So...I'm familiar with Wikispaces and decided that this course would be a great chance to learn a new wiki writing tool. I tried to use Google Sites, but every time I tried to edit something, my computer would completely freeze and I'd need to run the series of magical Ctrl+Alt+Del keys in order to get moving again. Did anyone else notice this? Very aggravating...
Anyway! Here's a link to my Wikispaces wiki and the "Wikis Visited" page.
http://slm508jjk.wikispaces.com/
Happy Memorial Day, everyone!
Monday, May 31, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Why Blog?
As a librarian with a classroom background, I feel lucky to have a unique view on the power of blogging and "real life" products. I've seen first hand the difference in product quality when the audience is a teacher versus other students or even -- dare we dream -- the entire world. That's the door that blogging opens. Students can produce work for not just themselves, not just the teacher, not even their parents, but for all the world to see.
I would love to use blogs more in my media center. I dream of the day that I can collaborate with teachers to create student-drive blogs that promote books, authors, genres, and even ideas for new books. Instead of the played out book report, why not post a blog entry with a summary and a student's opinion of the book? Other classes can then read the blogs, read the recommended books, and then post responses!
Unfortunately, there are a lot of logistical nightmares that go along with this. The primary problem we have is getting email accounts for students. There are also issues convincing administration to allow students such drastic freedoms. Who would monitor it? What if they post inappropriate comments? What if... What if... What if... That attitude is holding back our students.
I hope that my school finally gets on the bandwagon and sees the potential of clssroom blogs. The kids just might surprise us. In fact, I'm sure they will. They just need the opportunity.
I would love to use blogs more in my media center. I dream of the day that I can collaborate with teachers to create student-drive blogs that promote books, authors, genres, and even ideas for new books. Instead of the played out book report, why not post a blog entry with a summary and a student's opinion of the book? Other classes can then read the blogs, read the recommended books, and then post responses!
Unfortunately, there are a lot of logistical nightmares that go along with this. The primary problem we have is getting email accounts for students. There are also issues convincing administration to allow students such drastic freedoms. Who would monitor it? What if they post inappropriate comments? What if... What if... What if... That attitude is holding back our students.
I hope that my school finally gets on the bandwagon and sees the potential of clssroom blogs. The kids just might surprise us. In fact, I'm sure they will. They just need the opportunity.
Educational Blogs
Educational Blogs
blog of proximal development
Purpose of Blog
I visited the blog of proximal development: teaching.blogging.writing written by Konrad Glogowski. Glogowski definitely knows his blogs; he has a PhD in Curriculum Studies and Teacher Development and his doctoral research studied the use of blogs in educational settings and communities. According to Glogowski, this blog may have begun as a way to document his research, but has since developed into a more personal reflection, analysis, and study of 21st Century literacies and the impact of technology on literacy.
Type of Blog
Considering the original purpose was research-based, I would assume that the purpose was personal. It was his way to compile evidence and ideas. As it grew, I believe Glogowski realized the potential audience that he could reach, and the blog became a personal project.
Interesting Posts/Comments
I think that Glogowski’s relationship with Teachers Without Boarders gives his blog a unique perspective. I particularly liked his entry reflecting on his visit to Kenya and the struggle students have with literacy. He even touches on the very ethnocentricity of asking students to read “English” when it is a second or even third language.
One other point that I found ironic is the stress that Kenyans place on standardized testing. Apparently, the US isn’t the only nation facing this challenge. Glogowski says that the results of these tests dictate the child’s educational future.
Questions that Remain
I find it disappointing that the blog’s most recent post is from 2009. Perhaps his doctoral program ended?
He has a link to a “tumble log.” I’ve never heard this term before. Anyone know what it is?
Practical Theory: a view from the classroom
Purpose of Blog
Chris Lehmann seems to be a jack-of-all-trades sort – coach, teacher, public speaker, educational innovator, and blogger. Not to drop names, but I was immediately sucked into the blog with the words “Bill Gates” floating around. It’s not that I’ll jump on any Gates Bandwagon, but I was impressed by the connection between blogger and bajillionaire.
Type of Blog
Lehman seems to have blurred the lines between personal and professional blogging. While one post is a video of a speaking engagement, another may be about an educator-gets-personal Tweet (“Radical Notion: National standards should be written by successful people not of that field. Poets writing math standards, etc...”), and yet another boasts of his new iPad.
Interesting Posts/Comments
Lehman is certainly a visionary in education, and I love the posts of his speeches (and the fact that his students are sometimes recording or broadcasting them)!
The Thinking Stick
Purpose of Blog
Jeff Utecht, educator, presenter, and presenter, has created this blog to help teachers prepare students for their “unknown future.” I think it’s fascinating that he is an elementary teacher living in Bangkok.
Type of Blog
From what I can tell of Utecht’s followers, I believe that this is primarily an educational tool for peers (teachers). I don’t think Utecht would use this with his as a teaching tool for younger students.
Interesting Posts/Comments
Conclusions that he has drawn regarding the NJ principal who banned students from all social networking sites:
1. Parents are the problem and need to be told by the school how to raise their children.
2.That because “2% of kids are going to say something” we want you to ban all social-networking sites.
That’s funny because I’m sure that:
2% of kids have bullied on the playground yet we’ve never banned recess.
2% of kids have bullied on the bus….yet we haven’t banned buses.
2% of kids have bullied at the bus stop….yet we haven’t banned bus stops.
blog of proximal development
Purpose of Blog
I visited the blog of proximal development: teaching.blogging.writing written by Konrad Glogowski. Glogowski definitely knows his blogs; he has a PhD in Curriculum Studies and Teacher Development and his doctoral research studied the use of blogs in educational settings and communities. According to Glogowski, this blog may have begun as a way to document his research, but has since developed into a more personal reflection, analysis, and study of 21st Century literacies and the impact of technology on literacy.
Type of Blog
Considering the original purpose was research-based, I would assume that the purpose was personal. It was his way to compile evidence and ideas. As it grew, I believe Glogowski realized the potential audience that he could reach, and the blog became a personal project.
Interesting Posts/Comments
I think that Glogowski’s relationship with Teachers Without Boarders gives his blog a unique perspective. I particularly liked his entry reflecting on his visit to Kenya and the struggle students have with literacy. He even touches on the very ethnocentricity of asking students to read “English” when it is a second or even third language.
One other point that I found ironic is the stress that Kenyans place on standardized testing. Apparently, the US isn’t the only nation facing this challenge. Glogowski says that the results of these tests dictate the child’s educational future.
Questions that Remain
I find it disappointing that the blog’s most recent post is from 2009. Perhaps his doctoral program ended?
He has a link to a “tumble log.” I’ve never heard this term before. Anyone know what it is?
Practical Theory: a view from the classroom
Purpose of Blog
Chris Lehmann seems to be a jack-of-all-trades sort – coach, teacher, public speaker, educational innovator, and blogger. Not to drop names, but I was immediately sucked into the blog with the words “Bill Gates” floating around. It’s not that I’ll jump on any Gates Bandwagon, but I was impressed by the connection between blogger and bajillionaire.
Type of Blog
Lehman seems to have blurred the lines between personal and professional blogging. While one post is a video of a speaking engagement, another may be about an educator-gets-personal Tweet (“Radical Notion: National standards should be written by successful people not of that field. Poets writing math standards, etc...”), and yet another boasts of his new iPad.
Interesting Posts/Comments
Lehman is certainly a visionary in education, and I love the posts of his speeches (and the fact that his students are sometimes recording or broadcasting them)!
The Thinking Stick
Purpose of Blog
Jeff Utecht, educator, presenter, and presenter, has created this blog to help teachers prepare students for their “unknown future.” I think it’s fascinating that he is an elementary teacher living in Bangkok.
Type of Blog
From what I can tell of Utecht’s followers, I believe that this is primarily an educational tool for peers (teachers). I don’t think Utecht would use this with his as a teaching tool for younger students.
Interesting Posts/Comments
Conclusions that he has drawn regarding the NJ principal who banned students from all social networking sites:
1. Parents are the problem and need to be told by the school how to raise their children.
2.That because “2% of kids are going to say something” we want you to ban all social-networking sites.
That’s funny because I’m sure that:
2% of kids have bullied on the playground yet we’ve never banned recess.
2% of kids have bullied on the bus….yet we haven’t banned buses.
2% of kids have bullied at the bus stop….yet we haven’t banned bus stops.
Pagecast Sharing
I've been on and off with Pageflakes for a few years, but was excited to get back into it for this assignment. This was my first try at a pagecast, too!
My pagecast (for Library Lovers, of course) is at http://www.pageflakes.com/joannasmith25/
The pagecasts that I previewed are:
Cool Recipes @ http://www.pageflakes.com/jennyzuko/10861497/
Weightloss and Health Tips @ http://www.pageflakes.com/weightloss/18612905/ (although this one creeped me out a bit)
Designer Toys @ http://www.pageflakes.com/jennyzuko/11164323/ (again, same author as the other pagecast. This one wasn't very impressive).
PreciseEntertainment (a new one) @ http://www.pageflakes.com/preciseNews/22620514/
My pagecast (for Library Lovers, of course) is at http://www.pageflakes.com/joannasmith25/
The pagecasts that I previewed are:
Cool Recipes @ http://www.pageflakes.com/jennyzuko/10861497/
Weightloss and Health Tips @ http://www.pageflakes.com/weightloss/18612905/ (although this one creeped me out a bit)
Designer Toys @ http://www.pageflakes.com/jennyzuko/11164323/ (again, same author as the other pagecast. This one wasn't very impressive).
PreciseEntertainment (a new one) @ http://www.pageflakes.com/preciseNews/22620514/
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