Evaluation

1. What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey? Wow. I learned so many new things I am am going to enjoy. I have learned so much more about Video Hosting and Video Resources. I am really going to put those to good use this year. I'm motivated to write a new grant for an i-touch in my classroom, and I'm looking forward to using slide share, specifically 280 slides to create a project of my own, as well as student projects. Additionally, I'm learning more and more about Facebook, all that can put on a Facebook page, and the gaming that goes on there. I've been included in pillow fights, food fights, and have gotten in touch with old friends.

2. How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals? I have more tools available to assist me in the classroom and more things I can share with my students. I am excited about helping them create digital projects this year. I am going to talk my teaching assistant into investigating some of what I have learned so she too can assist the students in our classroom. Why should I keep all the fun to myself?

3. Were there any take-a-ways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you? I thought that I would enjoy the Avatar world more than I did. I am going to give this a second look and investigate it a little further. I have no interest in becoming proficient at it and taking on a second life, but after a discussion with my nieces and nephews, I'm going to try to see their point of view.

4. What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept? I enjoyed doing this much more than I did the 23 things last year. Maybe because I am a little more computer proficient than I was. I thought 11.5 things was more manageable. Lastyear I was extremely anxious about completing all of the tasks and couldn't wait to be finished. This year I am motivated to explore more following completing the class. I really appreciate being able to do these "things" in my own time and at my own pace and the comments and questions that were posted on my blog. Thanks to all who worked on this project. Many thanks for the time spent to bring this information to those of us who took the class. I am going to encourage my faculty to take 23 and 11.5 things. We ALL need to learn about tools available to us and our students.

Thing 9 Slideshare

I really liked learning about slideshare and 280 slides. I went onto the sites and played around. It is much like creating a photobook presentaiton that I did last summer on one of my brother's programs. All I had to do was download pics, select transitions, and add text. If I wanted to add music, I could. With 280 pics, it is much the same.

I think slide share is a great way for students to share their products and what could be better than not having to access a server AND it is FREE! I love that 4 letter word. I think I could use this to create a digital portfolio for the students in my class and at the end of the year they could see the progress they have made. And what a great tool for our older students to be able to share their work. I see this as a great SEL tool. Students who have difficulty with fine motor can create professional looking projects and beam with pride! This is fabulous!

Note: I wanted to read Slide Share by Stephen's Lighthouse and Joyce Valenza's post about authorStream and its enhanced capabilities over Slidehsare, but the new filtering system with SBISD would not permit me on these sites. Now, onto my final evaluation task....

Thing 8.2

This frame was taken from a powerpoint created by Jamie Unverzagt. I used Goview to create this. It was the most user friendly for me. I liked all the ways I can share these. It can also be sync'd to i-pod or i-touch. The issues I had were with accessing the internal mic on the computer. I can see using this to help students learn to spell their names at the beginning of the year. I can take their photos, voice-over the photos and spell their names using a visual by inserting the letters as titles. Later in the year, students can use our digital cameras and voiceover the photos they take. The possibilites are limitless! I think using this program will be great fun for my classroom. I just need time to teach my assistant so she can "play" with the children too!

Thing 8

Introducing my sweet Rusty Bojangles. He is the inspiration for the name of my blog. He's adorable, don't you think?

Thing 10

avatar - a new personification of a familiar idea; "the embodiment of hope"; "the incarnation of evil"; "the very avatar of cunning"

I wanted to get a clearer understanding of what Avatar meant, as my understanding has always been a "god-like being". However, after this brief, and I do mean brief experience, I have many thoughts running through my mind.

First, many of the avatars I encountered are so far removed from god-like, I wonder why this word is used to describe these virtual beings. I read quite a bit before I chose to enter my Second Life. One article I read was about a woman whose avatar was enslaved by her boyfriend. While she was "off-line", he decided to make her avatar his slave. When she returned, her own virtual home was a mess and her avatar was a wreck. To get back at him, she planned a pool party while he was "off-line". His avatar, which was on "auto-pilot" was invited to the party. The avatar joined other guests in the pool, and the girlfriend removed all possibilities for him to get out of the pool. His avatar drowned. I realize to some this is a game, but it made me think more deeply about the gamers and the gaming world. While this can be a great experience, like the video I watched on Heyjude's Blog: Soundtrack: Moderato – Alexander Blu (Creative Commons), about a school that used Second Life as a teaching tool for creativity and experiences, it can be a bad experience.

New to Second Life, I had difficulty maneuvering my avatar and I really wasn't so motivated to perfect it. I have never been much at playing games, and this was very similar. I have one language, so being among others who are speakers of other languages, and that have very low opinions of Americans, I did not feel very welcome in this experience.

I'm glad to have had this learning, and I do see the value it has in education for older students, but I strongly feel that you have to have good order in your first life before you take on a second life. I can see where one can get really caught up in a Second Life and abandon reality.

Thing 11 Citizenship

I enjoyed reading many of the articles posted throughout the links in this section. I especially enjoyed reading articles related to the different generations using the digital world. An article that stuck with me was about the "Digital Divide". I see this happening in my hometown church, as the new pastor there is trying to employ the use of technology to "reach the masses", but the elderly are feeling left out and angry. It is just another way that technology is taking over the life they know and are comfortable with. Many of the members of the session in the church have no interest in computers, let alone owning and learning about them. When the sermon is about "Be my friend on Facebook", he is losing alot of his congregation's interest. It was very interesting reading. So muc so, I might just have to pass on to him for personal growth and consideration.

I pulled this information from the NETS-T Keeping in mind that I am teaching the youngest learners, I have to bring this information down to their level, first teaching about citizenship in the classroom and taking turns on our two computers...

Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility

It is my responsibility to:

a. advocate, model, and teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology, including respect for copyright,
intellectual property, and the appropriate documentation of sources

In the PK classroom this would look like demonstrating using the computer and having a think aloud as I share research information, videos and music. I would ask questions to prompt their thinking about obtaining and using digital information.

b. address the diverse needs of all learners by using learner-centered strategies and providing equitable access to appropriate digital tools
and resources

In the PK classroom this would look like setting up a user schedule where all children have access to technology.

c. promote and model digital etiquette and responsible social interactions related to the use of technology and information

In the PK classroom this would look like demonstrating respect for student products by printing out/ saving the work they choose and displaying it in a manner that they can share their discoveries with peers and parents. Modeling for children how to appropriately critique a friend's work.

d. develop and model cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with colleagues and students of other cultures using
digital-age communication and collaboration tools

In the PK classroom this would look like demonstrating the use of online tools and giving age appropriate access and introducing "things" I feel the students might enjoy, like Wordles, for example.

Thing 7 Continued

I really enjoyed looking at many of the sites listed for the perfect videos to share. TOTLOL was a favorite of mine. It kept me in the age range I was looking for for my students, but linked me to Youtube, Teachertube, and others as well. I had a huge range to choose from with a single search request. As I continued to think about the question VWB asked as to how I could use the itouch in my classroom, I had a brainstorm with the videos. I could find a variety of videos that would support my students learning in many different areas and put them on the itouch. This could become a center activity with a few students, or I could connect it to the big screen using it for introduction of information that could be viewed whole class. Of course, storage of this information is in the palm of my hand, so I would not need shelves, cases, filing cabinets....maybe I could start to clear out the clutter in my classroom! I'm a stuff junkie, though. Parting with "stuff" will be hard for me. I'm rambling. I'm just so excited about the new tools I have for this year.

It was also good to learn about Fair Use. As I was watching some of the videos, especially those containing music from published artists, I wondered how it was all legal. Just like in copying written material, as long as it is limited to support a point, it is OK. I am learning so much. Thanks!

Thing 7

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Thing 6 iTouch and Apps

I am amazed when I see all the Apps being advertised on TV. I can't imagine how something you hold in the palm of your hand can keep you so connected to the world, and I do mean the world. I have friends with iphones and they are always willing to share with me the Apps they have, demonstrating what they have access to with the glide of a finger tip. Having this access has been helpful on many occassions. They've even let me "touch" to learn! I'm just not ready for something that advanced. I'm still learning how to use my camera phone and change my wallpaper.

I have an ipod and I have downloaded many things for use in my classroom. Keeping up with all the docking cables, docking stations, etc. has been challenging. If you forget your hook-up, forget using your hardware for the day. I love the easy access I have to music I have for my students. I no longer have to tote around bulky discs, or vinyls. (remember those? I still have them. YIKES!)

Thing 5 Me and Facebook

This past Spring I was invited to be a friend on Facebook. I have an account, but no photo, yet. I'm searching for just the right one. So far I have been poked, hugged, sent a cowgirl boot, been invited to post my calendar, asked to create groups and hit with a pillow enticing me into a pillow fight. I've been sent a fish to save the rainforest and asked to be a friend by several people I do not know. I've learned that once you start accepting things like pillow fights, it is never ending. I am not a gamer and I do not have a screen addiction, nor do I want one.
I have enjoyed looking at friends photo albums, but would rather make a phone call and invite them over for dinner than send them a poke. I guess it is fun if there are long distances between folks.

Twitter is a little overboard for me. If I am falling behind in my day, I don't have time to Twitter people to let them know I am late for work or an appointment. I am a being there kind of gal, but it is good to know about these.

How can this be helpful to students? Connectivity. My nieces and nephews all have accounts and check them frequently. I am not driven by this at this time. Maybe in the future, when I retire.

Thing 4 Youtube and Teachertube

I can entertain myself for hours browsing these two sites. My Youtube favorites are watching videos with animals and young children. It is like having Americas Funniest Videos at your beckoned call.

I enjoyed browsing Teacher tube and viewing some of the learning videos available for students. I think it would be fun to create one with my class (after getting photo permission from parents, of course). Using the toddler friendly digital cameras in my class, the students would be able to choose what they want to share with the world. There are just endless possibilities for today's students.

If you've read my blogs, you know I host an annual Pink Flamingo Porch Party. I think I am going to create an Animoto and post it to share with all of the party comers and those that were not able to attend this year's festivities. Look out folks, I'm going to be armed with my digital camera this year and I've been introduced to more advanced technology!

Thing 3 Skype

I explored quite a bit in Skype. It was interesting reading how other teachers are using Skype to communicate with classrooms in other countries. I learned about proper etiquette in setting up Skype conferences and some tips on avoiding video problems during conferencing. This reminds me of the conferencing connections SBISD had years ago. I can't recall the name of the program, but I do remember my students conferencing with trainers at an oceanography zoo when we were learning about penguins and other animals that inhabited the "poles". I recall how excited my students were with the " being there" experience, able to ask questions and have them answered instantly. Now we can go from classroom to classroom. The opportunities for learning for today's students are becoming limitless!

Sweet Sammy Jo

Just to keep you all informed, Sammy Jo is no longer with us. Sammy became very ill this past Spring. I did everything in my power to help him recover from a respiratory infection he contracted. Sammy went to puppy heaven. Rusty Bojangles is adjusting to being an only dog. We take him to the dog park and on play dates with friends dogs as much as possible to keep him socialized. Sammy Jo shared his love in the short life he shared with us. We are grateful for the joy he brought to our lives.

I encourage others to adopt rescued animals. They have so much love to give. We miss you sweet Sammy Jo.

Thing 2 Continued

The Annual Pink Flamingo Prep by Ms. Bojangles

Bookr is a great tool for young ones to create books of their own. No more sitting on the floor, cutting up mom and dad's magazines, getting glue everywhere to create a book for homework. I can see my little cuties making books about all kinds of topics, and what fun to have so many photos at your fingertips. I can't wait to teach my teaching assistant about this new tool for technology.

This summer I introduced my niece to Animoto. I had seen Animoto presentations, but never made one. She created an account, as she wanted to have a video presentation for her graduation party. It turned out perfectly. There was quite a bit of picture adjusting and music selection to create this publication. She is so proud of what she learned and I was so happy I could share something new with her. You go, Jenna!

I explored with Voicethread. How great that we can add voice to photos. I can't wait to make this year's Pink Flamingo Porch Party Memories with this new technology. I am having so much fun learning about all of these tools. By playing around with them this summer, I will be more confident to teach my students how to use these.

Thing 2

This is a fabulous new find! I can see my students taking pride in their new found ability to spell their names and typing their name over and over, creating a "name cloud". What a great way for kids to see their name in a unique way, and what a fun way to practice keyboarding their names, sight words, friends names, etc.

Thing 1

It is so exciting to be learning more this year with 11.5 Things. It still makes me nervous, as I feel that I am such a novice, even after completing 23 things. This past year I wrote a grant to purchase toddler friendly cameras for my PK classroom. Last year's 23 things encouraged me to write this grant. The video prompted me to think about how my students will be able to make video clips and digital photos and share their learning, at their level. I am going to encourage them to photograph things they have constructed, as well as photographing their friends in our classroom. I will be sharing their "work" with their parents, as well as publishing on SBISD's sharing sites, including our school website. I have enjoyed modeling using the web for my students when they have asked questions that I don't have the answer for. Our librarian has been helpful with some of those information searches. I love asking the children, "Now what do we do with what we know?" This usually prompts independent writing for them. As a teacher, I see now more than ever our role being a facilitator of learning. It will be imperative, that even at the PK level for us to be knowledgable about 21st century students' learning. I look to my school librarian for guidance and support, as my students are too young to visit the library independently. I feel the librarians' role now is to be tech saavy to encourage and support teachers and students.