All About Me Survey

Journal #4: It's Time to Trust Teachers with the Internet (NETS-T: 4,5)

Schaffhauser, D. (2010, December 1). It's time to trust teachers with the internet:a conversation with meg ormiston. Retrieved from http://thejournal.com/articles/2010/12/01/its-time-to-trust-teachers-with-the-internet-a-conversation-with-meg-ormiston.aspx?sc_lang=en 

Teaching in the 21^st century has become technological. In order to maximize student learning, it is pertinent to not only utilize technological tools but to also teach students how to use these tools. In her interview, Meg Ormiston discusses the importance of trusting teachers to use technology efficiently within the classroom. With the openness of the Internet, many administrators and districts put up blockers to certain websites deemed unsuitable for students. Although some blockers are absolutely necessary and reasonable, many administrators put up blockers everywhere, restricting sites that may enhance and increase student learning. Ormiston states, “Every time we get one of these new tools, we have an opportunity to engage students. That's what it's about. It's not about locking things behind the gate. It's about appropriate engagement.” We must trust teacher to both use and teach students how to appropriately use the Internet. If schools allow both teachers and students to successfully use the Internet, the opportunities for learning become endless.

Question 1: Is it appropriate and necessary to block all social networking sites (e.g. facebook, myspace, twitter, blogger, etc.)? I do not think this is necessary at all.  Seen in class, teachers can effectively utilize these websites to actually help and increase student learning. Yes, there are many ways in which students can ineffectively use these sites, but I believe that if the teacher presents knows how to appropriately use these sites, there should be a minimal amount of issues.

Question 2: What do you think is the best way to teach and employ “appropriate engagement” within the classroom? Blockers? Limited access? I think the best the best way is to teach the students responsible ways to utilize the Internet and to have them understand that while they are at school they must be appropriate. Also, presenting the internet as a privilege which is not to be abused will help to make students more responsible.

Journal #3: 100 Things That Make me Happy

1. My boyfriend 2. My sister 3. My parents 4. Swimming 5. Step class 6. Dancing 7. Biking 8. Spin class 9.Accomplishing something 10. Apples and peanut butter 11. Oranges 12. Getting an A 13. Sleeping 14. Feeling intelligent 15. Doing well at work 16. Helping people 17. Making other people happy 18. Going to the swap meet 19. My boyfriend’s band 20. Listening to my boyfriend sing. 21. Subhumans 22. Sunny days 23. Summer time 24. Gumballs 25. Getting something right 27. Feeling sexy 28. Chocolate mile 29. Desperate Housewives 30. King of Queens 31. The Office 32. Monk 33. Law and Order 34. Edward Norton 35. Reading a good book 36. Getting time to relax 37. Bubble baths 38. My boyfriend’s back rubs 39. The Jacuzzi 40. Getting in a good work out 41. Feeling warm and cozy 42. Tutoring 43. Eating well 44. Skinny Hazelnut Lattes 45. Smoothies 46. Relaxing at home. 47. Waking up on time. 48. New clothes 49. Getting paid 50. My Ipod 51. Having the day off 52. Getting my homework done 53. Understanding my math homework 54. My macbook 55. Good music 56. Going to shows 57. Listening to old punk rock 58. Johnny Cash 59. Lucky Cologne for men 60. My Ed422 Blog 61. My Ed422 professor 62. Meeting new people 63. Talking with my mother 64. My Opa and Oma 65. My cousins 66. Holloween 67. Getting all dolled up 68. Cryptograms 69. Arrested Development 70. Dirty Martinis 71. Good smelling candles 72. Raspberry Wine 73. Raspberries 74. Grapes 75. Engaging in good conversation 76. The beach 77. Driving down Coast Highway 78. Happy pictures 79. Sunflowers 80. Tulips 81. My tattoos 82. My boyfriend’s tattoos 83. Getting down with my bad self 84. Low rider bikes 85. Summer nights 86. Salsa Dancing 87. Swing Dance 88. Teaching someone something valuable 89. Old school cars 90. 1950’s fashion 91. 1950 Ford trucks 92. Dia De Los Muertos art 93. Nacho Libre 94. My boyfriend acting like Nacho Libre 95. Disney Movies 96. Little black dresses 97. Hensley’s 98. Shopping at Target 99. Making someone laugh 100.That there is plenty more than 100 things that make me happy.

Journal #2: Join the Flock (NETS-T: 1,2,3,5)

Ferguson, H. (210). Join the flock. Learning and Leading with Technology, 37(8), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/issues/Join_the_Flock.aspx 

In this day and age, information is readily available and literally just a “click” away, but how do we go about utilizing and processing all this information?  Shannon McClintock and Hadley Ferguson suggest that we “Join the Flock!” In their article, Ferguson and McClintock, discuss how to use twitter as a tool for building a “collaborative community,” where you can, not only, share your own ideas, but also gather information from others’ ideas. Ferguson discusses “how” to join this flock, suggesting that we create profiles, follow colleagues and people with similar interests, build a network, and create lists. Essentially, we need to build a unique profile, which holds and pinpoints all the information that we are interested in. Ferguson stresses the idea that with twitter you don’t have to share your ideas, “you can simply follow people and not say a word. Just read the tweets, click on links to blogs, and learn.” Twitter is an excellent source for not only learning, but also for sharing ideas; it is all a matter of how you use it.  McClintock describes how to maximize this learning, through use of a twitter organizer, hashtags, and lists to access valuable and pertinent information.

Question 1: How would you effectively use twitter within the classroom? I would use twitter as a primary device for keeping the lines of communication open between my class and me. I would create a class hashatag to help student’s access infromation and use tweets to post answers or helpful homework hints.

Question 2: What is something you learned about twitter? I used how to manage and effectively use a “twitter organizer.” I never knew there was such a thing, let alone what to do with it!

Journal#1: Doing Web 2.0 Right (NETS-T: 1, 2,3)

Light, D. (2011). Do web 2.0 right. Learning and Leading With Technology, 38(5), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/issues/Feature_Article_Do_Web_2_0_Right.aspx


Today, the Internet and web 2.0 can easily provide teachers with the tools they need to successfully engage and enhance student learning.  While utilizing the Internet in the classroom can be useful and fun, it can also prove to be a tricky task.  In his article, "Do web 2.0 right," Daniel light discusses the successes and failures of using web 2.0 with in the classroom. First, Light explains the three key factors in using web 2.0 successfully within the classroom: "instituting daily practice, carefully considering the audience, and teaching and enforcing appropriate behavior." Private and classroom blogs were successfully used when implemented within the classroom everyday in order to increase interest, engage discussion and debate between students, and to provide teacher-student feedback and communication.  Public blogs were also used, providing a forum for which students could share thoughts and constructive criticism yet, teachers found the students more comfortable with private blogs. When dealing with the Internet and web 2.0, successful teachers were careful and selective about the assignments and the audience involved. Because of the extent of people to which web 2.0 can reach, successful teachers will “consciously control” access to the online community. Light suggests that when utilizing Web 2.0, teachers must create and both an online and an in-class community that cultivates communication, ideas and intellectual growth.  If used correctly, Web 2.0 can be an effective and help create an open and accessible community with in the classroom. 

Question 1: Would you prefer using private or public blogs in the classroom? I would prefer to use a public blog, but I think a private blog is more effective. I think having a helpful classroom blog which students can post homework questions or issues is extremely useful.  Giving each student an option of having a private or public blog would be more appropriate when turning in assignments.

Question 2: How do you see yourself using Web 2.0 in the classroom? I could see myself having a class blog. I think it really opens up communication and discussion for not only the teacher and the students but for students to other students. I would use Web 2.0 to further build community and communication outside of the classroom.