Still have a lot to learn

We are about to start our last class. I have spent the last 3 hours messing around in Zotero. I cannot say that I have it under control but I am trying. I have been reviewing several of the help sessions but it is not working very well so I must be
doing something wrong.

Reading some people's blogs and they are almost completed their papers, great job.

Making progress slowly

I am still plugging away. I loaded my video to You tube, Teacher tube and to my blog. I have enjoyed viewing other people's videos and am always impressed with your creativity and instant application to something meaningful. I need more time to process and think things through. I have posted a very simple wiki and invited you all to join. I do plan on using the wiki next year with my student services team. I will use it to post and link members to forms or web pages they need regular access to. I have progressed over the past 3 years from giving them all a memory stick with these documents and links to asking our web administrator create a folder and post to our MVSD website(for staff use only). If I am implementing this application properly I can create a wiki for the team, create pages for the different departments and load specific information for the (files, links, etc). The pros and cons, I can now do this myself, anytime without having to rely on someone else (+) but I have now added another task to my plate (my secretary use to do lots of this for me, I just had to ensure she had the most recent documents. But I do believe I can invite her as a member and we can collaborate! Making it a win win.
My next challenge will get my team to use it. But if I can do it so can they. This course has taught me, anyone can do it, we are here to help each other, and we have to be willing to put in the time and "poke around" as Glen would put it. It might not look too pretty the first time but we can usually go back and fix it up.
I will be spending some valuable time with the Zortero tutorials and must get started on my paper.

my video clip

Catching up

Good Morning,
I am a few weeks behind everyone but plan to do some catching up this weekend. I have played with movie maker and made a short clip. I will try to post it right away. As I was doing this I came to the realization that I am a minimum 7 years behind the world in technology, I remember working with a teacher 7 years ago and she was already using movie maker with her students in her class. All I can say is, better late than never. I also must admit that this course has opened my eyes to what we need to be doing for our students because this is and will continue to be their world. I am no where near being well versed enough for the professional dialogues that need to happen. I believe we have a fair number of teachers who use technology but only minimally, they need this course to demonstrate the effectiveness of some of these applications. The biggest stumbling blocks time and fear.
Talk to everyone soon.

Sunshine

Hi Everyone,
The sun is finally shining, but the forecast is for thunderstorms.
I am checking in briefly. I have been concentrating on my other course, hopefully finishing the paper this morning. I will play a bit this afternoon looking for resources fro this class before we go on line at 3 p.m. Talk to everyone later. Enjoy the day.

Getting worried

Hi everyone,
I went on line tonight to review and comment on everyone's blog to find out I had lost internet access. So I was wondering if I was going to be able to access our class tonight. Last Sunday I got dropped from the call and missed a good portion of the demo. Anyway, everyone's blog pages are looking great, lots of great additions. I tried hosting a Dim Dim meeting with some colleagues. Patty also invited me to experiment waving with her during our other class. Thanks Patty.

You tube video - transforming learning -practicing embedding

thanks

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Thanks

Thanks for the jing presentation Glen. I was almost there. I was in the manage tab and tried to take the embeddable code form there. Anyway whatever I was doing did not work and with the help of your Jing it was easy. I will try another one from start to finish before I forget.
Lovely weather. We have had about 2.5 inches of rain.

podcast

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stuck

Hi everyone,
I am admitting defeat for now. I have my podcast published and saved in podbean. But I am stuck trying to get it into my blog. I am thinking I have to add a gadget but there is no option for podcast. The help pages are telling me to add a widget but I do not see that option.
I am taking a break and moving to my other course. However I keep getting distracted and want to go back and try to figure it out.
Talk to people Sunday.

May 28, 2010

Looks like a great weekend for working.
I managed to download Audacity and Lame for Audacity. I subscribed to Podbean. I guess I am ready to Podcast. I will take a look at the quick start tutorials first.

Have fun everyone.

May 27, 2010

Hi everyone,
I always need time to digest the information from the class before I can respond. I often feel overwhelmed at the end of class and know I need time to figure it out. I do admit I am behind the times but know I need to get going and catch up. I am realizing there are many different applications that do the same things. I did some exploring on our division website and found lots of resources available for teachers at all levels. I really feel that we need to do more networking and sharing within our schools and divisions to help each other learn these applications and then apply them to our situation.
I am planning on reviewing some of these applications and introducing them to our student services team in the fall. I think trying to introduce something new at this time of year will cause too much stress. I hope to put together some podcasts or maybe even some video casts related to some student services tasks that "rookie" resource teachers might like to have and review when needed. I would like to share Diigo with them and try to support each other with finding current research and interventions. Although information overload is always a concern.
Personally, I see how technology solves some of the engagement concerns for some kids. I am also very impressed with our classmates and what they are doing in their classrooms. I am sure it is happening in our classrooms as well, I just need to get out of my office and see it in action.
That is all for now. I am going to try and download the podcasting applications before my next night class.

May 24, 2010

Well I have spent most of the day playing with all the applications we have been introduced to. I managed to creat a map and post to my blog. It took a few tries but it worked. I looked at g-reader again to make sure I am following everyone's blog. I went to Diigo and reviewed some of the articles people have been sharing with the group. Sorry I have not been as supportive. Someone was asking for early years materials. I joined up to follow the John Evans link Literacy with ICT, through Diggo. I noticed there was a posting of an article on preschoolers e-skills. This might be helpful.
I am feeling a bit more comfortable with things. However I know I am just scratching the surface.
Moving on to other tasks in other courses.

mind map

May 23, 2010

Yesterday was overwhelming for me.
MindMeister looks like a great tool. I have seen inspirations at work in the classroom. Now we have a free and interactive version. I think I am going to like it.

I guess I am struggling with connecting all of these applications. I have all my separate accounts set up but I do not think I have them linked properly.

I very much appreciate people sharing their articles. I still have yet to choose a topic but need to do so soon. I must admit I have not been keeping up with the technology with respect to the classroom and the applications partly out of fear and partly due to time. I very much want to learn and use these applications. But it just seems to be going a bit too quickly for me.
Time to get exploring.

May 22, 2010

Well, I am getting braver. Pushing a few more buttons and trying things out. I am beginning to realize that with technology there is usually more than one way to do things. I think I am prone to taking the long way around sometimes. I opened a Twitter account and am following most of you. I went into G scholar and found a few articles on a topic for my other course. Hard to stay focused. I end up finding research on all different areas of interest. I have managed to bookmark a few items to Diigo and shared them with the group. I have not tried sharing to other programs such as Zotero. I will have to try those programs as well.
Still having fun.

May 16, 2010

Hi everyone,
I am getting braver and trying a few more things. I tried searching for articles through the BU library electronically and tried to load them into Zotero. I guess that is the idea. I am not able to shrink or move my Zotero screen so I am not sure if I was totally successful or not. Sometimes I am so embarrassed admitting my lack of knowledge but I have to learn somehow and I keep plugging away.
I really like the look of Diigo. That's what I call social networking. All of the applications so far have been great. What potential for sharing resources etc. I would definitely like to share this with my student services team members. I will wait until the end of the course to decide which programs to start with.
Anyway, just wanted to add a post. Need more time to explore.
Talk to everyone Wednesday.

May 12, 2010

I downloaded Firefox and Zotero. I opened my g-mail and g-documents. I was able to enter a comment (finally) and a drawing. I open g-reader and subscribed to everyone's blog. I am catching on slowly.

I just find these application amazing. I only wish for more time to play, explore and practice. I am feeling my age a bit, feeling as though I am behind the times. I really want to learn and use these applications in the future.

I am currently taking two university courses. I like the idea of a Sunday/Wednesday class schedule. Just gives one extra day.

May 11, 2010

Hi Everyone,
That was a lot easier than I thought but then again I am not finished.
I am a beginner and very nervous but know it will just take some time. Let me proceed and see if I can add people to my blog list.
I too am very pleased to be taking this course. I have a lot to learn in the world of ICT.