Thing 11.5 Evaluation

I'm so glad to be finished...I would get bogged down in things and play for days before writing...especially seond life. I was hoping to finish before my trip...and I just made it. YEAH!

1. What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey? Some of my best learning was the ITouch - I have been resisting the whole idea of ipods...and now I can't wait to get mine up and going! Another thing is was glad I had to experience was Skype....I knew I wanted to learn...but just never took the time...I'd like to do some skyping with other schools next year...that would be a great way to expand our campus.

2. How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals? Well...it gives me an excuse to keep playing and learning. I sometimes feel guilty when I am exploring "fun" things on the computer..but this way I am learning with a purpose. I also find myself just searching for new web 2.0 tools to see what else is out there....I've learned a lot in the past few years... I now keep up with several blogs and learn from them as well...this gives me the excuse to keep on learning.

3. Were there any take-a-ways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you? The biggest surprise was how many things I had already tried. On the 23 things...EVERYTHING was new...this time I had actually done several and had heard of others. I know I need to spend more time on several of these to be proficient enough to teach to the students (they will already know more)....these include second life and slide share...I see that I will use them...but I don't feel confident yet...but I've learned...don't wait to share until your confident...the kids will give you more tips then you need.

4. What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept? I love this format...I like that I can do things when I want...I do know that I have to set aside time and through this one I've learned that I need to set timers as to when to quit.

This has been most fun...between this and summer school learning...I feel like I've taken several classes!

Thing #11 Digital Citizenship

This is something that I teach every year to every grade. I feel that it is very important for students know their responsibility to being good technology users. This is one of those times that you must "teach" the students. Just like being a good citizen means taking care of your neighborhood, being a good digital citizen is knowing how to use the proper tool for the job you need to get done, and using the right resources to get the correct answers. I spend a lot of time working with students to know proper "netiquette", using the right tools and resources and being good observers - reading screens, checking the authors of websites, checking information given. We've had some good discussions when conflicting information has been found on several sites...great way to show how important it is to check the facts. We want students to take ownership of their learning, but....we need to instruct them on expectations and provide them with guidance. I especially liked the graphic with the four boxes and student in the middle...it summarizes it all...you need all four parts to be successful with the digital enviroment...once it is part of the students knowledge...then they can go forth and learn on their own....having respect/netiquett is important...as through the digital world you may send an e-mail or comment on a blog of someone you never meet in person...technology can not just be taught in a lab...it must be integrated into all subjects and more importantly into life. I don't just have one lesson on digital citizenship...I teach it all the time...as it best fits...integrated into the curriculum.

#10 - Virtual Worlds

This is a big thing for me to step out and try....thanks for all of the tips....without them and talking to others that had already experienced second life it would have been IMPOSSIBLE....I still have a long way to go to actually enjoy it.... I can see how kids would really take to this (and I saw it at summer school) ...but I am still having difficulty with using it in an elementary school with out an adult watching....I also see problems with people getting lost in time...it's very addicting....and time escapes....hours flew by like seconds....and life happened while I was totally involved with a computer screen...the other night is was 11:00 and I was still investigating....I do see how simulations would totally keep students involved...I began to look around for things that were like second life...but not quite so involved... In looking around...I've found this site that is just starting with a kind of simulation for kids...it also includes games - http://games.noaa.gov The new one that is kind of similar to a virtual world is called Waterlife - Where rivers meet the sea. I am sure that more things will be coming out for the younger children...I just hope that they are a little less time consuming...

Thing #9 SlideShare

I am really glad to see all of these choices.  I can already see how we should move in this direction as a way for students to share work, post work and finish work at home that they start at school.  As I go through the web 2.0 tools I see how software as we know it will be gone and the "freeware" available will be what we use.  What a value for school districts and businesses.

I enjoyed reading links from the links you gave and found lots of information about using the slideshare tools.  Last year I thought Google was going to take over the world with it's products...now I realize we only touched the tip of the iceberg.

I will definitely be looking at using slideshare...both to post projects and to allow students to work at home.....

After working with the mini-dells at summer school...this could be the answer to not having access to the server....why not work from the web...then no matter what computer, what device you could work on it....I haven't tried...but could you access from an itouch?  Perhaps not to develop and create...but to view...another way to get lessons out to the students....  After watching the students at summer school using two devices at one time...perhaps the tutorial slideshow on slideshare could be accessed on the itouch while the student worked on the assignment on the mini dell.  Right now as I am having difficulty with my pc....I'm reading some things on the pc and inputing information on the mac....what you learn from students!

Thing #8 Screencast

I've explored, played with, accepted memberships and downloaded the necessities for several of the screen capture software.  I bought camtasia several years ago and used it minimally, I had great dreams...just not enough time.  I am planning to use several of these to help create lessons for my GT kids...this will make it to where they are self directed.  Once I am comfortable with the software...I'm hoping to have students create a bank of lessons.  My new group this year will be a Tech Team made up of students who will "play and explore" with the new equipment...they will learn how to use these screen capture tools to create short movies to help their classmates and teachers....I'm so glad to see all of these choices...each one of them has just a little twist in what they offer.  Check back with me in a few months to see what we have created...I'll upload the lesson that I'm working on once my dell decides to let me log on....I'm working from a MAC because I got tired of waiting for the log in screen.....I want the PC screen in the screen capture so the students can use it.