Just thinking.....about Brick Walls.....

In "The Last Lecture", the speaker talks a lot about "Brick Walls". I used to think of them as just plain old frustrating obstacles. But, recently, I have learned to embrace those obstacles. They've helped me to realize who I am and how much I desire the things that are hidden behind them. "The Last Lecture" was a great reminder to be thankful for all things. Hmmmmm....I seem to remember this principle in the Bible as well! :-) I believe it was Job who said something to the effect, can you accept good from God and not accept bad? So true!!! Thankfully, we have the promise that He has plans for good for our lives and that ALL things work together for the GOOD of those who love the Lord.

Investigating Blogs, Podcasts, and Wiki's Assignment 2

I've been exploring www.leadertalk.org for one of my classes. Here is a list of the blogs I plan to follow:

Greg Farr- I really like his blog because his entries seem to be fairly scholarly. I like the fact that he includes statistics in his entries. He writes on the topic of at-risk students. I love working with special needs students so his blog is close to my heart.

C. Hiltz- I LOVE this blog!!! I especially like that she has added a “VOKI”. I didn’t even know such a thing existed!!! A “VOKI” is a talking avatar which you can add to your blog. VERY COOL!

Barbara Berreda- Wow!!! Great blog! Barbara gives practical advice and information about how she is incorporating technology into the classroom. I like the fact that she tries to go beyond surface learning and seeks to help students “dig deeper”.

Things I like about www.leadertalk.org:

Great tool for networking
It’s nice to see how different educators react to situations.
I like the comments because it helps me to see other sides of the topic.

Things I dislike about www.leadertalk.org:

With so many links along the sides it seems very jumbled and difficult to navigate.
There aren’t very many pictures.
A lot of the blogs are from the perspective of principals which is fine, but I would prefer to read more from teachers in the classroom.

VOKI'S

I just learned that you can create a VOKI, which is a talking animated avatar, and add it to your blog!!! It's free and really easy to do. Just go to http://www.voki.com!!! Have fun!

My Rationale for Teaching Using Technology

We live in a global world that is changing so quickly it’s nearly unfathomable. As educators, we have a new found responsibility which includes preparing our students for the future and for professions that don’t yet exist. One of our major goals should be to help students learn to live and work responsibly in an ever increasing and complex, technology-driven society.

Perhaps, one of the best ways we can prepare our students, for the challenges that are ahead, is to educate ourselves in the area of technology. If we have a natural love of learning, we can instill that same passion in the children we teach. Children today are going to have to be life-long learners in order to succeed in the technology-driven future that is ahead.

In preparation for the future, our students need to learn to be flexible problem-solvers, as well as responsible researchers. Students today are faced with enormous amounts of information . We must help our students learn to decipher whether information is valid and accurate.

Not only must we help our students meet the challenges of the future, but we must also encourage, assist, and provide them with the required tools and instruction necessary to acquire knowledge, develop skills, and apply these skills successfully in the 21st century.

Shift Happens (Assignment 6)

If you are an educator and you haven't watched this video on You Tube....you really need to do so. It's pretty scary to think about!!! It's also very eye opening. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-8DRPCJ86U. Watching this video and exploring the Wiki about Shift Happens have really changed my viewpoint about technology. As educators, we really need to stay on top of all that is happening in the world of technology so we can equip our students to thrive in today's technology driven society.

My initial ideas for my Wiki involve creating an interactive space where my future students can learn all about the world and it's geography. I would like for my Wiki address to be sent to people all over the world to add their information to it.

DonorsChoose.Org

I just wanted to share this website with readers. If you go to donorschoose.org you can request specific items for your classroom. Then, as people search the site they can donate to help you get the items you need. It's a great website with an even greater cause....helping teachers get what they need to enhance student learning. Check it out and if you can....please help out a teacher!