Thing #7

     This was my first time to explore and actually use Flickr.  I enjoyed navigating my way through and being able to view such amazing photographs.  At first I doubted Flickr and its connection to education and research, but as I began to explore I saw how people can be educated through such detailed photos.  This would be a great tool to use within instruction and a great way to draw attention and interest to a lesson.  Flickr was also extremely easy to use.  After entering in the subject/topic, photos immediately come up and become available for use.  I found it easy to find photos of various different types of objects.  The photo which I chose to add to my blog is this beautiful star gazer lily picture, photographed by audreyjm529.  Flickr Photo by: audreyjm529

Thing #6

      The tool/website which I chose to explore and educate myself on was Diigo.  I had never even heard about this site until I saw it on the Webware 100 list which made me curious to find out just what it was.  After navigating my way through this site I learned that Diigo is a tool which allows its users to bookmark, share, and retrieve information about any desired topic.  Not only does this site allow people to research subjects, but it also enables people to share any information throughout the world at any time.  Diigo lets individuals annotate and edit the desired section of any document.  This would be a wonderful tool to use within the classroom or library setting.  Diigo would work well with research, papers, and just exploring the Internet to find new educational activities to share with others.  You can see all the "handy" tools in which Diigo has to offer by visiting http://www.diigo.com/ .

Thing #5

     Going into this assignment I was unaware of what Web 2.0 actually was, but after reading some of the perspectives and watching the informative video I feel much more comfortable discussing what it consists of.  Web 2.0 is what people today know as the current internet system.  It is a highly advanced operation which can perform several different tasks and answer just about any question.  Web 2.0 can serve as an electronic form of education, social networking, and can even connect students and scholars all over the world through online collaborative workspaces.  This highly advanced system is familiar to almost anyone and is becoming a common tool throughout many, and if not all, schools.  Children have traded in chalk for pencils and are now beginning to switch from writing on notebook paper to typing all needed information into highly advanced computers.  The transformation from poster boards to powerpoints, and paper textbooks to online e-books is School 2.0.  Technology is constantly developing and changing and schools along with its curriculum and the way in which it is taught must adapt.  It is extremely important for educators today to be equipped with the latest forms of technology and curriculum in order to better prepare students for their demanding futures.  Schools and its faculty must be provided with the most current technology as possible in order to prepare its students to the fullest, and enable them to reach their maximum potential.
     Children today are entering school systems already knowing how to use most technology such as iPods, computers, and cellphones.  This previously earned knowledge must be used to inform them on how all technology can be used in order to better improve their education.  In the near future schools must improve all forms of instruction and be willing to incorporate all kinds of technology based instruction within the classroom.  This upgrade to a new and improved curriculum is school 2.0, and it must be used in order to better prepare each child.

Thing #4

      Commenting on a blog is another aspect in which I had not been educated on until now.  After reading all of the four blog posts, which list the importance of blog commenting, I became aware of how blogs actually work and thrive.  By leaving a comment on an individuals blog you are showing them that their opinions have actually been read and shared with others.  Comments can provide the author of the blog with information and/or thoughts that he or she had not yet thought of or considered.  They provide wonderful insight and according to The Blue Skunk Blog, "they can also make a blogger's day".
     When reading the blog from ProBlogger, I found it important that this blogger observed the fact that not everyone is familiar with blogs and the way in which they operate.  ProBlogger stated that, "keep in mind that new readers that are unfamiliar with blogging don't always know about comments or how to use them"; this statement caught my attention immediately because I am a first time blogger and am not aware of how everything works.  I believe it is absolutely necessary to invite comments and educate your readers on how your particular blog works.
     After becoming educated on how effective and user-friendly blogs can be I definitely see this type of communication as being beneficial within a classroom if used correctly.  I will try to make my classroom blog as user-friendly as possible with directions for parents who may be first-time bloggers.  The blog will serve as an interactive community with all the updated classroom information which may be needed on a daily basis.
     The bloggers which I have chosen to comment on and regularly keep track of are as follows: Mallory Morris, Tina Tucker, LlieAnna Traughber, Monica Sears, Lindsey Cotton, Anna Hall, Jennifer Tolleson, and Amber Carver.  I chose these eight women because I felt as if we all shared some of the same opinions, but also had wonderful insights on new ideas as well.  Each blog seemed well organized, well written, and had a great deal of thought behind each post.  Most of my comments seemed to agree with each person's posts, but I also tried to offer some new, fresh ideas to each as well.  I enjoyed being able to compare my ideas with the thoughts of others and also learning from their blog posts too.  Commenting and reading other blogs has been a wonderful experience and has taught me many new things.

Thing #3

     When first starting this blogging process I was very scared and had fears of not being able to use it very well.  After navigating and gaining some experience with this online form of communication I have become aware of how user-friendly and "neat" this type of online communication actually is.  This would be a wonderful way to keep in touch with fellow education classmates and also a way to share instruction techniques, lesson plans, and other classroom information with colleagues, parents, and administrators.  Being able to view everything in an online form such as this blog provides information to more people in a faster and more efficient manner.  This would definitely be a wonderful tool to use throughout the remainder of my education program and profession.

Thing #2

     For my posting name and the name of my blog I just decided to go with something easy and rememberable.  Creating this blog took me quite a while and at some moments was rather difficult for me so when it came time for a name to be picked I just decided to pick something easy, but I might decide to get creative with it later on throughout this process.  This was my first blog to create so this entire process was very new to me, and therefore took some time to master.  The avatar which is displayed at the top of this page does reflect my personality and most of my physical features as well.  I try to be a happy person most of the time.  A smile is on my face the majority of the time unless I am stressed over school or just having a bad day.  Creating this avatar was a very enjoyable experience and adds a lovely touch to my blog.

Thing #1

     The 7 and 1/2 lifelong learning habits list was very interesting.  I found that the first habit, "Begin with the end in mind", stood out as being the easiest for me.  This habit seemed the easiest because I am always starting something with the mindset of completing it right then.  I have a hard time beginning a task and then leaving it unfinished.  The hardest learning habit would have to be "Use technology to your advantage".  Computers, along with the several different forms of technology, have always been a difficult task for me to master.  It seems as if technology has always given me more problems than it has relieved and that tends to be an issue for me.  By not being technology "savvy" I hope that by playing with Web 2.0 tools that I will eventually learn to love and enjoy using it within my education.  The procedure of setting this blog up was a little difficult for me.  I will definitely have to explore this and become more comfortable using all of its wonderful tools.