Thing 8 exploring RSS

I used Topix to add more feeds to my google reader account. The top stories were time marked "2 hours ago" or "5 hours ago." You can't get more current then that. The local search option was great. Anything I needed for the Grand Rapids area. Topix was very easy to use. I plan to explore more later an update my blog. I'm finding I am on my computer more and more each evening. Hours pass and I am surprised to find myself totally fascinated with all I am learning. This is exciting.

Thing 7 RSS

How exciting! I had no idea what RSS was and I see it regularly in the URL bar.
I have subscribed to a number of feeds and will continue to find more. It allows me to catch up on NPR when I can't listen. I plan to use RSS as a news and information resource with my 7th graders. We play a current events game called newsbowl each week. My students could set up a google reader for each of the topics such as world news, sports, national news, etc. and they would review them each day to prepare for our competition. I am SOOOOO excited about this. This digital immigrant will become a native soon.

Thing 6 Technologically Illiterate?

In order to teach it, we have to do it. How can we teach this to kids, how can we model it, if we aren’t literate ourselves? You need to experience this, you need to explore right along with your students. You need to experience the tools they’ll be using in the 21st century, developing your own networks in parallel with your students. You need to demonstrate continual learning, lifelong learning – for your students, or you will continue to teach your students how to be successful in an age that no longer exists.

I agree with this statement 100%. The digital immigrants need to be lifelong learners and take the time to experiment with technology in order to provide a better learning environment for the digital natives. Our students need to be prepared for the 21st century. Problem is schools do not have the money, the time, and sometimes the technology to prepare the teachers. I find technology often is given to teachers with the expectation they will use it. Yes, we need to experiment with it, play with it, get it to work, but wouldn't a little training and support be a wonderful thing! Wouldn't it be wonderful if our students or even our digital native teachers were to mentor the digital immigrants, just as the new teachers are required to have an experienced mentor teacher for four years. It is all about learning together, experimenting together, making mistakes together to grow with technology.

Thing 5 Mashups

I took a look at a number of the mashups. Flickrcolorpicker would be a great tool for our poetry unit related to color. Big Huge Lab was my favorite at this time. I would use the world travel map to track my own travels through Japan, China, Ecuador, and Belize. It would be a great tool in my presentations to students. My students would like Big Hug Lab and the world travel map as part of their country project presentations.

At last, I figured it out, the photos are posted.

Flickr

Hoping my flickr photo from Ecuador will be posted.

Flickr

I really enjoyed using Flickr. The tags make it so easy to find images of just about anything you are interested in. Groups were helpful as well. I chose images tagged Ecuador because of the month I spent there this past summer. I fell in love with the people and my favorite place to visit was Otavalo. The photo of the textiles made in Otavalo was incredible. The market was packed with textile stands. I am still working on posting the pictures. Every time I upload using the URL from flickr the pictures do not appear. I'll keep trying.

7 1/2 Habits

The most difficult of the 7 1/2 habits is using technology to my advantage. I just don't know enough about it yet to make it a routine way of thinking when I am planning my school day. I love technology and I get very excited when I find a new tool to use in my classroom. I find myself on the computer more and more each evening after work.
I just don't feel as if I can use it to my advantage yet.

The easiest of the habits would be to accept responsibility for my own learning and play.
I believe I have always been a lifelong learner. I love to learn in a variety of different ways: classes, online, video, hands on, reading, travel etc. Play fits into each of those categories because if makes the learning fun. Trying something new is exciting. That is how I see techology. This 23 things class is fun, and hands on.

23 Things-The First Thing

In this on-line course I hope to become less of a digital immigrant and more of a digital native. I know that web 2.0 holds all sorts for potential for learning in my classroom. If I can become more comfortable and confident in using all the resources, I know my students will be much more excited about learning and so will I.