1. Final Reflection Post:
This final post is a two paragraph reflection. Please reflect on the Web 2.0 tools that you've experimented with, the process of learning these tools, and what implications you see in your classroom and in your curriculum. You might also be interested in commenting on how the interactive blog format worked for you personally in terms of collaboration. Be specific about challenges/obstacles as well as rewards/successes.
**I still need to do Activity 4, Screen Casting
My room at school has yet to be painted and I need to use that computer. Hopefully VERY soon I will be up and running at school!
I am very excited about Web 2.0 tools! I have learned a lot over the summer and I am excited to use them. Some of the tools I had used (Google docs) but I am now a more sophisticated user!! I am excited about that. I loved having the time to "play" with the different applications over the summer. You really could learn how to use most of them by just playing around. The Web 2.0 tools are very user friendly and made a lot of sense. The most difficult thing for me was learning how to embed them into Blogger. Once I got that figured out, I was set. I love how interactive it makes things. I like that most Web 2.0 tools have a very similar process for embedding them. It makes me feel that I would be able to use more of what is out there!
I definitely see starting a blog for this school year. The biggest challenge will be getting families to actually look at it. But isn't that always the problem?!?!? I guess I just have to know that I am helping to keep them connected and offering them useful information and then it is worth it. I really think including the Web 2.0 tools help to make it more interactive which will encourage more people to keep on top of it. I can't wait to post videos of students reading or doing activities. What a great way to bring school home! I know the students will love to see what is there.
I don't know how much I will use directly with students. I work with primary age students and they have limited computer skills and I have very limited access to sets of computers for them to use. It would be fun to encourage some students to do something like a Tagxedo for a book project at home. I know kids would love the final result and I also think 2nd graders would be able to figure out how to use them.
I would also like to set up another blog for my own professional use. I taught the Beginning Reading Instruction class and I would like to work towards having a Blog as a resource for that class. The Live Binder I made for the class was great but I don't think anyone used it. It was something new and anything new can be a hard sell (especially for adults!). Again, I struggle with who will actually follow it but I think it could be a good resource. I like that people can comment on what is posted. It may be a way to keep participants connected. I am always finding new resources so this would be a quick and easy was to share them with more people. Maybe as more and more teachers take this class.....more and more will become interested!!
Overall, this was a great experience. I love having the blog to look back to and remember what all we did. It will serve as a good reminder of what I can do over the school year!
