Thing #6

From Web 2.0 award nominees I selected browsers and web extensions. I am familiar with firefox - it is used at A.P.S.U.  I use IGoogle on my home computer, I have personalized my home page.  I am comfortable with it and works well for my uses.  I chose diigo to explore further.  It is user friendly.  I made a list of current web sites I access often.  This is a great web list sharing tool.  I can allow others to access my list and I am able to access their, with an invitation.   The internet is vast and no one person can know everything or know all possible web sites to be used for a class or remediation. List sharing is a great way to increase your knowledge of web site without spending time looking things up.  I list is marked/tagged with specifics; so if your are looking for similar information you can use someone else's web list.  Information sharing is what makes us better educators/researchers, diigo is great for that.  I think using diigo in a library would be awesome, teachers would be able to give students specific teacher investigated sites for projects, remediation or just fun.http://www.diigo.com/user/eleininger

Thing 5

Originally, I thought Web 2.0 was an updated version of the internet.  WRONG!!!! It actually means that the internet is EVERYWHERE!!!!  It has become an integral part of our daily lives.  It seems everyone in my world uses the internet.  (Even my mom; well, she has family members use it for her)  I no longer have to go to a book store, the library or do general shopping.  We are able to talk to people on the other side of the world while simultaneously doing our banking, paper is optional today.
Children of all ages are very comfortable with accessing the web; it is second nature to them.  People from my generation used encyclopedias, students today surf the net.
This generation is our future; they have incorporated the internet into their daily lives.  Educators must stay relevant, up to date.  Using the web gives learning a discovery, hands on and global process.
Web 2.0 is technology that non tech people (like me) can easily use.  The lesson planning process is faster, due to the web.  The information we use; is updated; the latest and greatest, if we look efficiently.
Web 2.0 for education is similar to what printing presses did for manuscripts.  We are limited by our ability to use the web.  We have hit the tip of the iceberg.  I am CONCERNED.  I have to get better at using web applications.  The more I practice now, the better it will flow when I use the web in the classroom.

Thing #4

Making comments on classmate blogs show our interest in everyone's work.  Blogging may be old hat to some of my classmates; so, I look forward to the comments of "seasoned" bloggers.  I think making positive or constructive comments will assist everyone with this project.  I further think, it opens the door to getting to know my classmates.  Sharing the difficulty or ease with which we complete each thing will encourage those of us that are not bloggers.  It is a small peak into each person, so that will help build cohesion.  I will edit this from time to time, after I post on other blogs.  I have chosen Emily and Britni, from our class to make comments on.  I chose to comment on blogging.  I don't know if they will lead to a friendship; but at least we get to know each other. I also made a comment on Tyler's reasons for his avatar.  He made good points.

Thing #3

I am not a big fan of blogs; well, I can’t say that exactly, I don’t blog.  I am certain students today are much more familiar with it than I am.  I reviewed the recommended sight; some of their recommendations didn’t appeal to me.  I did find some of the suggestion worth further exploration.  I think I would like to blog in my education courses to reflect on my teaching experiences.  Experiences from others would gain me insights into other possible approaches to a myriad of tasks.  It would be a quasi mentoring program.  Initially I would be the most benefited, I’m sure.  Writing something I have learned may also be beneficial to others.  My favorite reason for blogging with other teachers would be to share ideas.  I also want to keep on top of important teaching and learning issues.

Starting a class blog would make it easy to communication with parents and family.  Clarksville is a military town so extended families may not live close by.  Another good reason, unfortunately, is that we live in a world of yours, mine and others. (Divorce) Parents may not communicate well with each other, but they  would be able to access the classroom blog with ease.  Parents would learn first-hand what their child is working on.  It would assist non-custodial parents think they are more involved with their child’s education.  I have chaperoned class trips in the past; a classroom blog would allow photo posting for instant access, when my class took a trip.  The class activities could be blogged quickly; it would be as if they were all there with them.  I like the idea of building a class newsletter, using student written article and photos, but I think it would not be feasible for my class, I teach Spanish.  I would like to link my class with another class, Mexico actually; I have cousins who teach in four different Mexican states; that would be AWESOME.  I don’t think having my students set up a blog would work at this time, but a shared weblog to complete a Web Quest may be in the cards.  I don’t know how to complete the last two items, YET, but the possibility of doing them fills me with excitement and anticipation.

Thing #2

http://according-to-mo.blogspot.com/ How did I decide on the name of my blog? Naming my blog was something I pondered for a couple of days.  I gave my posting name plenty of thought, I kept making changes.  I did not think of anything clever for my posting name, because I would get confused.  The names I tried were not me at all.  I chose according to me.  Why?  Well-l-l-l-l, what happened was, I read over the 23 things and realized it was set up for my thoughts, opinions and feelings.  So-o-o, why not according to me?  This name suited me well.  It has some humor behind it; and I like humor.

What was my experience creating the blog?  Creating my blog was not hard in the difficult sense; NERVE WRACKING!!! Is good word for it.  I did have a hick cup at first; but I was able to work through it.  I found it challenging.  I was unsure of how much it should reflect me, how much information do I include.  Blogging is a balancing act.  I want to be forthcoming; but not too much so. 

The avatar reflects me slightly, I would have preferred a mid-length skirt and jacket; I lean towards a tailored look.  I did select one of my favorite colors, blue.  I don’t wear glasses, reading ones don’t count, but my sister does and I thought it fun to use her style of glasses and haircut.  I enjoy wearing jewelry, nothing to ostentations, but feminine; but I did not find that option.    I have to admit overall I did have fun!!!!

Thing #1

What is my easiest lifelong habit?  That was the million dollar question.  I thought about it, even wrote my thing #1 several times.  I finally settled on this:  the hands on approach.  I follow a recipe teaspoon by teaspoon, regardless of the number of times I have made the dish.  I have been cooking for 3 decades; so I know there have been a few repeats.  I don’t do the exact measuring with the dishes I learned from my mother and Nana (paternal grandmother); but, I do exactly what they did, no teaspoons, just a pinch of this and that.  In my previous life (career); everything was hands on.  I never completed any task without being shown told how to do it, step by step. I find hands-on-learning is what I enjoy most. 

I know reading a textbook holds the greatest challenge for me.  My optimum learning scenario is to read my text book, listen to a lecture, and take notes.  Those conditions meet my needs to a tee.  I am puzzled though, when I attend seminars I find my mind wondering.  Usually I get handouts, someone is lecturing and I take notes; but my mind does not stay on task.  I really lose interest if they show plain black and white power point slides.  If I am given a copy of the presentation and have to just follow along; I am really not focused. 

I want to use web 2.0 to become familiar with it.  It would be a great tool to use in my classroom; but I have basic computer literacy.  I am in the elementary stage of my education in the technology department.  

My comfort zone was stretched a mile setting my blog up. I am not sure I like the idea of having a blog, it seems alien to me.  I thought it would be something only young people had; but I have recently learned several of my friends are very comfortable in cyberspace.  Here I go, on this adventure.  Creating the avatar was fun; I tried several different colors, clothes, glasses, deciding was actually fun.  I have to come clean; after I created the avatar for this class; my nine year old grandson helped me explore other sights he thought were “cool”.  I am so glad I don’t suffer from low self-esteem or ego mania; if I did, I would have missed out on making a memory with this great young man.