July 27, 2007
This might be a little redundant from my post from yesterday so please forgive me. My final project for the R/W web course is my blog. I will use it in many ways:
1. As a conversation/discussion tool with my students
2. As staff development for myself
3. To communicate & share information/resources with my staff
Each of these is a different form of collaboration that I look forward to being part of. I hope that blogging with my students will force me to “let go” more and really let the magic happen.
This week I’ve spent a lot of time customizing my blog with some cool features-links to my del.icio.us account, recommended reading and bloglines account, among others. In doing this, I’ve learned how to use each of these different web 2.0 tools. I’m excited to have all of these tools in one place on my blog. It is going to make it easier for others to interact with my resources but also easy for me to keep things updated b/c everything is in one place.
I’ve really enjoying working with everyone in the class. It is always nice to interact with people who are willing to take risks and be a little uncomfortable because it usually leads to really powerful learning. I look forward to continuing our conversations online! ~Stephanie.
July 27th, 2007 at 9:10 pm
Hi Stephanie,
In reading about your final project I resonated with the idea of “letting go” as an educator and letting the learning for students happen. There is a time to impart knowledge and provide structure for a class but there is also a need to “let go” and let students explore, think and learn on their own.
In looking through your Book List and del.icio.us account it seems that you have amassed quite the list of professional reading. I am interested in a few of the books. Thank you for sharing. I am also curious about a previous comment that you made about making money off of your book list-could you please explain? Thank you.
July 27th, 2007 at 11:57 pm
Hi Steph, thank you for your help with the ning thing. I’m having fun setting one up for a demo. I thoroughly enjoyed this week of trying new things and being bowled over by tags and little pieces of code, and becoming familiar with new language.
Your blog is a great place for me to browse, because you were able to use some ideas that I wasn’t ready to take on. Now, I see the value of “tracking back” and will be able to model after your RSS. Enjoy the remains of summer! Laura Farnsworth
July 28th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
Hi Steph,
I started a comment and hit the wrong button…so please erase the other comment! Sounds like you have a great start to an excellent resource blog for yourself and staff that you work with. Thank you for your ning mini presentation, if was great to see a tool in real use and how effective it can be. I was definatly one that was out of their comfort zone this week. But I have learned so much and just implementing one new thing for me is a start! Happy blogging, Joyce
July 28th, 2007 at 4:25 pm
I enjoyed exploring your blog, Stephanie. Three things that you wrote in this post really strike a chord with me. (1) You commented that this blog enables you to have access to all your new Web 2.0 tools in one place. Rather than keeping those new tools as separate pieces (and harder to keep up-dated), you have woven them into a whole. This blog acts as the “big picture” of your understanding and implementation of the Read/Write web. (2) You plan to use this web “as a conversation/discussion tool with my students”. Using this blog for “show and tell” with your students is a powerful way to let them know that you are still learning and growing. Isn’t life-long learning what we want for our students as well as ourselves? (3) “Letting go.” It can be such a difficult thing to do, even when we know that it is when the real learning–the “magic”–happens. Thanks for the reminder, Stephanie. Here’s wishing you a magical year! Karen
July 28th, 2007 at 4:34 pm
Stephanie,
During class Alice would mention good books to read, but I seemed to only get part of a title or author’s name. But when I checked your book list – there they were! Thanks for doing that and for helping so many of us out in the class!
Happy summer -
Nancy
July 29th, 2007 at 11:37 am
Hi Steph
I really liked what you presented about the NING and when I get back to school hope to talk to others about it and professional development opportunities.
I had ordered a couple of the books that you have posted on your required reading list but now am contemplating ordering more.
You are very knowledgable and open in your sharing, thank you.
July 30th, 2007 at 1:33 pm
Steph
Thanks for the ning idea – can’t wait to see how it actually works for us! Your blog will be a great tool for your students and again I have some great ideas on organizing my own blog – thanks!!
July 30th, 2007 at 2:21 pm
Hi Stephanie
This looks great! It was a real pleasure being in class with you, and learning from you with all your great comments and questions. I’m eager to give the “Audio Too” tip you give on your blog a try as well. Hope to see you again in the future, perhaps at ACTEM. Have a great rest of the summer.
July 30th, 2007 at 3:18 pm
The experts are pushing more and more for TAG students to be left in the classroom; “Differentiated Instruction Using Technology” seems like a must have.
Do you have 23 pages in your delicious account? More importantly I loved the education: Best Virtual Field Trip
July 30th, 2007 at 9:38 pm
Steph,
Another great week with you. I really like the work you’re doing on your blog. Keep pushing it to your teachers and they’ll check it constantly for the great work you produce. You hit the nail on the head with the importance of letting go. So often we inhibit our learners from moving forward because we’re not there yet. Educators must be able to get out of the way of learning from time to time!
Enjoy the rest of your summer!
July 31st, 2007 at 9:47 am
Hello,
I am struggling with the idea of “letting go” some of my teaching practices and have students be more resposible for the learning. But, I think this is a wonderful way for me to start the process of letting go. I appreciate your thoughts and comments this past week.
Good luck with your learning adventure!
-Deb
July 31st, 2007 at 3:44 pm
I love your recommended book list – quite an eclectic site. I too have enjoyed learning with and from everyone in class. I think your project mirrors everyone’s learning. We’ve all gotten our feet wet, know it’s time to dig in. Thanks for the links, Jeni
July 31st, 2007 at 3:49 pm
Stephanie,
Thanks so much for sharing your expertise with us last week! I learned a lot from listening to you and looking at your blog. I wish we had someone with your experience at our school as a resource. I had never heard of a Ning until you presented yours in class. I think it’s a great tool for collaborating with a specific group of people. I hope to use many of the tools we learned about in the future.
I hope that your district and colleagues appreciate your hard work! Have a great school year!
July 31st, 2007 at 4:53 pm
This is already a great resource! I like how you organized the pages for Teachers and Students, targeting those audiences. I like the way you’ve integrated all these different tools: del.icio.us, amazon, and all the links to other resources. The site layout is organized and interesting. One question: if I subscribe to your entries, will I get a notice when you change the static pages?
Jane
July 31st, 2007 at 6:37 pm
Hi Stephanie,
Your blog is great! You have some awesome links! I like the way you have organized your blog with links for Teachers and Students. Well, after perusing your blog, I ran to my four-year-old all excited to show her your link of stories online where stories are read to you by famous people. So right now, I am typing these comments to you on one computer, and she is using the other computer and having “A Bad Case of Stripes” read to her! It is one of her favorite books! So thanks for the link!
Good luck with your blog and have a great rest of the summer!
Julie
July 31st, 2007 at 11:45 pm
My favorite part about your blog is the link to your favorite booklist. How did you do that? Do you create the list at Amazon.com and then just link that page to your blog? Very cool!
August 1st, 2007 at 10:40 am
This is an incredible resource! You have put alot of thought into it. It’s clear that people see the potential for using this with teachers and students as reflected in their comments. Please keep me posted on your progress during the year! Great job!