Brain Overload-week 2

Okay so after a very exhausting training over our district's new curriculum, I took a quick break to go visit my daughter and then headed straight to class.  I honestly thought my brain was fried, but nope had to regroup and learn more about Blogger and Goggle Reader.  At first, I was like "No way!  I'm too tired."  Yet, as we continued, I started to realize how this was helping.  Last week with our work I was very frustrated having to log on to Blackboard and copy and paste everything. Each day I was having to log on, just to find that there wasn't anything new posted. With work and a daughter, I don't have all the time in the world to constantly log on.  All I was thinking was "Geez, there has to be an easier way."  And... there was!  So, yes, I'm happy my brain woke up.  I learned how to subscribe to all the members of our class blogs and to find ways to organize them by weeks.  This can come in handy since our CT wants some of us to start pilot blogging sessions with our kids. I have to admit that I did come in with a negative attitude, but once I saw the benefit and how much time it would save me, I began to want to learn more.  So now, I can  comment on our class blogs and still have time to spend with my baby! 

test link, video

Here is UTEP's link. 

Web 2.0

First and foremost a Web 2.0 class has to have the most current technology.  I’ve seen some classrooms that have computers that are more than 20 years old and are not up to speed with the current demands that new technology requires.  In addition, it has to have readily available all the other tools that go with it.  For example, if you want students to upload their own videos then flip cameras or recorders should be accessible.  If the child is working on SKYPE then there should be a Webcam or a built in one.  There should also be a class set or at least half a class set of computers within the class.  We should see more and more computers occupying space than textbooks. Yet, the most crucial thing about a Web 2.0 class is that the facilitator of the class should know how to use and ACTUALLY use it.  I can think of millions of times I walk by classes and see IPods in carts collecting dust.  In-services should start being geared towards technology and how to implement it in the classroom.  But the most important thing about a Web 2.0 is that students and teachers alike are utilizing it on a regular basis.  It’s about students really experiencing the technology and collaborating with one another to see the benefits of these tools.  Teachers would have to go from monthly technology use to daily technology use.

This leads me to my next set of ideas dealing with a creating a technology-rich constructivist classroom.  I have already mentioned certain requirements that must be present, which are having current technology, the accessibility to the technology, and teacher and student participation with the technology.  Creating a technology-rich classroom would require the teacher to learn and understand the various uses of technology other than for creating word documents.  Basically, it’s a class in which teachers and students learn together and embrace the ever-evolving influence of technology. 

1st day of class

Hope everyone had a great first day or to those that have already been teaching hope you didn't have a "Case of the Mondays."  (Office Space)  Today's first day went so fast for me and of course there are a billion things I wish I would have done differently.