I am able to take a deep breath lay it all out in front of me... then begin. On a positive note... I know what a wiki is from my last class, I'm getting pretty good at this blogging thing, and my twitter account is coming along too. More to come once I do a little more reading and understanding.

First Time Blogger

Well here it goes. This is my first time EVER blogging! I'm kind of excited and nervous. I feel as if I can't really mess it up but at the same time have to be careful what I say because anyone can read it. I've heard of Blogs and what they are but never have been interested in starting my own. I could probably start a funny one about all the random things my students say, but I'll save that for a rainy day. I think I saw a good example of one being used in the movie, "Julie and Julia." Julie starts a Blog about cooking and people read and encourage her to follow her goal and blah blah blah... I could tell you the whole movie but it would probably be easier watching it. But anyways...

So I'm about to post and I'm just hoping I did everything right! Haha! Happy reading!