This is the end,...

• I did not start this class with a lot of excitement.  I knew I was coming in behind the power curve and with no desire to have my computer permanently attached to my body.  I have struggled, these assignments have taken a lot of time with a lot of trials by error.  I understand I need to learn these applications and it is beginning to make more sense.  These assignments showed how technology could be incorporated into the classroom and how it might even make some of the more menial tasks easier to manage.  
• Favorite discoveries- Bubbl.us was my favorite discovery.  Maybe not such an Ah-Ha moment for most people, but this is something that is used in the classroom I work in almost on a daily basis.  Plus , I like to use this format when planning a unit to make sure there is an activity in every center.
• Affect on,lifelong learning goals-Now that I have tried some of these Things, I will try to use more technology in my future  classroom.  It might be painful in the beginning, but I think it will benefit the children, especially children who are visual learners.
• Surprises- What I was most surprised with was that most of these Things did the same thing.  There were different places to go to to accomplish the same task.  Choice is good and different people have different preferences.
• Influence teaching- This was the first year I noticed students who came in with mouse skills did not have great pencil grip strength.  This was also the first year that more than half of the students came in knowing how to maneuver around the web sites and were able to help each other.  I need to catch up with them and take what they know and build on it.
• Keeping up, how-have to-I feel part of my professional development is keeping up with, understanding and using current technology trends in the classroom.  I may be kicking and screaming all of the way, but I will do it.
• Resolution to maintain, time- not there yet- I am not sure if I am ready to make the time commitment to give to the computer.  I still like reading books, ones with paper pages.  I think my cell phone is about five years old and still do not know how to take pictures with it.  Learning a skill to teach others that will continue to help them learn is something that I will keep up with.
• Record what you learned in blog-it would probably turn into more of a personal complaint- I think if I started a daily blog it would turn into a complaint about my life blog.  I am still not convinced I need to do this.  I am still not on Facebook either.
• Re purpose, share, add to email signature line-blog-not there yet-I am not ready for this step either.  I am a very private person and being an educational assistant for so long sometimes I feel like I know my place.  Maybe one day.
• End or beginning?  I just started this journey and I am definitely a one thing at a time type of person.

Thing #23

CREDITS

Learning 2.0 - 23 Things for Teachersis based on Learning 2.0 - 23 Things, a staff development program for theMesquite Independent School District. That program was based on the Learning 2.0 program that was designed by Helene Blowers and adapted by the California School Library Association and others. Content and style for Learning 2.0 - 23 Things for Teachers has been borrowed and duplicated with permission, under a Creative Commons License.

This statement is found underneath Anne Wall's picture on the web page.  Creative Commons is new to me, but I think when teachers are guiding students as to where to find resources, examples or copies, this web site should also be talked about.  If it is listed with the names of other places to look for information, it will be used more often.  I think this exercise and the one submitted for class, has made me more aware of what to look for when I am looking at other people's work.

Thing #22

I have heard people talk about creating and sharing binders with their classmates for class projects.  Maybe this is what they were talking about.  I do like the idea of being able to go to one place that will store necessary information, items can be added, deleted and shared.  My three binders are:  (under the name mpg) Center/Station ideas for preschoolers, Teaching reading to preschoolers and Social/Emotional development of preschoolers.  These topics are important to me and Re issues that I feel I need to stay current on. I especially loved Google filling up the binders.  At this moment I do not have time to surf the net for information to put in the binders and think the help from Google is a good starting point.


http://www.livebinders.com/play/play_or_edit?id=387703

 In the classroom, LiveBinders could be used to store information for a particular grade level, state standards, school policies and calendars and information pertaining to state testing.  Information is exchanged via email within a school, so this could also be stored in the same manner.  As for using this with students, older students could use LiveBinders to store research for group projects or to store older work for review for midterms or final tests.  

Thing #21

Let me just start by saying thank you to my son who helped me with the audio.  I found the background music I wanted to add but could not figure out how to actually upload it.  The Music is from the Index of Native American Music Resources on the Internet and the photos are from a series from the Smithsonian which were free to use.  I could not figure out how to navigate Creative Commons, do not ask me why.  This Animoto Short was created with my class of four years old students in mind.  The teacher talks about Native American Pow-Wows during the Thanksgiving Unit.  I have noticed, in general, the students have no idea what the teacher is talking about.  This 30 second introduction, which could be made longer, would help the children understand what she was referring to.  The only part of the process I was hung up on was the audio, the Web site itself was down so I was not able to utilize their support.  I like the idea of short video clips, especially with young children.

Thing #20

5th grader Dalton Sherman inspires Dallas teachers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fe_rPBDFjxMhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fe_rPBDFjxM

This is the video I chose.  I loved the idea that it was a student making this speech and not an administrator.  I think it is very important to remember we teach because we want to make a positive impact or change in a student.  This site is blocked from the school district I work in, blocked on the computers within the school.  A teacher could upload an appropriate video on a flash drive and then bring it into the classroom.  I am not sure about the copy rights or if permission would be needed by the principal.  I am not a member of YouTube and do not wish to become one.  My oldest son enjoys looking at and listening to different videos he finds on the website.  

Thing #19

So, now I have a membership, but have not idea how to add the badge to my blog.  As you may have predicted, I am not a member of any online community.  I really can not see myself sitting in front of this screen for hours at a time reading, updating or searching on really any site.  I do not have the patience for it and to be honest I would rather be sitting outside with my dogs or talking to my husband.  If I was not in school I would have more time and a need to connect to other professionals besides the teachers in my immediate area.

I needed to leave a comment to finish up this Thing and of course forgot my password to sign in.  I have looked at other social networking sites and I guess I am not that social.  I think it boils down to how much time I would have to play on the computer.  I am only on it for homework, and since my husband came home I rarely check my email.  Sad.  Not sure.

Thing #18

I am not comfortable with joining either of these.  But since a Twitter account was required in Livetext, that is the link that I will provide.  Everyone should be aware of how these sites work because everyone either uses them or talks about them or both.  Schools and classrooms could probably set up a Facebook page that would inform the community of what is happening in their school or classroom.  I am still not convinced that I need to join either of these sites.

michelle parsons (@michelleparson4)  my twitter account