Week 4 #8

Well, it seems that since I have set up a Google Reader account and now have newsfeeds coming in, I will be spending an inordinate amount of time at my computer. I have never seen so much information about my beloved California Angels!! (Sorry CocoaCowboy... there's always next year for the A's.) 

I still need to play with these a bit more. I tend to like the more creative projects of 2.0, but the RSS may prove to be useful to me in the future. Having created a blog for our district Science Olympiad, I need to find a way to track changes similarly to the way our 2.0 group is keeping track of its participants. What are some things I need to do to accomplish this? I'm sure I'll get it when time allows. Until later, I'm just Taking In the View.

Week 5 #10 and #11

I had the opportunity today to play a little. Noticing that YouTube was on the "short list" I felt the urge to follow another, yet similar, path that led me to TeacherTube. I have embeded a video titled "American Idle: Information Resources that parodies American Idol. I'm sure Simon would not appreciate this "high quality" performance. But, it is an example of teachers and LMTs collaborating!
I've spent my career as a teacher in the elementary school arena. Any insight into life as a high school LMT that might persuade me to seek positions at a high school level and use my LMT credential?

 

I used image chef to once again state that it seems I'm "Just Taking in the View."

Week #3 Things # 6 and #7

#6 Alright, the Flickr mashups are really fun. My mind is spinning trying to think how I can incorporate them into our curriculum. I wish I had taken the summer 2.0 and knew about the trading cards before school started. I spent plenty of time creating my own template when I could have had the kids take care of it all in the lab using the Big Huge Labs mashups. 

I can imagine a magazine cover or movie poster highlighting new and noteworthy books in our library. The ideas are endless. I think that is what I loved most about getting my LMT credential - being around creative people who use available resources to make learning fun and meaningful. 

#7 Besides using web 2.0 resources effectively in the classroom, I'm interested in trying out different instant response systems, document cameras/projectors (like the Elmo), whiteboard technology etc. Basically, I want all the bells and whistles that our district doesn't support to the fullest but I realize that can make a difference in the delivery of curriculum. Students need to be engaged and teachers must find new and better ways keep them interested. 

I have started to learn and try a little bit of podcasting. Having students do this at an elementary level only has time as a limiting factor. Check out one of the podcasts I created out our Outdoor Science School last spring. 

Week #3 Thing #5

AV on Fire, originally uploaded by Closet Chronicles.

The Antelope Valley was in full bloom the Spring of 2003. When the conditions are just, the valley looks like it is on fire. I took this picture on a weekend trip through the valley. That was an awesome Spring for wildflowers everywhere!

Week #1 Thing #2

7 1/2 Habits

Habit 7 1/2!!! My favorite way to learn. Whether exploring on the web or out on the road. The world has so much to offer. It always amazes me how connected the past is to our present. It never fails to excite me when I make new discoveries. 

As for the hardest habit for me to embrace is "Habit #1 - Keeping the End in Mind". So often I find the present consuming my time and thoughts. 

Week #1 Thing #1

The program is set up just as it was advertised at CSLA. Although I'm joining in a little late, I couldn't be more thrilled to get started.