Welcome Back to the Blog

Hello all,

Welcome back....

This term we have 2 classes blogging--Ee204 and Se370.

More to follow.

Techno-Constructivists

Before this project began, I was unsure of how it would be received. As a huge technology advocate, I believe in its use. I try to practice what I preach. I attempt to infuse technology into as many lessons as I can. I try to allow my students to see how I use technology to make teaching more effective and motivating. Often, I find people are resistant to change. When I present new technologies to professors or teachers, some want to see and learn more while others simply do not.

After thinking about what I wanted to do, I knew I need to focus on Web 2.0. Wait-- what is Web 2.0? According to Steve Hargadon ,Web 2.0 is "simply the use of the Internet as a two-way medium- - -that it is a platform upon which content is not only consumed but also created." He claims that students today use the Web entirely revolving around content that they and their friends have created, and within Web frameworks or scaffolding that facilitate that creativity rather than providing the content for them. "They build profile pages, upload photos and videos, and interact with each other and that content through active commenting systems."

I knew podcasting was something *I* wanted to learn more about. So, in a way, this project was a personal journey as much as it was for my students. From reading my students' blogs and talking to them in class, I have found they are enjoying this project because they are doing something. They are using computers. They are using microphones. They are making mistakes. They are getting frustrated. They are succeeding. They are doing something! THEY ARE PODCASTING!

It got me thinking about this article that I have my students read in other courses (mostly technology education courses): http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech005.shtml

I think this project has allowed students in my EE-204 to reach the following stage if they continue using the Web 2.0 skills they are learning:

Stage 4: Techno-constructivists --These are the teachers who integrate technology into the curriculum so that it not only complements instruction but redefines it. The true techno-constructivists have come through the previous three stages and have realized the full potential of technology to help children build on their own experiences, construct their own meanings, create products, and solve problems successfully.

Emerging Ed Tech Site

Our blog has been just mentioned at the following site:

http://www.emergingedtech.com/2009/05/education-related-blogs-blogging-resources/

Enjoy!

Twitter in Education

In response to Jim's blog (GE555 class Smitty's Section), here is some more Twitter information. Go look at his video to get an idea of what Twiiter is "in plain English".

This video explains how Twitter is related to education, blogging, and Facebook.

Enjoy!

BrainPop Blog

At the NJAET conference, I met with a BrainPop representative who showed me this blog site.

http://www.brainpop.com/educators/blog/

There are a variety of lesson plans, graphic organizers, movies, and other cool teaching tools. Enjoy!

Firstbook Blog Site

I found this blog and thought I would share it with you. Feel free to link it to your blog.

http://blog.firstbook.org/

First Book is a nonprofit organization with a single mission: to give children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books. Through hundreds of local Advisory Boards, the First Book National Book Bank, and the First Book Marketplace, the organization provides an ongoing supply of new books to children participating in community-based mentoring, tutoring, and family literacy programs.

First Book has provided more than 50 million new books to children in need in thousands of communities nationwide.

How to Start a Blog

Take a look at this site:

http://www.techlearning.com/story/showArticle.php?articleID=163100418

Any thoughts?

Blog Help

Hello classes (yes, there are more than one blogging this term)!

Hopefully this week you can get started on creating your blogs and getting used to this format.

If you need any assistance, let me know.

To get you started and thinking, here is a link to an article on How to Start your Own Blog:http://www.techlearning.com/story/showArticle.php?articleID=163100418

Furthermore, if you have any questions that you think other students may benefit from, you can post them here and I will publicly answer them.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend and I look forward to seeing you soon!

Welcome!

Welcome to the blog!

Some of you are returning bloggers and we have some newbies.

Enjoy this site.

And, above all, have fun blogging!

MY Access! Blog

After reading some of your blog reactions, I think MY Access! (MA!) has sparked some interest in the program.

MA! has its own blog at this site http://reach.vantagelearning.com/

Take a look. It gives some background on the program as well as some real-world applications and concerns.

Some examples include:

• Using MY Tutor Feedback to Help Revise Narrative Writing
• A Customized MY Access!® Lesson on Daniel Keyes’ “Flowers for Algernon.”
• MY Access!® College Edition now available

Enjoy!

Student and Teacher Blogs that Succeed

Student and Teacher Blogs that Succeed

A veteran blogger reveals why some blogs are popular and others are not.

Take note of the hints for success and use them on your own blog.

First Class Reaction

Today we....

watched this video...

This is what I thought...

Math Stategies video podcasts

Take a look at some of these podcasts created to help math students learn common problem topics:

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=EB2196CE96D0D750

Enjoy!

Math Blogs

In response to Chrissy's post (go look ;)), I have found a couple math blogs that you may enjoy reading:

http://polymathematics.typepad.com/polymath/advanced_high_school_math.html

http://math-blog.com/

http://homeschoolmath.blogspot.com/

http://mathgoodies.blogspot.com/

Bloggers in Action!

Catarina looks on as Deirdre blogs at the Academic Symposium. This experience allowed us to see that blogging can be done practically anywhere (with an Internet connection) and at anytime.

Thanks to the students who visited the Symposium and to the rest of you who have put so much hard work and effort into this educational blog assignment.

Academic Symposium

Today, our blog will be presented at the annual Academic Symposium.

The Academic Symposium provides participating students from all departments with an opportunity to share their research, publications, and other educational projects with the College Community.

Come take a look at our blog as well as other fascinating projects and research!

Final Blog Assignment

This is the end of the official blog assignment. The final date to officially post and respond is Friday, April 25.

At that point, you should have at least 15- 20 blog postings. With that said, I am not being "picky" on the amount of postings, but rather looking at the content and how active you were in posting and responding.

If you have any questions about your status, please let me know. However, if I was concerned with you, you would probably know it by now. ;)

So, on to the final assignment....

Please use your next posting (or two or three...) to reflect on your blog.

• Write about your blog.
• Discuss what you originally thought of the assignment
• Explain what you learned by using it.
• Do you think it was an effective assignment?
• What could make it more effective next semester?
• Would you use it in your future teaching?

Thanks. And again, your blog writing this term was nothing less than amazing.

Blogging on Break... Yes or No?

To blog or not to blog...that is the question...

Here is my answer:

If you have followed the criteria (2 blogs a week and at least one response a week), please feel free to take the week "off" from blogging. If you have a couple to catch up on, make sure you add a couple blogs.

If you have any concerns, please ask me.

Have a nice break!

First Class Session

Today was our first class. It was very nice to meet all of you and discuss our upcoming semester. It was also nice to FINALLY find out who Young Jezzy/Jeezy (pronounced JEEZY/spelled?) is. Learning never ends...

Hopefully you can get started on creating your blogs and getting used to this format. If you need any assistance, let me know. I am also learning blogger.com.

To get you started and thinking, here is a link to an article on How to Start your Own Blog:

http://www.techlearning.com/story/showArticle.php?articleID=163100418

Furthermore, if you have any questions that you think other students may benefit from, you can post them here and I will publicly answer them.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend and I look forward to seeing you Tuesday!