RSS Page Reflection

I have many RSS feeds that I selected. I have some relating to books and library media information. I have some RSS feeds relating to teaching elementary technology. I have some RSS feeds relating to technology tool and news about technology. I became familiar with some of the RSS feeds by belonging to MAME and ALA professional organizations for media specialist. The elementary technology RSS I discovered over the summer and this fall when looking for lesson plans for my classes. The technology tool RSS fields relate to both the library media center and the technology classroom.

I enjoy the Elementary Tech Teachers Ning because it gives me ideas for the classroom. I made one comment on an awesome bulletin board a guy created. The bulletin board is titled "Your fingers have a home." There is a huge hand and a complete keyboard taking up almost all of a wall. The keys are made from white foam takeout containers that are painted black. The keys on the keyboard have colored sheets with the letter of the key typed on the sheet. I made the comment under his posting that the bulletin board was "Awesome!"

I posted a comment at the Elementary Tech Teachers Ning asking for suggestions relating to virtual environment activities (e.g., electronic books, games, simulation software, and web sites). K-2 and 3-5. I hope to get some good ideas from some experienced teachers.

I have to say the invention of the RSS page has saved me many hours of time. I have learned so many things since starting this assignment. I discovered similar subject headings that are current "in" topics will appear at multiple sites. Seeing this repeated information gives me the information that I didn't realize I needed until I read it. At ISTE I learned about the iBook author app. At New Podcast Elem. Brad Flickinger wrote about writing his first iBook in 20 minutes. So I added New Podcast Elem. with Brad Flickinger to my RSS.

At the Elementary Tech Teachers Ning Tisheema Bush writes about applications she finds. One of the topics that appeared was teaching about hoax web sites. I'm going to use the hoax web sites when teaching searching skills. I also found bulletin board ideas like the giant keyboard I mentioned above.

The Free Technology for Teachers site has useful tools to take a closer look at and explanations on how to the items. One article was about Pinterest and Larry Ferlazzo with the "Best guides to figuring out Pinterest." Another item was 10 useful Chrome Web apps and extensions for teachers and students.

iLearn Technology Blog I liked the article about Tim Tebow and Book-it and Seussville. There was an article about online photo collage that caught my interest. I also am interested in creating something like the "Extreme Speed Booking: using technology to help kids love reading" Kids get exposure to a small portion of a book and they decide if they like. The cover and a sample of text kids can read.

At New Podcast: Elementary Tech Teacher's Journal Brad Flickinger tells the three main things you need if you stop using your lap top and go to just the iPad. Dropbox for storage, Pogo Plug to access all digital things you have and iTunes Match for your music. He will have a three part series talking about this.

School Library Journal mentioned SOPA and how into the blackout kids were. I know kids at my school were all excited about it. A perfect time to talk about censorship and piracy. School Library Journal also had an article about the increase in e-readers and the increase in public library use.

I want to share the information about the Green Eggs and Ham reading by Tim Tebow on Feb. 15 with my media center department meetings. I want to create something of my own like the Extreme Speed Booking to encourage students to read more books. The iPAD information I'm storing in my head until I have one of my own and for my students.  I want to create a book using iBook. The video looked so easy on how to use it.

I really enjoy all the information available in the RSS Reader. I feel I've learned so much this week just by browsing and reading the articles that interested me.

PC Maintenance and Security

Atomic Learning has short informational videos to help you learn how to use many computer programs. Today I explored the PC Maintenance and Security section and watched three tutorials to help me understand my PC better.

The first tutorial I watched was Downloading and Installing Mozilla Fire Fox. I learned Mozilla Fire Fox is more secure to use as a web browser then Internet Explorer. I still need to keep Internet Explorer for Window updates. I can make Mozilla Fire Fox as my default browser.

I was surprised how easily downloading and changing browsers was on the PC. At school we have PC's but we aren't allowed to download or install the technology department does that.  I have a MAC at home and could never get Internet Explorer to fully download I tried using Wine Bottler to help me. Now on my MAC it continually wants to update Mozilla Fire Fox but never acts like it finishes the update. I'll have to investigate what is up with that.

The second tutorial I watched was Exploring the Settings of FireFox.   In the privacy settings I learned about things that I never knew existed.

I learned that I can use the Clear Private Data tool in settings. I can indicate that I want my private data cleared. I also learned I can set  a master password. I don't want my user names and passwords to appear if somebody borrows my computer.

I was surprised in the cookies I can allow cookies for web sites I select and not allow cookies for other web sites.

The third tutorial I watched was Explaining Cookies. I never really understood what was meant by a cookie on the Internet. I knew I liked homemade cookies to eat.

I learned cookies are used by companies to keep track of what products you buy. When you log into their site the web site customizes to my browsing and buying experiences. It is supposed to be more pleasurable for me the shopper.

Large companies may have more than one cookie. One may relate to my life style one may relate to my spending habits. It is annoying how much information a cookie can give away without a person even realizing the cookie is on the hard drive. A cookie is like a mini spy. I can set my computer to block cookies.

I made a note to myself to go back and visit Atomic Learning to read the iPad. I don't currently have an iPad but I want to become familiar with the device so when I get one I will know how to use it.

Getting Things Done (GTD)

I organized my process by using paper and pencil. Each day I prepare a to do list and organize the order that things need to be completed. Each morning I create a new list transferring things that didn't get done from the old list and adding the items to the new list.

I travel between buildings each day transporting my paperwork and lessons in a travel bag on wheels. The bag carries about 12 inches of materials. Inside the bag I also have supplies that would normally be stored in a classroom.

I don't have an office or a classroom where I can keep my teaching materials or supplies. At each building I keep a plastic filing case with my class lists and the student password and name plates. This is kept in the library at two of the buildings and in a closest at the other building.

Having one day a week to organize and review materials will be very helpful for me to organize my traveling case. I often find myself carrying an extra bag because my traveling case is stuffed with the previous weeks lessons. Sometimes my case fills with past lessons that I haven't filed.

I like the filing system suggested by David Allen with a folder for each day of the month. I will need to set this up and see how it works for me. The filing system would be kept at my home office. Each morning I'd take the folder for the current day.

I've went through and set up a subject filing system. The subject system is used to file my lesson plans by subject area. I think this system will help me next year when I'm planning my lessons. I will pull out the subject area I will be teaching. I will review the lessons and see if I need to update the lesson or add additional material.

The days of the month folders will be very helpful to me to prepare for my monthly meetings. The filing system will help me organize  the information I need to present at the meeting.

I will follow a process similar to the one David Allen described. I've done a list system similar to his and it has helped me over the years. I go through times of being very organized and structured. Those are the times where I feel I get the most things accomplished.

I think I will implement his system and see how it works. Now that I don't have a desk at work things don't seem to accumulate like they did in the past. Having only a limited amount of space makes me be more organized. Now I need to select which day I will review items and organize. I will do this on Saturday or Sunday.

Social Network Blog Post
Tami Basso

Personally, I enjoy using Face Book on a daily basis. Many of the teachers I work with are my friends.  I work at three different buildings and don't get to see my friends everyday. I enjoy reading Face Book to find out what they are up to and how things are going. I feel in touch with my friends even though we don't see each other everyday.

I also enjoy using Face Book with my family. I like to see posts and pictures to let me know about what is going on in my relatives lives. It helps me stay up-to-date with my family.

I like being able to send a private message to a group that I want to invite to a special occasion. Each person can see what has been posted and can also comment on the postings. I enjoy using Face Book as a stress reliever. I also use it as time waster when I don't feel like doing anything else.

Professionally, I haven't used very many social networking sites. After looking at the examples of the many social networking sites for educators I'm very excited about joining more sites. A benefit of being in this class is finding out about the many social networking sites that specialize in specific subject areas. Currently, I'm interested in sites that relate to e-devices and teaching technology to elementary students. I'm also interested in social networking sites for library media specialists.

I like the idea I can post a question asking how to do something and that more than one person will respond. I like the suggestions that they offer. My family doesn't always want to answer all my questions so it is nice to know I have somebody I can turn to in my profession. I like the idea of being a part of a network that supports each other.

 I like the thought of having fast answers to my questions. I like that I can do other things while waiting for my answer. I can look at the site and see what answers were posted to specific questions. I like knowing that other people have similar questions to mine.

Social networks will benefit students in many ways. Students from Michigan can connect with students from a different county. The students can research information about their country. When the meeting takes place online students may share the information they researched.

Older students enjoy using Face Book as a huge part of their social lives. Many students post pictures of themselves. They communicate with each other about what is happening at school or about events they plan on attending.

Social networking sites can be used as professional development tools and as a social tools.  Both will help adults and students to be able to express their ideas electronically and share the ideas with people that aren't close by.

Blog VS Web Page

A web page is designed to display information to the user. The information stays the same. The web page isn't updated on a daily basis. Web pages contain information similar to a filing cabinet. You can go to the web page for quick information. A person usually has a specific item of information they are looking for at the web page. U sually people don't just randomly visit the page. Web pages are visited for a specific reason.

In general a web page isn't interactive. Often times a web page doesn't include an interactive piece. Some web pages do have an online forum or discussion area. Most web pages don't allow for users to communicate with each other or plan together.

Web pages do not inspire creativity. The purpose of the web page is to supply information. Usually the only reason people visit a web page is to locate information they need to know about an organization. For example if it is a school web site, the parent may be looking for a phone number or schedule that is listed on the web site.

A blog is constantly changing. New information is added each day to a blog. The blog can address many topics and people can comment on the information or topic. The latest information appears at the top of the blog list. The blog information appears in list form. Only the most recent information appears on the page.

Blogs allow communication with social networking sites such as Twitter, Face Book, Sharing and +Google. The blog usually has a sidebar with links to other blogs of a similar nature. Archived items can be accessed through the side bar also.

A blog is easy to create and set up is easy too. Educators or students can use blogs to share information and exchange ideas beyond the classroom to the world. The atmosphere of a blog is less formal than a web site. Language used is sometimes simpler and less formal because of the casual atmosphere.

Blogs usually have more visitors because the visitors to blogs are looking for new information and conversations. Blogs are indexed by search engines because of how often they're updated.

Blogs content consist mainly of thoughts and ideas expressed through words. Some blog themes relate to hobbies and some contain information relating to a topic.

Blogs create a sense of community because people can comment on the blog and interact with people that have similar interests. On the side bar blogs have links to similar topics and archived issues that the users can refer to.

Blogs are constantly changing each day and are interactive with a sense of community and collaboration. I think that many people enjoy the connected feeling they have when reading a blog each day. The readers feel as if they know the blogger. People like to feel they are part of a community.

Jan. 23 - 27 Kindergarten & Pre-First

The kindergarten and pre-first students will watch the video "Beat the Tricks."

The class will discuss how the Internet is like the real world. In the real world people may try to trick you into dangerous situations. 

We will discuss scenarios of things that people may try to get a child to do and what the response should be from the child.

The kindergarten and pre-first students will watch the video "Way to Go."

We will discuss how to safely get to school and back home.