November 29th, 2009
by atony39
As I reflect on the things I’ve learned up to this point in the Web 2.0 course, the first thing that strikes me is that I had a very narrow and uninformed idea about blogs before I started. I thought they were just a public kind of diary. And they can certainly be that, but I know now that they can be a whole lot more. They are more like a special kind of website, full of information and ideas, and with the capacity for readers to make comments and ask questions.
I’ve never kept a journal, and it’s not the kind of thing that usually appeals to me, but as the full array of possibilities begins to unroll, I find that there are many compelling reasons to blog.
I’m not sure how I can use blogs in my classroom, but I’m beginning to see some ways to use them that might be really helpful. Every winter into spring I prepare students at my school to enter our annual invention show. Fifth and sixth graders are required to enter an invention, and must keep a journal of their work. They often work with a team or a partner, and since this is home work, finding the time to get together is often a problem. Blogging might make their journal keeping and collaboration easier. I’m not sure how to do it, but the ideas are beginning to come together.
Using blogs in my classroom will surely require some structure for the students to be effective. I’m not quite sure yet what that will entail, but we’ll get into it slowly and feel our way. And being able to read what other teachers are doing will help. In terms of 21st century learning skills, they’re already way ahead of me. But getting them to focus on my assignments might take some doing.
In my professional life, it may be easier to keep track of new ideas with blogs. And there is a certain amount of reassurance to read that other teachers are as stressed and frustrated as I am. And to learn how they cope with the pressure. They might even be interested in some of my strategies. The main drawback that I can see is that everything takes time. I guess it’s up to me to find the time if I think it’s worth it. Perhaps I can find a way to use blogs instead of some other tools I have used in the past. Perhaps the horse will talk and pigs will fly. Whatever happens, it’s going to be interesting.
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November 28th, 2009
by atony39
I enjoyed watching this presentation. I don’t know how effective I am, but lifelong learning is something that seems very natural to me.
I find habit one a little problematic. I don’t always start with a particular goal in mind. Sometimes I just fool around with things for awhile to gain some insight into the possibilities. As a song writer I have often started with a good line or a single verse without really knowing where I’m going. It is true, however, that a song (and I suspect, a blog) needs a clear concept. So somewhere along the way I have to form one. Every writer has pages and pages of interesting lines that never went further because they lacked a concept.
Habits two, three and four all seem to go together. And they don’t mean I have to go it alone. I learn best with a mix of independent effort and a lot of help from others who are able and willing to share what they have learned. Learning a new and complex set of skills also requires the willingness to be a beginner. That is not always as easy for adults as it is for children. We like to feel that we are in control. It is always a little uncomfortable to feel dumb. So these three habits are very important to me. I often have a monologue going. “This is a problem. I’m a good problem-solver. I’m going to solve this problem”
In this endeavor, all these habits will be important to me. I do have something of a toolbox, but I may need to add some new tools to the ones I already know how to use. That’s fun. I have always loved tools. And, for me the last habit and a half are the payoff. It’s a great source of satisfaction to gain mastery of something, to be able to play with it, and to teach it to someone else.
I think it was Ezra Pound who said, “All ignorance toboggans into know, then trudges up the hill to ignorance again.”
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November 24th, 2009
by atony39
When I first started working with computers in the early 1980s, I quickly realized that nothing I had ever done had made me feel so completely ignorant so quickly. Well, that was nearly thirty years ago, and I know a lot more about them now, but I find that my first impression remains true.
I also realized early on that it is possible to spend hours at a computer without being very aware of the passage of time. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I can say the same about reading a good book, or playing music. But it does mean that I have to be a little disciplined if I want to feel that I am getting things done.Yesterday I spent a long time picking a theme, downloading and cropping a picture of an Irish rainbow, and writing my “Other” page.
Perhaps I was also delaying beginning this first post because I wasn’t sure what to say. I always spend lots of time reading manuals or help entries and finding my way around a web site before I actually get started. But, in truth the opening instructions for this step in Web2.0 were quite direct and understandable. And, as usual, I find that once I get started the learning happens much more smoothly.
So what do I hope to accomplish? Well, I have already begun to learn a bit about blogs, and it’s clear that there is a lot more to learn. I also want to become comfortable with wikis and nings. And I would like to understand more about social networking with things like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. I must confess that, until a few years ago, I didn’t really use email very much. It was common knowledge at my school that if you wanted to reach me by email, you should also send it to my wife. So, it seems to me, that though I have well begun, I don’t think I’m even close to the end of the beginning yet. So much to learn, so little time.
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