Thing 11: Google Docs

The answer to my frustration is here in thing 11...this is great! I have a few scenarios in which Google Docs could be very helpful. The first being power point presentations...when I work on them for professional development and things, it is always back and forth between collaborators. But with Google Docs, what a great way to skip the back and forth. I too, would get confused and was constantly double checking to make sure I had the right updated doc. This sounds like the perfect way to share and collaborate being mindful of the time we have (and sometimes don't have) to do things.

I also did the school newspaper this past year on publisher. It turned out to be more of me doing all the typing, editing, etc. With a Google Doc the students would have had access to it to participate more in the whole process.

One thing I worry about though, if we are going totally web based with projects like this, is that kids without computers don't have the same advantage as those who do. I think we have to be careful, especially with our students of poverty, to make sure the playing field is level for ALL kids. I do believe, with grant opportunities and support from other areas, that this problem could be easily solved...but we need to make sure we are being proactive to our changing technology by keeping the learning needs of all kids in the forefront.

I am excited to add this to my bag of techie tricks now....I can see great streamlined opportunities ahead!

Thing 10: Misc. Adventure with the Wiki

http://miscadventure.wetpaint.com/

Here is my link to my new wiki....I decided to use wetpaint and I love it much more than pbwiki....maybe because it has a more creative look to it. This site was super easy to set up 1,2,3 and I was up and running...the only things I did not have were addresses to share it as those are not in my head.

I think I will use this one when I get back to school for a lit circle discussion place. I am excited about the possibility of having students collaborate in an area where they are used to using.

The possibilities are endless...

Thing 9: Wiki, Wiki...Aloha!

I am quite familiar with the wiki collaboration tool. I belong to a few through the KISD (Literacy Coaches Network...) and even created one for Professional Development at my own school.

I first heard about a wiki during a presentation done by Will Richardson at one of our district professional development several years ago. I thought then, it was such a great tool to use for a presentation. Not only was the speech supported visually, the audience had a link to keep going back to for conversation., I thought I would post the link here in case anyone wanted to check it out:

http://willrichardson.wikispaces.com/

I love the interactive feel to this wiki. Not only was it a powerful presentation, but I can refer to it even now.

My own wiki that I created for pd at our school was interesting too...after thinking about the wiki I first mentioned, I think I need to make the wiki more interactive. It started out strong, but I have to say it fizzled a bit. At times, staff members would try to pick up conversations and get a little activity, but then it would fade again.

I also had a few teachers use the wiki to get some frustrations out about issues in our district. Unfortunately, it seemed like more of a rant to me and some of the people that were just getting used to the idea were turned off by that. A few teachers told me they were uncomfortable to get back on after that...which was too bad!

I think with anything new (and I learned this over and over last year) it just takes time to get comfortable with change.

As for my teaching life, I would love to explore this tool in the classroom. For the past few years, I have been very interested in getting conversations going about quality literature...using literature circles, reading workshop, etc. I am thinking this would be a great venue for the older kids to keep the conversations going outside the classroom and possibly with other schools!! I'm excited to wrap my brain around this...so I am adding it to my list of things to explore next year. Another adventure to have!!!

Thing 7 and 8: RSS Feeds

RSS feeds?? LOVE it...the news comes to me! I love checking it over lunch and finding out what is new. This is such a time saver. I use RSS feeds regularly in my blog/news gathering life. I have subscribed to several feeds over time and find it so useful if I keep up. I have to admit, I got so busy the last few weeks of school, that I wasn't using it. When I went back to check on it I had accumulated 997 new things to read. Talk about too much information. Thank goodness for the "mark as read" button!

I have even set up some ways to get alerts about the people and places around me. I have alerts set up for my school district, my husbands work news and Bay View, Michigan. Very cool to be able to find out the scoop (and sometimes be one of the first ones to know).

It is such a great way to connect when I have the time...and like I mentioned earlier...it comes to me!!

Thing 5 Part 2: Barefoot Children in the Rain

Barefoot Children in the Rain
Originally uploaded by mhoeksema

Here is the picture I played around with...pretty fun to make all the photo editing changes. I really wanted to "posterize" it, but when it said to take out the credit card, I scaled back a bit.

A friend of mine sends her kids to Potter's House School. Her first grader published a book (on sale locally too) using fantastic photos and great insight from her kids. These photo mashups would be so much fun to compliment kid's writing!

Anyway...I could play with this for hours. What a great activity for a rainy day!

Thing 5...Mashup Fun Part One

This was an interesting new learning....I have played around with Picassa and Photoshop before as I love taking pictures. I kept wanting to check out the Flickr Color Picker...very cool photos joined together for a "color theme"...but I couldn't figure out anything more with it...other than playing around (which...is a life long learning habit I am pretty good at).

I could see how the Mappr would be a great tool for teaching...timelines, geography, awareness of the world in pictures. They say a picture is worth 100 words...and this would be a great way to inspire writing and building cultural awareness.

I am struggling with figuring out how to post what I am doing right now...so stay tuned!

Another Sunset in Paradise...Thing 4

Originally uploaded by skePTic30

Often I have thought, you can travel all over the world and see beauty...but how lucky was I that this was a regular occurrence up north. Growing up, my family spent the entire summer in Bay View, Michigan. Each day would end with the splendor of a sunset over Little Traverse Bay.

Crowds of people gather by the water's edge to snap a picture of the sunsets. Even though this picture is beautiful...it doesn't capture the actual event. The sunsets were always bigger and better than any photo could do justice.

As I was exploring Flickr...I stumbled across tons of pictures from Bay View...I was even in some of them from a 2007 4th of July parade...who knew??? What a great way to share photos...with people who are drawn to a certain area, interest or just want comments!!!

I have just gotten a "flicker" of what I can do...now for the whole picture!

Thing 2...Blog Adventure

After looking at Blogs for a few days, I think the types I have been drawn to are the ones that are quick and easy to read in my areas of interest.

I find myself checking back with the blogs that are updated regularly and looking for new info. It's great that "someone" is always talking about "something" and you can join in on conversations if you feel a connection.

I have also stumbled across some that have links to other blogs in the same area of interest. Those were great and exposed me to even more thoughts and ideas. What a great resource for people to have at their finger tips! Now how to figure out how to post links on mine....

Happy Blogging!!

Thing 3 For Me

Wow...what great habits of lifelong learning...I have always considered myself to be a life long learner in all that I do.

The easiest habit for me, hands down, is playing! Looking back to my days as a camp counselor in the summers, I can remember playing as hard as the kids at camp! I love playing with my own boys any chance I get. As for technology, I like to play around with that too...and some of that fun has yielded great Photoshop projects and fun on Facebook. I think the spirit of playing keeps it less serious and more adventuresome. I am much more willing to take risks that way!

The hardest habit for me would be using technology to my advantage. I love to use it, but haven't figured out quite how to streamline it to make me more productive...it seems to add on to my work load...especially if I get sidetracked or stuck! I can think of an example...I was organizing our Young Author's Day and dividing kids into small groups and assigning them to volunteers...I know it would have been so much easier on Excel...but I have limited knowledge in that program...sooooo, long story short, I wrote out more that I probably needed too. It was really frustrating.

Anyway...what a great age to be in...the Learning Age...can't wait to keep learning!

23 Things...The First Thing

I am looking forward to finally having time to launch an adventure into the techie world and have time to get used to using it. I do blog (somewhat regularly...although I got a little behind when things got busy) and have set up a Wiki for school professional development use. I hope to keep up with both as well as add some new learning!

I am looking forward to learning more so I can incorporate it into my teaching. I also feel that it is so important to make what we are teaching authentic to the kids. If the students are using this technology...we should be doing it too!

I am a busy wife, mom of two boys, teacher and optimist....I like to consider each day an adventure like no other, whether raising my boys, at work or even online. So here's to the journey...