Thing 7a – Task

Ok, I’m addicted to the NY Times.  That’s one reason my reader is so great.  I get to skim what I want right from my computer.  I thought this article was a hoot – Don’t worry those of you with fat fingers.  There’s hope for you yet.  They think of everything when it comes to technology.

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/25/microsofts-fight-against-fat-fingers/

Add comment February 26, 2009 cindyminter

Thing 6 Task – RSS – Feed your reader

Again, I will say that I love my reader and have used it for year.  With that said, you may be able to see why it needed some “cleaning”.  I took this time to reorganize my reader by deleting items I wasn’t interested in anymore and adding the required links for this class.  Subscribing to some of my classmates blogs has helped also because it helps me keep up with what I’m supposed to be doing.  Isn’t tecnology interesting?  Oh the places you can go while never leaving the comforts of your home.

Add comment February 26, 2009 cindyminter

Thing Five

I love my reader (RSS) and have been using it for years now.  I did add the required links from class but I have included a link from an old RSS.  It’s about a 44 year old adventure racers who is still winning races.  Boy – that makes me feel old(er).  You might find it of interest – http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/24/sports/othersports/24runner.html

I think readers are pretty wonderful.  They are a great way to manage the great deal of info that’s out there.  Most of my family uses a reader also.  I thought that was pretty interesting.  I think many sites like gmail make it easy for even people who are very computer literature to sign up and go.

Add comment February 23, 2009 cindyminter

Thing 4 Response to Blogs

After reading from the blogs that we had to choose from, I was filled with ideas.  I wanted to see a variety of different kinds of blogs.  I started with the one about homework.  This was the way in which I had experienced blogs in the past.  It was in a more informative and written in an educational format.  I have read many like this and it was as I expected. However, I will add that I was very interested in his ideas about homework – makes you think!!

Then I moved on to the blogs used in classes for elementary age students and high school students.  I was very excited by these.  I got several ideas that I will use.  I want to start a blog in my classes today.  I loved the students responses and I was very impressed with how the biology teacher set up the discussion about water shortages in Atlanta.  I loved how she added the links and provoked the students into thought on the subject. I also thought it was a great idea of getting the author’s response to questions about her book that the children had read.  I really was impressed with how teachers set these blogs up.  I got some great ideas.

The blogs that I read most definitely facilitated learning. I noticed that the style could be very formal or completely informal.  It was interesting how other people contributed comments to each blog I read – anything from encouraging the 5th grader who wants to pass  – to discussing water issues – to writing a story about the ducks at the school.  I thought this was great.  I appreciate the opportunity to see the variety of ways blogs can be used.

Add comment February 1, 2009 cindyminter

Thing 2 – Thoughts about Web 2.0

So far Web 2.0 has really made me think.  The videos from task 1 were so intriguing.  It really made you think about the learners that we are teaching today.  Imagine – the jobs that today’s learners will be doing when they are adults don’t even exist today.  That’s so hard to imagine. I guess it isn’t so far out there when you think of the jobs that exist today that didn’t exist 50 years ago.  I guess it’s the same scenerio.

It makes you realize that we must create a community of learners that practice the 7 1/2 Habits of Effective Learners as well as we do.  Instead of giving out facts and information, we should be helping students find the tools to find the facts and information themselves.  Students must see the need to learn and we must help nurture their desire to learn.

No matter your political beliefs, this year’s presidential election as brought the idea of us being a worldwide community to the forefront.  This is definitely reinforced by this class so far.  The video about the number of college students and English speakers in other countries is amazing.  The number of students from the U.S. that study in other countries is rising every year.  I personally know numerous students that are in other countries studing or that have been in other countries studying.  The use of this technology will only make our world smaller and easier to access.

I’m excited about learning more about blogs and the ideas brought to light in this class.  I feel like it gives me a window to the world.

Add comment February 1, 2009 cindyminter

Post 1, Thing 1 Reflections of a Lifelong Learner

7 1/2 Habits of a Lifelong Learner was quite interesting.  I think as a community of teachers we are all now beginning with the end in mind.  We have learned that we cannot be effective teachers without knowing what the goal is before we begin.  You can’t be effective if you don’t know what end result you are to expect.

As an effective learner we must take responsibility for our learning.  I teach this to my gifted students.  The main person to look out for their learning is them.  They know what they have learned and what they don’t quite understand.  Just as we as adult learners must do.  We must take responsibility for what we need to learn and go find a source in which to learn it.

For me the most challenging of the 7 1/2 habits is creating a learning toolbox.  I create the toolbox but keeping it organized is another matter.  I have a wealth of ideas and information but I can’t always go right back to it because of my lack of organization.  I definitely need to work on this.

The easiest habit for me is probably accepting responsibility for my own learning.  I like to learn new things and I’m pretty good at asking others for help when needed.

The most important of the habits for me is to begin with the end in mind.  There is no way to be an effective teacher or learner without knowing what your ultimate goals as a teacher or learn are.

Add comment February 1, 2009 cindyminter
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