How bright is YOUR future?

As we begin week 6, I want to reinforce a few things. . .I am constantly in search of new and interesting ideas or technologies that will ehance your classroom and your future use of technology. As such, I frequently make little, or sometimes big, changes to the assignment. For this reason, the most important thing to me as an instructor is that you COME TO CLASS!! I cannot help you if you are not here; I cannot help you if you are not listening when I am teaching; I double-don't like having to go over the same assignment instructions twice w/o a good reason. Since I allow multiple submissions of the assignments, I would like to believe that your resubmissions are due to refining an assignment that was not quite right, not because you didn't listen or chose not to come to class. . . . there, I have officially lowered my blood pressure a few points;-)

This week: Monday we will work on perfecting your PowerPoint assignments and rubrics with the expectation that we can show/grade them on Wednesday! I'm sure we can finish the majority of both Monday. . .with minimal work on your own. Make sure you ask me or a peer in class if there is something you don't understand. . .and if that doesn't work. . .read the instructions.

Journal 5: This is an optional journal that is worth 2 pts of extra credit. You have the option of finding any article you like that relates to technology and education or you can use the article in the Cool Links section on cyberbullying. I read it yesterday in Parade Magazine!

This week's question: What is your learning style and how does it affect the way you learn? What? Don't know your learning style? Click on the Learning style link and take the test! Or search Google for another type of Free learning styles test/inventory.

Should the NETS be Dolphin Safe?

By this point, everyone should have familiarized themselves with the NETS, taskstream, and some student performance indicators?? Please let me know if you are having trouble accessing any of the material or understanding the content. . .

This Week: We will be finishing the intro to Taskstream, use the student performance indicators to create PowerPoints. . .and maybe discuss rubrics.

Journal #4: How about adding an audioblog to your journals? In the November 2006 issue (Vol 34, no 3), read the article "From Toy to Tool" by Liz Kolb. To access: go to ISTE, log on, then go to publications, then L&L. In the right column, click on past issues. You will then see all of the past issues. Select November and find the name of the article. As long as you are signed in, you should have no problem downloading the article. Please let me know if anyone attempts to create an audioblog!

Today's question: What is your current favorite type of music, artist, or performer? What is the last song/CD you purchased or downloaded?

Should Cats Sell Some of Their Lives on eBay?

As we begin week 4, I expect that everyone is settling in to the flow of the class. I expect that you should always have something you can be working on. . .with so many assignments you will definitely learn how to juggle ;-)

This Week: We will work on perfecting those way cool newsletters, discuss how to submit the scan, and get an introduction to Taskstream (Wed).

Journal #3: "Video in the Age of Participation," by Glenn Bull. This is from the most recent L&L (Feb 2007).

This week's question: What is your current favorite poem? Share with the class. If you don't have one, find one. . .Might I suggest Langston Hughes, Pablo Neruda, or . . .

Can You Ever Step in the Same Taskstream Twice?

As we begin week three, I want to spend a good bit of time today to ensure that everyone understands the assignments so far and help anyone who may be falling behind. I hope everyone took my advice and refused to stress over the assignments until I returned today. . .for those Type A personalities. . .well. . .

Monday we will take another look at Yahoo Bookmarks, Blogg(ing), and EdTechProfile. I will also discuss scanning and the required scan for Wed, when we begin the newsletters.

Journal #2: This week's article comes from the most recent issue of ISTE's Learning and Leading with Technology (which we will refer to as L&L). The article is titled, "Breathing Fire into Web 2.0", by Justin Hardman and David Carpenter. If you go to iste.org and look for the publications tab, select Learning and Leading. You should be directed to a page that has the most recent issue displayed. The article I chose is available for a free download if anyone is still waiting on funding ;-)

This week's question: Name one of your favorite teachers and explain why she/he made a difference in your learning.