Learning Journey

This learning journey makes me think about Dante's The Inferno. Yes, the thought of Web 2.0 to me was a dark place inhabited by who knows what, but with my Vergi, l in the guise of Mary Woodard, I passed through the 23 levels. At each level I learned to face my fears and came away with knowledge that will guide my path in the Web 2.0 world. But unlike Dante who had to face the devil encased in ice, I found no devil at the core. I found useful tools. These tools have become part of my daily professional and personal world.

• My favorite tool is Wordle. This is so easy. I believe students will find it easy to use and apply to many different academic ventures.
• Unexpected take-away is FaceBook. I found friends from high school (a looong time ago).
• Yes, I will participate in a future trek into the Web world. (reminds of Star Trek)
• Maybe, I will continue to blog.
• Yes, I will continue to use Google doc and Google sites.

I did not think I would ever finish this course with my computer not being damaged beyond repair. My computer and I made it through. We are proud. We are happy. We are finished.

Thing 7b

I continue to learn about the subjunctive mood (verbs). Since this is specified in the new TEKS, I have a need to refresh what I know about using and how to explain to students how to apply this mood when they write. Yes, this has consumed my thinking and represents only a fraction of the conventions (grammar and usage) specified in the new documents. The subjunctive mood expresses a suggestion, requirement, or desire, or it states a condition that is contrary to fact. Verbs such as ask, insist, urge, require, recommend, and suggest are used for a request and precede a subordinate clause beginning with that. However, the tricky little mood takes a shift when it is used with the be. Here a writer must use were for all subjects (singular and plural). Now do you know why this small little usage convention is consuming my mind. So, the RSS feeds on grammar have saved my sanity (both professional and personal).
I am reading other 23Thingers' blogs in hopes of locating more entertaining sites. I have enjoyed the one on Lost. I continue the quest. No more grammar, no more new TEKS. I need a fun break.

Thing 23

The amount of information is overwhelming, but I have stated that before. I am still overwhelmed. Last fall while attending the NCTE national conference, I first heard about Ning. All of the presentations (powerpoints, etc.) were uploaded to a Ning site. After returning home, I was able to revisit some sessions and explore others. At this point I am disappointed when I attend a conference and Ning is not available.
While exploring the educational sites, I found valuable information, presentations, and sites concerning writing and reading. These new insights and approaches help with curriculum development. Many of these include a technology component. I hope to set up a network of teachers to help work on the new TEKS and the new testing that is coming (EOC). My personal learning is all tied to my professional learning at the present time. I need to become more comfortable with the networking and technology at a personal level to help at a professional level.

Thing 22

I hesitate to signup for FaceBook. Using the rationale that this is for 23Things and many people are joining the social network system, I created a site. Much to surprise I have found two high school friends who are networking: one is not a surprise since she was always about social networking while the other I am blow away by the fact that she has a site. I still have some questions about safety issues-not for myself; but, for myyoung granddaughters.
Insights from the site: seniors (not the graduating in May type) are social networking to share memories and rekindle friendships. I dislike the feeling of being exposed to the whole cyberspace. I wonder how much time this sharing will or could absorb in a person's life.
As far as a application within a classroom, I do not know what to think. Yes, as educators we must stress the safety issues. I question the value of social networking through a computer/cell phone/or a hand held device when students need to social network face to face within the classroom and the campus. I do see value when netowrking with other campuses while working through similar assignments to create a collaborative product.

THing 21

TEKS Study is my attempt to collaborate with teachers to work through some clarifications on the new ELAR Teks. One problem was that the teachers I invited to the site had a few issues with logins ranging from forgetting passwords to me not listing the names. In a classroom application, students could work on a document such as a newsletter or review of a series. Would it be poosible to keep a running list of grammar rules and applications that students must understand and use as the school year progresses?
The Google Book Search allowed me to locate an article from a 1999 magazine. Since publication the article has become part of an anthology. The best part is that I own a copy of the anthology.
Google Alerts is now providing movie alerts. This is fun. I love going to the movies especially the $5.00 bargain movie time. Last movie I attended Fast and Furious; please consider that it does have a plot and characters which all fit into my area of concern.
iGoogle gadgets now fill my page. Maybe after the rush of excitement subsides, I will reconsider and delete some of them.

Thing 20

This Thing was a little easier thanks to the Tech Tutorials from Richard Armand for those he wished to expose to new technology. Yes, me.
The collaborative idea for classroom use would be for students to create a presentation dealing with the rhetorical elements in a poem or a speech. Students would include text evidence with commentary. They would also need to use images or even insert music or a video. I think I would limit the number of slides and the words per slide. Idea two would be for TEKS study with teachers collaborating on clarifying statements, the universe of possibilites, and connections to items currently in CSI. Idea three would be to create a survey form to use as an anticpatory set. This would help to activate students prior knowledge/opinions on a topic or issue. By surveying the class, the students would be able to refine and rethink opinions and beliefs.
Thing 20-I can not believe I have worked my way through this many things. My computer is still on my desk. It was in danger of being tossed, stomped, kicked, punched, and abandoned on many occasions during this journey. Earlier I alluded to something dark lurking around the corner, it is still lurking, but not a dark or threatening.

Clouds over Scout Moor Windfarm

Clouds over Scout Moor Windfarm,
originally uploaded by mrrobertwade (wadey).

I am exploring the blog this thing from Flickr to Inktrack. This is way too easy.

Thing 12

Finally. I have had great issues with this "thing." My computer never seemed to want to allow me to create. This makes about four attempts. With a little help from my friend Joel, the Bubbleshare worked. It really is easy. England is my favorite place to visit. It is difficult to image the history and literature that envelops every space in this country. I had a difficult time walking in Westminster due to the grave stones of the authors and heroes I've read about.
This would be a great way to teach prepositions-using a slideshow to show the relationships. Students could also create shows to demonstrate the plot development or character analysis from any work of literature. Could students demonstrate an expository text structure using a slide show? With some more thinking this might work.
I like the Blog link on this site. It made embedding so much easier. Added later: on second look this is not easy. I apparently did something wrong. Do you see a slide show of England? I do have one in Bubbleshare. Hours later: Thank you Joel (once again) for the HTML information. This little piece would have saved me hours of frustration and a few dings in my desk.
BubbleShare: Share photos - Find great Clip Art Images.

Thing 19

The Odyssey is a major literary work studied in English I. This Voicethread would be a way to introduce the epic poem to students by using both audio and video. Seeing the images from ancient pottery with the voice overs that link the stories in the epic would help to make the story relevant to students. Again I need time to search and group all this material to insert into the curriculum. I did find myself being pulled away from my objective to go into areas of fun and entertainment. The time factor is critical-I can not select any media piece without previewing and making a decision about where and how to incorporate the information into a lesson. This would be valuable to teachers to use with the equipment being placed in classrooms across the district.
23Things is not making my job easier or quicker; it is placing more demands on me. Being a memeber of the 21st century is not turning out to be an easy task.

Thing 18

YouTube is a black hole in space which has the capacity to move a viewer through time and space without the viewer being aware of any motion. (I know the science is fuzzy; but think of the comparison metaphorically). My search centered around the word school. The first video to emerge was AC/DC School Days cover of Chuck Berry (very cool music and even more interesting comments about the skill of the guitarist) and from there I ventured into the early 60s while listening to the Reflections, the Satins and other memorial groups. The school search took me into the vidoe world of grammar: pronouns, nouns, verbs and such. I learned "how to" identify many parts of speech and my favorite verb tenses. One group of videos were produced by Chalk n Talk (these were very good).
TeacherTube yielded a vidoe on writing the narrative with an explanation of the elements of narrative. This was by far the best video. What I need now is time to select a group of videos to incorporate into the curriculum. I wish some enterprising Texas teacher would make and upload a video about the new TEKS.

Thing 17

I visited and listened to podcasts at NPR and iTunes. NPR is a wonderful site. I tuned in to a lecture on the structure of Homer's Odyssey. This would have been a helpful aid for teaching the epic. It was more than a simple reading of the poem, but an explication of each segment that connected the Greek culture to the poem. The series has about 10 different segments. I will listen more.
For a little more fun, I chose a selection of "Summer Music." The music I grew up listening to. I also listened a selection about "How to Leave Your Job" (no I'm not leaving, but the music was rather entertaining. As a classroom application, music is a nice way to introduce a unit. The music could be used to set the historical context or a metaphoric context. Another podcast was from the Grammar Girl. If you are interested in knowing more about the subjunctive mood of verbs, this is the place to connect. After the multiple examples, any student would be able to master this grammar skill. (Subjunctive mood is the using were following a singular subject when the sentence makes a wish: e.g. If I were a rich man, ...... or I wish I were a more proficient 23Thinger.)
My next task is to locate and create a few podcast to incorporate into the CSI Curriculum.

Thing 16

The Library Thing is my thing. Now I wonder what reaction the group will have if and when they check out my reading list. My favorite genres are mystery (murder and espionage), historical fiction, and some fantasy (thank you Dr. Rideout for the series you loaned me this year). I will admit it took awhile to navigate around the site. I was unsure of what and how to do some things, but with a little experimentation a list was created. Is there a way to link the book covers into this blog?
The 50 book challenge is great. Teachers could create their own book challenge list at the beginning of the year. My granddaughter, Emily, is in 4th grade in San Antonio this year and is working on a 50 book challenge. She needs 5 more books before the middle of May. Her favorite book, at the moment and until the next book, is Pennies from Heaven .
Another classroom project could be a listing of books being read (self-selected reading) during SSR.
I enjoyed reading some of the excerpts/books online. I selected a few on John Adams (no clue as to why that selection). He was a very interesting historical figure. Go check him out.