I have been blogging for years now. I first began in 2004 to chronicle the end of my career in hotels and the beginning of my new life as a teacher. I blogged to help relieve stress and to let my family who lives near and far to know what was happening in my life. I didn't blog about politics or religion. I would write about perhaps something that I found funny or odd that happened to me. Sometimes I would write about my top ten favorite things. Whatever I wrote about, I made sure it was humorous to read for anyone who chose to.
Now I have since stopped writing on my personal blog but blogging hasn't been completely out of my life. My students maintain a simple blog in which each day, a new student was chosen to be "Jensen's Journalist". It was their job to record the happenings of the day and write about it on our blog. You can view their work here: http://jensensjournalists.blogspot.com/
This upcoming school year, I am looking at having my class of six (yes - you read that right!) students have their own blogs. I think the program I will end up using will be Gaggle but have yet to make a final decision. I just hope that my students will enjoy writing on their blog as much as I did.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Webpost #7 Second Life
I first tried Second Life (SL) about four years ago. I've always been a big gamer and thought that Second Life would appeal to that side of me. It did....for about two days. I found certain places to be interesting but the whole prospect of it bored me. I ended up stopping after just a couple days.
When I read that we were going to do be exploring SL more and more in my Masters program, I was NOT excited. I grudgingly set-up a new account and paid very little attention to my appearance in SL. While doing a group project in SL, I did start to become a little excited about the prospect of using it in the classroom. Being able to show my students places such as the State of Liberty or the Wall which shows the names of soldiers who died to be an exciting idea. However, the research it takes to find these places is a huge drawback for me.
I think one of my main reasons I disregard SL is because of time. Between work (I'm at school from 7a-6p, Monday - Friday), trying to complete my Masters and having a bit of an outside life with boyfriend I don't have the patience or energy to actually explore SL. Despite my reluctance, I have found a couple neat things in SL. I found a Space Park, Mt. Rushmore and the State of Liberty. I was even more excited about these finds when I discovered a classmate actually used that in his webquest.
Perhaps there is more to SL than meets MY eye.....and maybe one, fine, boring day I'll take the time to explore this possible classroom resource.
Watching movies like this (caution it does have some subjectional language in it) help me find the humor in SL. It also makes me wonder how they filmed some of the parts.
When I read that we were going to do be exploring SL more and more in my Masters program, I was NOT excited. I grudgingly set-up a new account and paid very little attention to my appearance in SL. While doing a group project in SL, I did start to become a little excited about the prospect of using it in the classroom. Being able to show my students places such as the State of Liberty or the Wall which shows the names of soldiers who died to be an exciting idea. However, the research it takes to find these places is a huge drawback for me.
I think one of my main reasons I disregard SL is because of time. Between work (I'm at school from 7a-6p, Monday - Friday), trying to complete my Masters and having a bit of an outside life with boyfriend I don't have the patience or energy to actually explore SL. Despite my reluctance, I have found a couple neat things in SL. I found a Space Park, Mt. Rushmore and the State of Liberty. I was even more excited about these finds when I discovered a classmate actually used that in his webquest.
Perhaps there is more to SL than meets MY eye.....and maybe one, fine, boring day I'll take the time to explore this possible classroom resource.
Watching movies like this (caution it does have some subjectional language in it) help me find the humor in SL. It also makes me wonder how they filmed some of the parts.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Blog Post #5 Communities of Practice
There are days when I truly wonder what people (I!) did before the internet became this powerful tool. I can spend hours a day browsing the different resources available to me and many times during the summer months I literally WILL spend that much time doing it. I love to visit sites such as A to Z teachers and join in discussions with other teachers on the forum board about best practices in the classroom or just offering some words of encouragement to perhaps another teacher who is having a difficult time.
My favorite part is being able to find other classrooms to do projects with. For example, if it wasn't for the internet and being able to connect with other classrooms I would never be able to do the Postcard Exchange that I have been arranging for the past couple of years. (http://www.msjensenclass.com/Teacher_Resources/postcardexchange.htm) And this year, I'm collaborating with another class on Monster Exchange (http://www.monsterexchange.org) to help improve my students descriptive writing. Plus websites such as Teachertube.com have allowed me to find videos on concepts made by other teachers to show my own students. Sometimes it's nice to give kids another teacher's perspective on how to solve that tricky math problem.
Many teachers will often agree that teaching can be a lonely profession. You are in a classroom for hours everyday with children and when school is out, you are still isolated due to grading papers, changing out bulletin boards or making phone calls home. There is very little time to communicate with your fellow co-workers. I love the networking opportunities online because it allows me to find like-minded teachers to talk with. I have been inspired and motivated every year by finding these people!
My favorite part is being able to find other classrooms to do projects with. For example, if it wasn't for the internet and being able to connect with other classrooms I would never be able to do the Postcard Exchange that I have been arranging for the past couple of years. (http://www.msjensenclass.com/Teacher_Resources/postcardexchange.htm) And this year, I'm collaborating with another class on Monster Exchange (http://www.monsterexchange.org) to help improve my students descriptive writing. Plus websites such as Teachertube.com have allowed me to find videos on concepts made by other teachers to show my own students. Sometimes it's nice to give kids another teacher's perspective on how to solve that tricky math problem.
Many teachers will often agree that teaching can be a lonely profession. You are in a classroom for hours everyday with children and when school is out, you are still isolated due to grading papers, changing out bulletin boards or making phone calls home. There is very little time to communicate with your fellow co-workers. I love the networking opportunities online because it allows me to find like-minded teachers to talk with. I have been inspired and motivated every year by finding these people!
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Blog Post #5 Social Media
I was out eating dinner the other night with my boyfriend and a couple good friends and the subject of social media and networking came up. We marveled over the fact that many people of all ages are beginning to embrace this developing form of communication. For example, my mother who resides in Phoenix and is in her mid-sixties recently joined Facebook to keep in contact with her friends and family (including me) who are located all over the country. While there was a bit of a learning curve, she has eventually mastered the basics of Facebook and loves it. My friend, who recently turned fifty, joined Facebook as well. His reasons were to promote his musical work within his social network of friends and of course…their friends.
What does this tell us? Well for one, it points out the fact that social network are not just for the young kids these days. It also points out that sites such as Facebook and Myspace are no longer about just “communicating” with your current circle of friends but actually networking with a larger group. I, myself, have two Facebook accounts. One is for my personal life – I have connected with good friends, family and acquaintances who over the years we have lost touch. My other account is to network with other teachers and for my Masters program. Both serve their purpose – to allow me to communicate wherever and whenever the need or feel arises.
Below is a cute video on unrequited love via social media.
What does this tell us? Well for one, it points out the fact that social network are not just for the young kids these days. It also points out that sites such as Facebook and Myspace are no longer about just “communicating” with your current circle of friends but actually networking with a larger group. I, myself, have two Facebook accounts. One is for my personal life – I have connected with good friends, family and acquaintances who over the years we have lost touch. My other account is to network with other teachers and for my Masters program. Both serve their purpose – to allow me to communicate wherever and whenever the need or feel arises.
Below is a cute video on unrequited love via social media.
Blog Post #4 21st Century Skills & Lifelong Learning
Teaching our children 21st century skills is a momentous task that teachers are faced with everyday. What are 21st century skills exactly though? Ask a handful of teachers and you may get a variety of responses. The video below is just one teacher’s ideas of what this truly means.
I believe that teaching kids 21st century skills means preparing them for whatever changes the future holds. The future will have many changes, improvements and tools that we can’t even begin to think of yet. People need to learn to embrace the change and be willing and capable of adapting with these changes.
In my own classroom, many times I will introduce a new program or tool and instead of showing my kids how to use it, I encourage them to explore it. I have self-taught myself many things including web design. While a class would have been helpful, I believe I have prepared myself to over come barriers that I wouldn’t have otherwise. Self-teaching has made me utilize the internet more to look for answers when I’m stumped or to look up ways to improve my website once I feel I am ready for the next step. I try to instill in my kids that same self-motivation.
I believe that teaching kids 21st century skills means preparing them for whatever changes the future holds. The future will have many changes, improvements and tools that we can’t even begin to think of yet. People need to learn to embrace the change and be willing and capable of adapting with these changes.
In my own classroom, many times I will introduce a new program or tool and instead of showing my kids how to use it, I encourage them to explore it. I have self-taught myself many things including web design. While a class would have been helpful, I believe I have prepared myself to over come barriers that I wouldn’t have otherwise. Self-teaching has made me utilize the internet more to look for answers when I’m stumped or to look up ways to improve my website once I feel I am ready for the next step. I try to instill in my kids that same self-motivation.
Blog Post #3 Media Literacy
Media Literacy are two words that many people have different ideas about what they mean. This video below, in my opinion, explains it very well.
Every year when I am introduced to a new group of students I am more and more amazed at their literacy in media and technology. It has become evident that as the years go by, my incoming students are going to know more than the previous group of students. As the skills increase for my kids, so must my own. I find it my duty to not only be aware of the new tools available but also to use them to create, manipulate and play around with them as well.
However, understanding what tools are available and how to use them are not the only component of media literacy. We must also teach our children to critically choose the media that they are accepting and using. It's important that they are well versed as the world around them continually changes.
Every year when I am introduced to a new group of students I am more and more amazed at their literacy in media and technology. It has become evident that as the years go by, my incoming students are going to know more than the previous group of students. As the skills increase for my kids, so must my own. I find it my duty to not only be aware of the new tools available but also to use them to create, manipulate and play around with them as well.
However, understanding what tools are available and how to use them are not the only component of media literacy. We must also teach our children to critically choose the media that they are accepting and using. It's important that they are well versed as the world around them continually changes.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Blog Post #2 Learning 2.0
I enjoyed the video "Pay Attention". It really did make me sit and think about how I use Learning 2.0 in my own classroom. Every year I try to add a few new projects and lessons to my usual ones to motivate my students. Last year I did a simulation for Explorers which was a huge success but now I'm trying to think of ways that I could take that simulation and add components of technology into it. I also did Science songs where my students created and recorded their own science rap songs using GarageBand. This upcoming school year I plan on having my students use RSS feeds and create their own blogs. I would also like to show them Delicious and how they can using social bookmarking sites as well.
I'm constantly visiting other teacher's websites to get ideas on how to incorporate technology into my classroom. A couple of my favorites include Mr. Coley http://mrcoley.com/ and Ms. Jasztal http://www.teachingvision.org/. Mr. Coley has been using Podcasts in his room for years. He even created study casts for his students to use. Ms. Jasztal has an entire section of her classroom website dedicated to incorporating technology into the classroom. What I like about both of these teachers, is they provide easy instructions on how other teachers can use technology too.
I think all teachers need to watch the "Pay Attention" video and analyze their own teaching. Are they using Web 2.0 in the classroom? Is Learning 2.0 an important role? If not...why?
I'm constantly visiting other teacher's websites to get ideas on how to incorporate technology into my classroom. A couple of my favorites include Mr. Coley http://mrcoley.com/ and Ms. Jasztal http://www.teachingvision.org/. Mr. Coley has been using Podcasts in his room for years. He even created study casts for his students to use. Ms. Jasztal has an entire section of her classroom website dedicated to incorporating technology into the classroom. What I like about both of these teachers, is they provide easy instructions on how other teachers can use technology too.
I think all teachers need to watch the "Pay Attention" video and analyze their own teaching. Are they using Web 2.0 in the classroom? Is Learning 2.0 an important role? If not...why?
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