Journal 8

Web 2.0

There are also instructions from webCT for Web 2.0!

You will first join the classroom 2.0 community, then complete the following assignment:

I would like you to pick a TOOL from the Classroom 2.0 website (see link on blog), choose a link from the tools (not content area) list on the right hand column for a technology that interests you, and follow a discussion or two that relates to your technology. In the title bar, put journal title followed by the technology you have chosen. (For example: Journal 8: Microblogging). In the journal, I would like you to define the technology (assume your reader has never heard of the technology) and then report out on what you learned from the tool discussion (follow at least two threaded discussions) and read and comment on at least three peers who have chosen a different tool. You reporting out should contain the 200-250 word minimum, but you do not need to ask and answer questions. In the assignments section, you will submit your peers names.

For Submission: you will only have to submit your tool (e.g. microblogging) and the peers whose blogs you commented on with their tool (john - collaborative documents). You can simply type the names into the html creator!

Week 8: Where do you find your Inspiration?

I don't know why I find these "demotivator" posters funny, but I do ;-)

Take the class quiz


I believe our glass is half-full . . .we have reached the midpoint of the semester. . .painless isn't it? Isn't it?

I went to the Computer Using Educators Conference in Palm Springs this weekend!!! Remind me to tell you about it! I took a tour of the Lennon Bus. . .you should check it out! Also, remind me to tell you about Google Forms!!!!!

I have graded and regraded everything that is due (I think). Please check your grades and see if anything was returned. . .For TaskStream, don't forget that you should have posted your NETS-I narrative for feedback. . .It's not that there is a hard due-date, but the quicker you get feedback the better.

I believe the journal articles are due this week. . .and you have the copyright assignment. . .and you can be working on Journals 6 & 7.

Tonight: we will be grading the PowerPoints. . please don't forget you need to bring at least three copies of the rubric with you to class!! We will also go over how to add the PowerPoint to the blog and we will discuss the Inspiration assignment!

Journals: I have already assigned journals 6 & 7, so you will not need a new post this week. If you must, feel free to scan L&L or the web for articles about technology and education. If you are not that motivated, I will post journal 8 next week.

This week's questions: After looking at the results of last week's question, it became crystal clear that parental support was the overwheling key to everyone's educational success. This makes me question the belief in an educational meritocracy. Imagine what your future would have been without parental support. Where do you see your role as a teacher in addressing this issue with your students? Do you think it's your responsibility? Explain.

Week 7: Do Two Copywrongs Make a Copyright?

Almost half-way. . .so is the class half empty or half full? Assuming you are all still in the learning phase. . .I'll say half-full.

You should be working on your TaskStream collaboration. . .as well as Journals 1-5, and any other assignment that might still be in progress for you.

This week: we will discuss the use of rubrics to grade the PowerPoints, look at your narratives for NETS-I, and introducing our copyright assignment.

Journals 6-10: (articles are for journals 6 & 7) As we move on to round two of your journal assignments, we get the new March/April issue of L&L, which contains at least two good articles that are relevant to what we have been learning. "Grow Your Personal Learning Network," by David Warlick and "Mining for Gold," by Chris Bigenho.

This week's question: With the current economic situation having great impact on education, I want to know to what do you attribute your educational success (as I believe almost everyone at least has a BA)? Was it teachers, family, or something else that you attribute your success?

Week 6: Can GoogleDocs Cure Computer Viruses?

I'm sure by now that everyone has the mad skills to work for Apple or Microsoft? are you a Mac or a PC?

This week: I will finish the discussion of how to use GoogleDocs to collaborate on the narratives for NETS I. Technically, the narratives are part of your final assignment, but I want to ensure everyone knows the correct way to write the narratives as early as possible. We will also discuss how to upload your newsletters to your blog and how to label your artifacts on your blog to meet the NETS-T! Then, we will discuss the PowerPoint assignment. . .phew.

Journal 5: This is the last journal in the Journal 1-5 assignment. "Collaboration in aWeb 2.0 Environment", by Glen Bull in the Apr 06 issue of L&L. If you were one of the early readers of this blog (. . darn you, Mike and Kristen), you may have noticed that I accidentally posted the same article from Journal 3. . .that is now corrected (or perhaps it really never happened ;-)

This week's Question: In all of your school experience, who was your favorite teacher and why? Would you like to become the same type of teacher?

Week 5: Can You Step into the Same TaskStream Twice?

Check out the cool picture. . .I wish it were me, but it is Evan(a recent CSUSM grad), one of the people with whom I was snowboarding (I did; however, take the pic w/my iPhone and do the cool text and color effect with Photoshop ;-)

As I am still recovering from my short vacation - and over 4ft of fresh powder in 4 days - I haven't had time to do much grading this week. Don't say I didn't warn you.

This week: I believe that we do have almost everyone entered into TaskStream so we will discuss this tool as well as discuss GoogleDocs as a collaborative tool to assist each other on the required narratives. Check out webCT for a sample of how the narratives might be written.
Narratives Using GoogleDocs:
1. You will begin to write the narrative for NETS-I using Google Docs. (I will go over the process in class)
2. Invite 2 peers to view and comment on your narrative. Everyone should use his/her Gmail Account.
3. After addressing the feedback from your peers, you will submit your narrative in the text section of TaskStream.
4. Then, you will request feedback and leave a comment on TaskStream telling me which peer revisions you made!


Journal 4: "Create, Collaborate, Communicate: Empowering Students With 21st Century Skills", by Chris Riedel. Note: this is from T-H-E Journal, not ISTE's L&L!!!!

This Week's Question: What is your all-time or current favorite teacher movie and why?

Week 4: Is Social Bookmarking Considered Tagging?

As we start the forth week of your new conversion to TechnoGeek (although some of already had it in you), you should be developing the mad skillz of the students you will be teaching.

I have graded all of the Intro letters and the EdTechProfiles, so either look for your grade or check to see if you find the assignment back in your inbox. . .

This week: we will discover the amazing world of social bookmarking and begin to learn how to navigate TaskStream.

Journal 3: "Keep Them Chatting", by Jennie Cole in the Feb 09 issue of L&L.
NOTE: Don't forget to follow the Journal article format, e.g., the title of the post should be Journal 1, Journal 2, etc., the APA citation should be created using Citation Machine, and the 2 Questions and Answers should stand out to the reader (me!).

This week's Question: What is your current favorite or all time favorite book or author? Catcher in the Rye is my all-time favorite book and Tortilla Curtain, by T.C. Boyle, is my contemporary favorite novel.

Week 3: Do you need permission slips for a virtual field trip?

By now, I hope everyone is getting up to speed on the workings of the course. . .you may by this time have mastered webCT, bought a mac and entered the blogosphere. . .phew, that is quite an accomplishment.

I expect the EdTechProfile to be complete, the intro letter finished and your blog up and running. . .and you may or may not have completed Journal 1.

This week: we are going to work on the newsletter and if time permits, we will get into TaskStream and the NETS

Journal #2: "Museums in the Classroom", page 36 of the February 2009 issue of L&L. . .Don't forget to use the Citation Machine to cite the source.

This week's Question: What is your current favorite band/musician/or music? Notice I said "current favorite" so you are not committed to this forever ;-)