Virtual Field Trip

Wow.  Now that I've explored Google and feel so comfortable with Google Docs it has been really fun collaborating with my group on our doc together!  Today, I played around with making a map of Plymouth, Massachusetts and a Google Presentation that we can all collaborate on!  This is amazing!  When I think back to my college days, I just can't believe how far we've come! I remember one particular professor who made us make a PP presentation for EVERY chapter of our geography class.  Ugh. We had to collaborate in a group to do it too, which meant that we exchanged our dorm phone numbers (only the lucky few had cell phones at that point), exchange email addresses, and plan a time when we could go to the library to collaborate face to face because wireless wasn't an option.  Even if we had had wireless back then it wouldn't matter because we ALL had desktop computers at that point.  Of course in every group you get stuck with at least one who is happy to sit back and let the rest of the group hash it out because the frat party was just too sweet the night before and he/she was probably still in bed at 2 in the afternoon.  If we had had Google docs, forms, presentations, maps, etc. back then we would probably all be sitting around in our pajamas in our dorm rooms, letting our muscles atrophy, but at least we'd all be connected in such an amazingly efficient way!

Open Office, Think Free

I'm not sure if I feel overjoyed or annoyed about Open Office and Think Free  - FREE software because it was not that long ago that I shelled out a LOT of money to install the Microsoft suite on my laptop.  I also shelled out a TON of money to put Microsoft Publisher on my computer because I needed it for my summer job.  Ugh. You hate to invest in anything anymore because right around the corner they'll come out with something better or something free that not too long ago you paid hundreds of dollars for.  I think I'm leaning more towards annoyed the more I think about it, because Open Office is just too cool...Ugh.

Google Fiend

     As a teacher, you know that your time is precious and if you aren't choosy about how you spend your time, you can find yourself frazzled, cranky, tired, and ineffective.  This past week I have unleashed the power of Google.  Well, at least my personalized iGoogle page.  I have to stay up-to-date on current events, family matters, weather, and so much more.  I can easily spend 10-15 minutes throughout the day checking on the personalized aps that I added to my page.  I love this. I feel much less frantic checking multiple sites all over the web.
      Furthermore, with the school year stretching out ahead of me I am truly looking forward to being able to use Google docs, Google forms, scholar, Blogger, and many of the other programs under the Google umbrella to unify my students, classroom, colleagues, and be more effective in authentically communicating with people.
      I'm also involved with several other organizations-church related, and otherwise.  I can already see the beneficial impact that being able to make up surveys and documents that can be collaborated on is going to have on these groups!  I am so excited.

   

EDU 517 Begins

As a sixth grade language arts teacher I am always looking for ways that my students can publish their writing authentically. Tonight the world of blogging opened up to me. I've always known that blogs existed. I even have one for my family's cabin to keep everyone updated on the progress of its restoration, but I just hadn't seen the link to my classroom before. I knew that it was an option, it's just that inspiration has never struck. Tonight in class I saw the possibilities. Each of my classes can have their own blog to create, visit, and make posts.  I can construct prompts as posts that they can then leave comments on. 

As a matter of practicality I can see myself going home at the end of each school day and not having a bag load of papers and a cramp in my neck from carrying them all.  I can see sitting down at my computer each night and being delighted to see that my students are leaving their comments for all to read.  In the past, I always struggled with how to get my students to share their writing.  Now they can post their writing and make comments on the writing of their classmates.  I can see parents being able to follow the work of their child and their child's classmates and even leave feedback for their student.  In my last class with Dr. Howe (Classroom Assessment for Learning) we were discussing ways that students can get specific and timely feedback.  Duh. Blogs!

I am very excited indeed...