Social Bookmarking??

This is a completely great idea, although not one that I think I will use personally.  I am one of those crazy people who don’t use phonebook and just dial people’s numbers.  When someone calls our house, I tell my husband it’s whoever, and he asks me how I know.  I just remember the numbers.  I do the same with websites.  I can, however, see the usefulness in the classroom.  To have the ablilty to create a list of used websites can save students time.  I think this is also a great way to share interesting sites for students to comment on and use for schoolwork.

Wikipedia!?!

Since the first time I heard about wikipedia, I have loved it and use it daily.  I have even introduced it to my MID students as a useful tool.  I understand that it isn’t always the most reliable source, since it is can be edited by anyone, but this can engage students in critical thinking.  I do believe that each person who decides to edit a wikipedia page should have enough integrity to only put credible information on the site.  Since our editing wikipedia assignment, I have seen first hand the steps that wikipedia has developed to ensure correctness.  I think the idea of an ever changing online encyclopedia is an exciting one, and will continue to use it both inside and outside of the classroom!

The world as a metaphor…

Postman says  “Definitions, questions, metaphors- these are three of the most  potent elements with which human language constructs a worldview”.  I think a metaphor can be a definition a question or an answer to a question.  A metaphor that I found and like is Life is an endless cycle.  There are so many ways to interprete these 5 words.  For a teacher, the interpretation could be as simple as the thought that each year new students enter the classroom in August and leave in May, then a new group arrives.  For a scientist, a way to define this metaphor is that for every new living creature another one eventually dies.  For a person stuck in a job they hate this can be defined as going to that hated cubicle from 9 to 5 day after day.  I guess what I’m trying to say is that for every word, spoken or in print, there can be countless ways in which it is seen and comprehended.

Ace is now used to doggie door…

OK, so now that Ace is comfortable with his dog door, I realized it was time to face that Facebook fear.  My husband is still not happy with the idea that we’re, I’m, whatever, out there… After joining, I have reconnected with two lost friends (quite a joy!), and a bunch of people I somewhat regularly keep in contact with, I can see the beauty of the entire site.  The fear was definitely unfounded, and quite possibly something I should have done years ago (thanks, Dr. Dail for enlightening me on this).

New Doggie Door!

I have a new analogy for my fear of technology, both inside and out of the classroom.  It is like Ace’s new doggy door (expertly installed, I must say).  He is as afraid of that hole in the wall with those plastic flaps as I am of Facebook or any of these other sites.  I know of them, just refuse to join up (Kevin and I have made a pact- we’re not joining… no matter how many friends tell us we need to).  My last friend holdout, Nova, joined Facebook last week.  Maybe if Ace can learn to use the dog door (which he will… there are treats involved) I’ll be able to  face my Facebook phobia without incident. 

Good? Bad? Helpful? Using Social Networking Sites In The Classroom

Social Networking sites can be used in a variety of educational uses in the classroom.  http://www.edutopia.org/how-to-use-social-networking-technology Edutopia brings up a good point about how in the 21st century the oral presentation of yesterday is what social networking equates to today.  Today the student HAS to present him or herself through technology… this is quite a powerful thought for someone who is still most comfortable with the oral presentation!  On the other hand, there can be draw backs as to student use of social networking in classrooms.  Parents may not know about their children’s use of social networking at school, so the may not have had an opportunity to discuss their comfort level with their child prior to the student experiencing social network sites.  Parents need to be the first to discuss with their children about levels of personal comfort simply because not everyone has the same levels of disclosure.  http://123elearning.blogspot.com/2006/09/social-networking-in-classroom.   As a future teacher I can see both sides, but as of now, I think I would be most comfortable staying away from social networking in the classroom… this is because of my level of comfort and disclosure, but it could always change!

 

1,000,000th word

Having gotten my (first)  Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature, I clicked on the Yahoo! page article about the 1 millionth English word just out of curiosity.  I was amazed at the timing of the new word.  It is so ironic that the word agreed upon was Web 2.0, since it is something that we are studying in class.  It just proves that I definitely need to learn more about Web 2.0!

This is Ace… He is always deep in thought, as you can see!

WEB 2.0 in the classroom

I think the idea of using web 2.0 in the classroom will start out as a daunting task… I mean, the kids are going to know 20 times more than me!  But, it will create an interesting twist on teacher/ student roles.  Then, by the time I learn a quarter of what they all already know there will be a ton of new stuff available.  On a more positive note, I think some of the ways in which to use web 2.0 can lead to very unique and artistic student work by manipulating both sound and visuals students will be able to add even more personal touches to their work, which could give them a larger sense of pride in their projects.