Thing 23

We certainly have covered a lot of material over the last several months. One thing I learned is that I needed to keep better track of my usernames and passwords. I rarely use g-mail, so I created accounts based on whether I thought I would use the sites personally or professionally ... now I have to consult my "cheat sheet" every time I want to log in!

Watching the video from Thing 1 again was interesting. I did wonder initially about how different the web could be. I always viewed the internet as a useful tool especially for research and just recreational "surfing" and reading articles. I was (and still basically am) a passive user, but I am trying to change and embrace Web 2.0 and this collaborative way of thinking.  That was an important theme in the video- that technology is changing. "The web is different . We are different"  It just takes some of us a bit longer to make those changes. It is difficult at times because searching, learning, and really using these technologies does take time, and sometimes there just isn't enough time. There have been  several lessons  that I know some of this technology would work beautifully, but with the pace of the curriculum and personal demands (and the need for some recreational time) I do find it hard to incorporate because of the time it takes. I will keep trying though!

For better or worse, our students are born and raised in this Web 2.0 world and this is the way that they seem to be most engaged... through collaborative digital methods. Not everything  in the curriculum  can be replaced with digital education, but it can certainly enhance some units. It is frustrating that the  majority of students (and many adults)  are so dependent on their devices and so willing to share every little detail about their lives or any personal creation, However, the trend is sharing and collaboration and it is true that students are more likely to create a better product if they know it will be shared "publicly" and not just read by the teacher.  Maybe this will improve student performance if they get more excited about the final product being shared.

In terms of classroom use, I plan to continue using a wiki for specific projects. If Edline does have a wiki feature in the future, it is something I will explore.  I am using Dropbox  more frequently, and plan to upload most of my school files to Dropbox this summer (I ran out of time earlier!) Delicious his useful for coordinating bookmarks both for school and personal purposes. If I can familiarize myself more with Prezi, I think students would like that as a way to present. I hope to incorporate the Science Friday "vodcasts" as warm-ups next year.  I would also like to brush up on my French (for no particular reason- just for fun) and the podcasts on iTunes will be helpful.

Learning about new web 2.0 tools will come from Mashable, consulting  my sons and students, and through staff development  like 23 Things. I enjoyed learning about all that is available, and although I will not use all of it, I will definitely use some. Thank you for your help and encouragement!