AR Pitch

Supplantive-Generative Scale........ Huh?

S-G Scale

 

When thinking about the Action Research Project I have going, and when and how I am going to instruct my students, it is hard not to become completely overwhelmed with the idealistic vision of creating deeply immerged students who will become fully drawn in to the curriculum based on the excitement of using new tools to explore the material from different angles.  I often get this intense excitement about the prospects of guiding my students and changing their lives, but excitement alone will not bring them to where I would like them to be.  Looking at the two different types of instruction presented by Cronje and taking an investigated look at what outcome I am expecting from my students, I will better come to the end result of successful and meaningful educational decisions.

The desired outcome from my ARP is an increased success rate in completion and organization of independent at-home assignments from 9^th grade students.  So there will be times when I will need to design my instruction with both supplanted instructional content and student-generated content in mind.  For example when it comes to teaching my students the particular steps for using each of the chosen LMS tools and web 2.0 tools that they will use to organize themselves, access and submit work, and to later create presentations with, I will need to supplant instruction looking for a very particular outcome and assessing acquisition of information and understanding of particular factual information or steps.  Cronje cites in his paper “objectivists tend to concentrate on direct instruction while constructivists focus on learning (Brooks, 1990). “ but then further explains that an integration of the two (objectivism and constructivism) may be better understood by considering that ”learning depends on intensive use of elements from both sides of the continuum, and not from the extent to which one has been successful in claiming occupation of some gray and neutral middle ground” (Cronje, 2006).  

This will apply to my instruction and my ARP in that there will be times to use more direct instruction styles and to look for more narrow and specific outcomes, and there will be times when I will look for more  broad, perhaps creative deeper level outcomes and a different more constructive instruction strategy will be employed.  I will need to analyze the particular desired outcomes and implement instruction strategies accordingly.  


And they say "teaching is easy, we only work 9 months a year"! Ha!

Brooks, J. G. (1990, Feb.). Teachers and students: Constructivists forging new

connections. Educational Leadership, 68-71.

Cronje, J.C. (2006,August). Paradigms regained: Toward integrating objectivism

and constructivism in instructional design and the learning sciences. ETR&D,54(4),387-416.  

LMS- Schoology -noun 1.) the study of making school accessible

So I just want to start this post by saying two things; if this decision that I am faced with was based solely on what I want out of an LMS, this application would win hands down, and as far as my administration goes, I think there are a few features that may just help to sell this one over as well, but I will explain in just a minute.

So in terms of sign up and start, Schoology has a quick and direct process.  Much like Edmodo, when you initially sign-up to use Schoology you are then prompted to create a profile and have the access to the basic layout of the appllication.  You are able to add a photograph of yourself and adjust your privacy settings.  In terms of security and privacy I am quite impressed with their commitment to the issues.  When you set up your account you are then asked what district you work for and in order to verify your account, Schoology sends an email to your school email address, which you then have to respond to.  In order for your students to join your courses, similar to Edmodo, you as the teacher need to provide them with an access code.  

Although these features are wonderful for the end result of using this tool in the classroom, it did make it a bit difficult for me to full experiment and review this tool as I do not yet have access to my district email.  Other features however that I do truly like about Schoology is that they provide the ability for the teacher and student to create and keep current separate calendars for the school, course, group and individual.  For me this is important, as my goal is to promote independence and acquisition of self-help and self-assessment in terms of organization and study skills. 

So once I am verified I will be able to create courses, invite students, upload files and links.  Another major benefit of this tool over others is the blog space.  As I intend to encourage my students to use blogging to express their ideas, concerns, confusions, thoughts and such about the subjects we will be exploring, with the other application I was going to have to link in to another application to allow this.  Here I am able to do this right on the spot. 

 

All in all, although I was a bit frustrated with the security issue, I do appreciate it and think that my administration will as well.  I also like that Schoology has already thought of a way to allow parents access to their children’s course work and that they go beyond just the simple grading feature which I discussed in my last post.  After you have graded students’ work, Schoology provides analytic breakdown of the data.  Again this is another feature that I think administration will come to truly appreciate.  

I have found in the past that whenever you can support your work with visual representations, the work becomes that much more meaningful.  So as much as I would like to say 100% that this is the app. I am going with, without full access I can dive in wholeheartedly.  I feel like this will be best for my students, myself, administration and parents.  But I am still up in the air.  So please weigh in, if you have experience, thoughts or feedback, now would be the time to throw in your two cents!

LMS- To Edmodo or not to Edmodo.... that is the question

So in considering Edmodo as an LMS in my 9^th grade Special education classroom, I immediately signed up for an account.  As I mentioned in an earlier post, I tend to jump into something and get a feel for it in order to learn about it.  I am not the person who reads the “about” page or looks up all the critiques and reviews.  I like to see how easy something is to use, how does it feel, what does it look like, how does it react if I do X, Y and Z.  

And so my initial reaction to signing up is that it was extremely easy.  You create your account and then are given this checklist in order to completely set up your “classroom”. Your first step after setting up your personal profile is to register your school.  My district was not currently using Edmodo and so in 3 or 4 easy steps I typed in my districts info and so now any other teachers that choose to use Edmodo will just choose us from a drop-down list

Following the guiding checklist, I then went to the notifications checklist.  And I have to tell you this feature right here is what drew me in and had me initially hooked.  You can get notifications about alerts, notes, links, files, etc.  Okay okay big deal right?  You AND THE STUDENTS can get these alerts via email, text messages to their phones, or tweets on their desktop.  How cool is that?!?!?!?!  I know I am a dork, but I found this feature so exciting.  I can keep up and they can keep up with assignments group work, questions, dates, the calendar everything easily.  I have to be honest, we were asked to sign up for twitter this past month through my grad program, and I did.  But up until now, I did not really see a need or purpose for it.  Even though Clay Shirkey discussed the idea that we Americans often see the entertainment benefits before any other, on this one I have to say I did not follow the norm.  I did not see any real value to it, but being able to get instant up to date notifications of activity in the LMS would be an amazing feature.  I can even keep the notifications via twitter while I am at my desk and then change it to text message when I am on the road.  Simply brilliant.  

So the next step in the process of setting up your room is to add groups.  A colleague of mine, KEVIN has a great tutorial for doing this on his blog page, but it is very simple and you can color code your classes and each feature would then work for the individual group to help keep things organized.

You can then upload content to your "library".  Allowing students to access your materials for readings, reference, and assignments.  And like any meaningful web 2.0 tool there is ways to connect with other teachers to share and collaborate to the extent and degree to which you wish.  On the students end they are able to access and submit classwork and assignments.  I plan on providing students with links where they will be able to view the video taped lessons and classwork, as I have found that one of the main problems with students is that either attendance is low and they miss the work, their behavior problems in other areas of the school day require that the deans are calling them out of core classes and they are missing materials that way, or they simply need to experience the lesson more than once to gain a better understanding of the material.  Once the students submit work you as a teacher can access and grade it, where they will then be able to receive a grade immediately.  This cuts down on drag time between the actual assignment and final grade.  In the past and depending on the schedule, no matter how effective a teacher you are, a week can go by between handing in and getting back of work.  This tool eliminates that lag.  

Overall this tool offers so much and in such an appealing and simple yet sophisticated way, that it looks like a ringer! 

LMS- Which Way Do I Go?

As an attempt to take a deep and genuine look at what I perceive to be my student’s number one educational impediment, lack of organizational skills and tools, I am looking to dive into Learning Management Systems (LMS).  I have narrowed my personal choices down to two web-based applications, Schoology and Edmodo, however I think I really need to have a firm hold on what LMS’s are and how and why they are being used.  

According to Ryann K. Ellis, editor of Learning Circuits, the definition of a learning management system is that it is “a software application that automates the administration, tracking, and reporting of training events. However, it’s not that simple. A robust LMS should be able to do the following:

• centralize and automate administration

• use self-service and self-guided services

• assemble and deliver learning content rapidly

• consolidate training initiatives on a scalable web-based platform

• support portability and standards

• personalize content and enable knowledge reuse.

More important, an LMS should integrate with other enterprise application solutions used by HR and accounting, enabling management to measure the impact, effectiveness, and over all cost of training initiatives.” (Ellis, 2009)

And so before I really looked into what an LMS was, I had actually had quite a bit of experience with them.  I have taken about a dozen different online courses through several colleges and have varied opinions of them.  At the time I didn’t really pay attention to the planning and development side of using them, but rather the students’ end.  Through the years some of the particular issues I remember having were the ability to easily access particular features.  I am generally the type of person who does not read through the directions.  I jump in, head first and then if and when I hit a snag I will look for solutions.  (I know, I know your probably thinking that as a teacher I should probably not be taking this approach, but it is how I learn and what works for me.) I also had issues with the lack of options; often the system was so rigid that you had no room to be creative in terms of what and how you submitted work, or to what extent you could communicate with your peers.  I think another overall issue that I had was with the “feel” you got from using them.  You know when you walk into a room and it has the bold printed wall paper or wood paneling and the worn lime green shag rug?  It just gives you that feeling of clammy and outdated.  Some of the layouts or appearances gave me that same  feeling, that they were dated.  At the time I found this pretty ironic since ten years ago it was not nearly as common to take online courses and therefore I expected a very progressive and innovative feel to everything about the process. 

All being said, I have found a great LMS through Full Sail University which as a student has been efficient, creative, supportive, and down right student friendly.  However, I am looking for a much smaller scale operation, because as of right now I am looking for a LMS to serve up to 20 students all taking 4 core courses at the secondary level.  So, I am limited to what I, one single and somewhat “low on the totem pole” figure in my school, can accomplish and to what I truly need. 

            My pursuit was driven by the challenge of getting my students to be successful in terms of their independent and at-home assignments.  After many discussions with my colleagues, with administration, with parents and most importantly with the kids themselves, I believe the main (not the sole) cause of this problem is that the students just do not possess the skills and tools necessary to be independently organized and studious.  So I looked at what tools and skills they were being given and I realized that there was a major gap between the advancement of what was available and what we were teaching and encouraging them to use.  So I needed an LMS that was organized and efficient.  I realized that I had experience with both ends of that spectrum.  I think that every system I have seen has been organized but not always logical or convenient in terms of the user end.  I also needed it to “feel” cool, up-to-date, and contemporary.  I have young students and when I ask them to participate in activities or events that are perceived as “old” or out of date, I will inevitably get the eye-roll and will definitely not get commitment if I even get participation at all. 

            So with a bit of searching I found Edmodo and Schoology which both meet the needs I have described.   They both offer a centralized and automate administration which can actually be shared with more than one teacher if need be, such as in a co-teaching situation or if your administrator wants to have equal access to your classes.  They both allow the students and the teacher to assemble and deliver learning content rapidly, they both support portability which for me was extremely important.  They both also allow for the personalized content and enable knowledge reuse (through saving and archiving).  So in the next few days I will be narrowing down my choice between the two, which although it ay not seem, is quite a big decision.  I feel as though once I commit to one or the other, my students', my administration, and the parents will all buy or reject my plans for teaching based on how well I can deliver and educate through this platform.  I not only need to pick what is good for me in terms of teaching, what is good for the kids in terms of learning, but what will be best received from those who will not have their hands directly in the mix.  I am not panicking though, the choice will come, and When I analyze the perks and pitfalls of each I know the answer will be clear......er,...... I hope.

Citations:

Ellis R. (2009) Field Guide to Learning Management Systems. Learning Circuits. American Society for Training & Development.

All images retrieved Saturday August 28, 2010 from Flickr Creative Commons.

Web 2.0 Creaza Collaboration Project

Another LINK to follow to see yet another along the seemingly endless list of web 2.0 tools, however this site will give you more than a good idea as to what the tool is about.  The wiki site provides an overview, features, movie, lesson, implementation, assessment ideas and a tutorial.  Please feel free to stop by, look around and please leave me a comment!

Web 2.0 Fotobabble Collaboration Project

Here is a LINK to visit a wiki site the I collaborated  on to create on overview of a very interesting web 2.0 tool.  There is a video introduction, a tutorial and an overview of features and lesson ideas for several different areas.

BP11 OMM Protagonize

Here is a quick movie I created using the help of a few individuals I must thank (I feel like I'm on one of those cheesy award shows trying not to forget anyone!), Nick (not Mike) over at Protagonize who was quick with the feedback and helpful with everything and the entire band Frankly Speaking who generously allowed me to use their music and who have lots more to listen to so follow the link above and go see them in person or buy their CD's!!!!  

BP10 Comment to Kevin

Follow the following LINK to see my comments to Kevin about the web 2.0 tool Soundation.

BP9 Comments to Elizabeth

Taking the opportunity to post some of my paintings!

Click on the LINK to see my discussion with Elizabeth about the web 2.0 tool Quizlet found at this LINK.  Great tool for any educator!

BP8 Web2.0Tool- Protagonize

Okay guys, so I decided after hours of searching to go for a different type of tool here.  I decided that the intent of each one of us searching independently was to really contribute to our “community” and I felt that this was one that could really be of benefit.  Protagonize is an application that truly encourages collaboration and feedback amongst writers.  If you have followed my blog even in part, you have picked up on the fact that I have some experience with some reluctant learners and that I teach multiple subjects.  What I have not shared with you is that I love to teach English as it is a subject that my students are more “reluctant” to approach or open up in, and yet I found the most success in terms of accessing my students true selves. 

Photo retrieved from http://www.protagonize.com/help/media#media-screenshots on August 17, 2010

Okay so on to Protagonize, like many of the web 2.0 tools that I am sure you are all familiar with, it is FREE.  Unlike the past few tools I have introduced you to, this is far more dimensional.  The application encourages multi-level participation which is welcoming for tech savvy and ‘newbies’ like myself. 

Photo retrieved from http://www.protagonize.com/help/media#media-screenshots on August 17, 2010

As I know that a few of my colleagues have an interest in literacy, I was intrigued to find the depth at which this application promotes the fundamentals of good writing.  The ‘Planning and Brainstorming’ feature promotes an author to investigate individual “storyboard, outline, annotate, draft, and discuss (a) work's plot, characters, setting, history, intrigue” etc.  There is also a section to warm up and read other writers’ stories, poetry, suggest writing exercises, to read what is popular, what is new and what is “orphaned”.  At first, I have to admit, I was a bit overwhelmed with all the options, but when I put the choices in light of my teaching, my apprehension changed to excitement. 

Photo retrieved from http://www.protagonize.com/help/media#media-screenshots on August 17, 2010

For all the secondary and post-secondary educators out there, this is an amazing resource.  It combines the collaborative forums of groups, tracking and feedback that many of the effective web 2.0 tools offer and gear it all toward the writer and the process.  Other features include creating a profile, tracking of comments, invite of friends, activity updates, and topic specific groups.  The language used is extremely comfortable, which for my high school students would be a big draw-in.  The text speaks directly to you and is somewhat informal, inviting those who may be intimidated by the writing process; which is all too often presented in a rule-based and uppity fashion.  The help center supports the user with an FAQ section addressing nearly 65 common questions.  If that is not enough, there is a handy button, always available labeled “Umm, I need help” directing you to further question topics or active support discussions.  User helping user is a big self-help skill I encourage in my classroom and is being echoed in many of the web 2.0 tools out there.

Photo retrieved from http://www.protagonize.com/help/media#media-screenshots on August 17, 2010

I feel like I can not describe it better than they do themselves…” Protagonize.com is a creative writing community dedicated to writing various forms of collaborative, interactive fiction. One author writes a story, and others post branches or chapters to it in different directions. The result is an organic, evolving story where everyone can participate.”

Huge fan and have not fully immersed myself yet, once again if I have not sold you yet here is the LINK for yourself.

BP Reading3

Below you will find a visual representation that I created using the tool called mindmeister found at this LINK to represent the information found in the following article:

Anderson, D., Munk, J., Young, K., Conley, L., &

Caldarella, P. (2008). Teaching Organization Skills to Promote Academic Achievement in Behaviorally Challenged Students. TEACHING Exceptional Children, 40(4), 6-13. Retrieved from ERIC database.

BP Reading2

The mind map below was created using a web 2.0 tool found at the following LINK to visually represent the information found in the following article

Grode, D. (2010). Working Together to Resolve the Homework

Problem. Education Update, 52(2), 7. Retrieved from Education Research Complete database.

You can view the interactive map and see the notes and links I have added by following this LINK.

BP Reading1

Below you will find a mind-map that I created using http://www.text2mindmap.com/ to visually represent the information found in the following article

Darling-Hammond, L., & Ifill-Lynch, O. (2006). If They'd

Only Do Their Work! (Cover story). Educational Leadership, 63(5), 8-13. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database.

BP7 OMM Mind42

A quick one minute movie to highlight the capabilities and benefits of using Mind42 to support, enhance and invigorate your brainstorming and collaboration.

Any feedback or comments you might have would be greatly appreciated!

Follow this LINK to see the finalized map I created to use for this video, feel free to leave notes, or make adjustments! 

BP6 Comment to Heather

My son Elliot in his famous super hero pose
Photo taken June 2005 by Danielle Miles

So here is a LINK to see my understated comments to Heather.  For anyone reading this and who by some chance knows Heather in person, please hug her for me.  My AR project just became so much more tangible for me.  Edmodo looks like a great tool for any middle school or secondary teacher.  Allows you scheduling, post its, cell phone or email alerts or reminders, a gradebook feature for teachers……. And so much more, please go look if you haven’t already. 

BP5 Comment to Justin

A Wordle create on http://www.wordle.net/ using text from my previous blogs.

Follow this link to see my comments on Justin Drummond’s Blog about the web 2.0 tool Wordle.  The image above is a word cloud that literally took me about 30 seconds to make from all the text that I have posted in all of my blogs thus far.  This is an outstanding tool and an excellent blog about it… go check it out!

BP4 Web 2.0 Tool- Mind42

Okay, so like a little child in a candy shop, I am so excited.  Most people in most business who have ever sat in a corporate boardroom or in a classroom have probably come across some form of visual brainstorming.  Well, I have found an application that amps up any brainstorm or mind mapping that I have ever seen by a thousand times.  Mind42 allows you to not only visualize the links between ideas, but also allows you to do this collaboratively in real time.  Whether you are working with a partner, a group or the entirety of the world wide web, Mind42 makes collaboration so effective.  If that was all this tool did, it would still be fabulous due to its approachability in terms of the visual aspects like bubbles, colors and maneuverability of the screen and links you are currently working on.

Add Notes to Any Mind Map
image retrieved from http://mind42.com/ on August 12, 2010

But no folks, the people behind Mind42 go ten steps further.  As a teacher overseeing your students’ minds working together, you have the ability to add notes and give feedback or suggestions to critique or guide them.  As a collaborator you can add links with a visual preview of what will be found on the other end, which allows an initial brainstorm to evolve into a well developed, supportable and integrated project.  And as if that isn’t enough you are also able to insert visuals, icons and/or pictures to attract or support even more learning styles.

Having all the perks at your fingertips is an understatement.  Mind42 has the ease of click-drag-drop.  The flexibility to adjust, reformat and move your ideas around is almost as quick and easy as they occur from your synapses to your mouth our hand.  And as your account is free, it is also accessible anywhere at any time.  With concerns for privacy, you have the ability to make your maps private or published.

Add Links and/or Visuals to any Mind Map
image retrieved from http://mind42.com/ on August 12, 2010

I can easily see this being used as an initial introduction to an idea with a class, and then expanded or developed as an independent or small group assignment for home.  Students could then use their map as a visual support to present to larger groups.  Knowing what we do about the benefits and attributes of Flickr, being able to combine the benefits of both, lessons and learning is infinitely expanded.  I am envisioning creating image only mind maps, providing students with the topic and allowing them to find or create the connections.  Perhaps the opposite would be beneficial as well, provide the main ideas and allowing students to find supporting links and images.  This will encourage research and exploration of topics.  I am jumping up and down as I am about to share the next idea I have.  By introducing a topic over the first day or so of a unit, you provide students with the base knowledge or activate knowledge they may already have.  You can then send the students home independently to expand research and create their individual mind maps.  When they return to class you not only have the ability to assess where each students strength, weaknesses, and styles are, but you can then click, drag and drop their maps together to combine and create one overall completed piece of work. 

Good example of personal use for Mind42 comparing used vehicles
image retrieved from http://mind42.com/ on August 12, 2010

I know this is just the tip of the iceberg.  As teachers, trainers or any collaborating individual, this application is indispensible.  Mind42 is not only something you should give a “drive-by”, you should really take it for a test drive.  If you are anything like me, I am sure you have several if not millions of thoughts going through your head at one time.  This is a place where organization, clarity, connection and collaboration can do nothing but benefit all.

BP3 Web 2.0 Tool- GroupTable

Group Table

This is essentially a great place to have students work together on group assignments or study groups.  You can upload and share documents, collaborate, etc.  Group Table gives you a tab called Binder to organize this portion. As a teacher you can create several different classes and groups and then organize the students’ work all in one place.  This allows students to come together in one place to discuss and collaborate on a given topic or assignment.  The ‘classes’ portion of this tool refers to the school that you write in when you register, so if this is a tool you would be using for your school, you would probably want to register your school so that the students could easily access your classes and/or groups. As a teacher, you can create surveys or tests and quizzes, which you can post to the group.

As with most of these tools, you enter in your profile information, which is shared with your groups and classes.  You then have the ability to track and follow several groups, which you are a part of.  There is also an agenda feature, which allows you to plan together and create a working agenda so that each member can be responsible and accountable.

I can definitely see myself using this, as I will be putting more emphasis on group work and collaboration in the upcoming year and was concerned with how to organize and promote good team-work skills.  

BP_DiigoGroup

So, with all the tools out there, it takes me some time and some practice before I really get a hold of what some of these tools are used for.  Diigo is a good example of this.  I was asked to join Diigo, join a preexisting group within Diigo, and then create a group to help with my ARP.  Well, I did all this quick and painlessly like a band-aid, before I realized that I still had no idea what exactly Diigo was, and even after the reading on FSO I still did not truly understand what a “social bookmarking” site was. 

Well..., like entering a party where you don’t really know those that you are surrounded by, I had to stand around a bit, visit the hours devours table, and warm up and mingle a bit.  Finally, I got a sense of what and why a site like this is used.  Once again, it all comes down to organization, and organization equals productivity.  Since my ARP is based on that principal, it made me realize that I was going to have to plan for some “mingle time” when I introduce new tools to my students.

Needless to say, I had to go back and adjust a few things in my Diigo Group- Helping Students to Help Themselves.  When I first heard the term “group” I automatically assumed that the intent would be to “discuss” the topic of my ARP.  The idea was eye opening that the intent is to share tools and sites that would be helpful for my ARP.  So I am excited to share with those that join my group and to share with other groups that I have visited.  Most of us will depend on in part if not heavily, the web 2.0 tools and other tools out there to facilitate in their project.  So join me, help me, and lets share some of the time and energy consuming research we have done!

BP2 iGoogle Screenshots

As with many areas of my life, I mean well in terms of creating a solid system for organization and then creating a very meaningful plan for maintaining that organization, but all too often somewhere along the way I stray from the path!  As you may or may not know, my Action Research Project (ARP) involves introducing tools to help my student create solid organizational skills and it is no coincidence that I chose this topic.  I am attempting to organize my Personal Learning Environment (PLE) using iGoogle, and here are a few screenshots of the different tabs created to meet the aforementioned intention.   

Here is my Home Tab...

Here is my FSO tab....

and last but not least my AR tab...

So as you can see, I am getting there.  I feel like the unused or underutilized gadgets are similar to the still-packed boxes when you move to a new place.  They are there and full of valuable information, you just haven’t gotten to them quite yet.  Stay with me… I will get there!

BP1 Google Reader

So everybody has something to say, but it is also our job to listen.  I am putting together a few RSS feeds that I find interesting and/or valuable to an educator or to anyone who is in the field so that we can continue to listen to what those have to say around us. 

Image retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com on Aug. 4, 2010.

The first Rss feed that I would like to share is the New York Times Education section.  I know, I know you are probably rolling your eyes at this point and the thinking who has the time for the Times, however, it is a great resource for all that is going on locally, nationally and globally in the field of education.  Although it in my opinion has an air of sophistication that does not always come off as inviting or user-friendly, it is certainly a large reputable source for information.  We are all hopefully compelled to stay up to date on topics that will directly influence our lives and our careers and this is definitely a good starting place.  If only for a quick perusal of the headlines, this is a great place to stay up to date with what is happening. http://www.nytimes.com/pages/education/index.html?partner=rss

Image retrieved from http://www.npr.org/ on Aug. 4, 2010. 

As I urge all of you to do, I am an avid listener of NPR.  I don’t know if it is that I talk all day and share my information about such set dictated topics, I find it so refreshing to listen to ever changing, challenging and interesting topics that NPR shares.  NPR provides me with endless topics of conversation and I truly attribute my sense of together-ness to the station.  I feel like no matter how thinly I have spread myself here I get a true sense of what is going on politically, religiously, scientifically, musically, in the sports world, in the celebrity world, and on and on and on.  As teachers, we need to be able to share more than the textbooks with our kids, and how could we possibly tap into them or encourage them to connect with the world around them if we ourselves are not doing the same.  For me the prime time news shows on TV are far too negative and nowhere near intellectual enough for me to waste my time on.  I know this is starting to sound like a commercial, but NPR has enough variety to spark my interest and enough depth to hold it. http://www.npr.org/

Image retrieved from http://www.techlearning.com/ on Aug 4, 2010.

Another feed that I found is for Tech and Learning. http://www.techlearning.com/ This site provides continual up-to-date information on what is out there in terms of educational technology.  There are blogs, resources, tips, advice, etc.  It is an excellent way to keep up with what people are saying about the implications of incorporating technology in the educational world, and ways to do it effectively.

Image retrieved from
http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/ on Aug 4, 2010.

I also found this blog http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/ .  Vicki, the blog author has been blogging since 1995 and speaks about a variety of topics.  She seems very tech savvy or tech aware and from what I can read is a forward thinking, open and educated individual.  As I was thinking about which feeds would be meaningful to not only myself but also to share I really felt that variety was key.  Nobody wants to bombard themselves with information from similar sources or about the same exact topic.  I feel that listening to my colleagues who have more experience in the field but have what appears to be at least the same amount of drive and passion if not more for their career, is not only important in terms of teaching me but also inspiring.  So, the three links above are on a more grand scale, but this one brings it all back home again.

Image retrieved from
http://www.freetech$teachers.com/ on Aug 4, 2010.

Here is another one that brings it home. http://www.freetech4teachers.com/  Richard Byrne has been blogging and supporting the learning world with suggestions, opinions, how-to’s, etc. since 2007.  I don’t know why it is important to me to share with you how long these people have been blogging, except perhaps because I feel like the whole professional and educated world has been doing it for so long, and I feel guilty that it has taken me so long to get on the bandwagon.  Anyhow, this is really a great place to hear on a very approachable and accessible level, what is working, why it’s working, how to get it, and so on.  He has archived hundreds of blogs and so when you have time, and I am sure that wont be any time soon, there are countless of pages of information worth diving into.

Well there you have it, a few feeds that I am following and that perhaps you may find interesting.  I am finding myself completely overwhelmed at the moment with the indescribable amounts of information out there, and with a few of the new tools that I am working with, I hope to be able to breath soon and begin digging through a small portion of it.