One More Thing

Thank you for your patience and all your positive comments along the journey. I experienced fun, frustration, satisfaction, anger, achievement, etc., etc. I really enjoyed the activities of making things. I was hooked at the beginning by creating my Avatar. I will definitely keep my blog going and hopefully make it functional to my role as a principal. One thing I should tell you is that I have frustrated many professors in my time with my reflections. I often don't go as deep as they would have liked. I think it's just part of my personality. My wife would probably attest to that as well. Again, thank you for all the effort you have taken to guide us step by step through 23 things.

Thing #23

Oh, I'm finally to 23. I like the time clock countdown on the 23 things Ning. I found the badge but was not able to find widgets. I think I really should have finished all of this before TAKS week arrived. I am zapped of most of my mental faculties. I did like looking around and reading postings and blogs of educators on various subjects. I know that I am not there yet in terms of using social networking within my role, but I hope to be more proficient in the future. Goodness, I am just getting on Facebook and I already am falling behind in accepting friends. http://23thingsters.ning.com/main/embeddable/list

Thing #22

Okay, I finally broke down and joined Facebook. I have been dreading getting to this point, because I have always been opposed to MySpace and Facebook. I can't get over all the personal information floating around the internet for all to see. I have been apprehensive and I have a very close friend who has been on may case about "getting over it." My profile is very limited and will remain that way until I do "get over it" and become comfortable with the sharing aspect of Facebook. I do understand that as educators, we need to be familiar with these tools because our students are using them. Here is the link to my profile: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=1610966893&ref=profile

Thing #21

I created my own webpage on igoogle. Cool! Now my gmail account page doesn't look so boring. I will continue to tweak it to make it fit my style. The page currently has the following topics: current comic by Calvin and Hobbs; weather information; local news, national news, sports updates; movie schedules for local theaters and a few other items. I also looked around quite a bit on the Google Book Search. I found a book (I say that alot) I want to read about golf and I'll tell you why. Often, a golfer waits for the bad shot to happen. It is very difficult for most golfers to maintain the positive thought processes necessary for a quality round. When I go out and really feel good about playing and hit lots of good shots, it's still in my mind that the bad shots and the bad hole that will ruin my round is just around the corner. I need to be mentally stronger and focus on what positives will happen. Therefore, I want to read the book titled Extraordinary Golf: The Art of the Possible. I don't know if it will cure any of my mental weaknesses, but it sure can't hurt.

Thing #7b

Here is an article that discusses a circumstance we all run across from time to time: http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/LeaderTalk/2009/04/other_duties_as_assigned.html
Why me? Why do we need this? What's the purpose? Have you heard any of these questions when trying to create a plan to make the campus run more efficiently? I think we all have experienced the barriers or apprehension from others as we "change things" or "try something new". I still have Leader Talk as a google reader and I really enjoy many of the articles in Education Week. I think I will look for the book “Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done” (Larry Bossidy, Ram Charan, Charles Burck and skim through it to see if I can pick up any good tips.

Thing #20

I was fortunate enough to take a mini class with Dr. Armand and explore some of the facets of googledocs. Have I made to most of my training???? I'm sorry to say no, but I do have plans to utilize the training in the future. As I looked at the principal's to-do list, it reminded me of last year when Daron started creating the list and asked for suggestions by email. He took such great initiative in getting a common list together. Now that it's created, all principals can go in and edit to their particular needs as well as help others with things they don't often think about until they are in a time crunch or under a great deal of stress. Googledocs offers such a cool method for professionals to view, collaborate, edit, plan, etc., etc.

Thing #19

Voicethread is not one of my favorite tools. It's probably due to experiences with the tool in the past. It is often used in connection with the presentation of important information. I think you have to be careful when using this tool with students because it tends to lend itself to the Ferris Bueller method of teaching "Bueller, Bueller, Bueller, anyone, anyone, anyone". Hopefully you have seen the movie to understand the reference. I feel it is easy to make the information very dry if you're not careful and that is the last thing our current generation of students need. I'm sure there are ways to spice up a presentation using voicethread, but as I searched, I found more dry presentations than engaging presentations. By the way, here's a trailer to the movie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0s-oGumvPz0

Thing #18

I have searched YouTube clips quite a bit in the past. I like looking for humerous or goofy things people do and post. For example, check out this first clip. I promise I'm not picking on women drivers. I was actually told to look for it by a close female friend. Look on and get a laugh: Ooops, I took it off because as I look closer, the comments people left had inappropriate language for our course. If you want to see it, go to YouTube and search "women drivers". You know, I along with a few other "23 Thingers" actually have a famous MISD video that made its way to YouTube. I need to start searching and utilizing clips to emphasis staff development, etc. Check out this cool TeacherTube video clip of the life cycle of a butterfly: http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=6156dea786245fc68c96

Thing #17

Okay, this "thing" was right up my alley. I love Itunes and my video Ipod. This is one area of technology in which I do not feel lost. I can spend hours looking for songs and videos. My son and I have similar taste in music so we often look for songs together. It's cool finding old songs that I listened to when I was younger and finding out he likes them as well. We have also spent time looking for videos and podcasts to help him with homework assignments. I did look at several of the sites and I found three of them that stood out to me: GeekEd, NPR Books Podcast, and 60 Second Science. I actually subscribed to the 60 Second Science.

Thing #16

I have a habit of finding the Discovery Channel on my television and honestly, I probably watch it way too much. Last night, I was watching a really cool documentary on Da Vinci and not too long ago I saw a show on Nostradamus. When I started looking at LibraryThing, I had to do my searches on the two histrorical figures. Now I have a wealth of suggested readings from my searches. I am excited to go and find some of the titles at the library. I think the possibilities of using LibraryThings as an administrator or a teacher are limitless. I know this is a "thing" that I will utilize beyond the 23things class.

Thing #15

I like this delicious thing and tagging. After playing golf on Sunday in the 30 mph plus wind gusts, I need help. I have tagged several golf tip sites to hopefully provide some helpful hints. Several of the sites offered video demonstations and since I am a visual learner, I found them very interested and I'm ready to go and work on some of the skills. I know this is really not focused on an academic topic, but with many of the 23 things activities, I have to go with what is on my mind at the time in order to have fun. I am waiting to see if the tag to deliciousmisd23 works. I hit refresh several times and it hasn't shown up yet. We'll see.

Thing #7a

It is easy to put off checking the google reader. I have kept up with one subscription for the most part. I really like the postings from Infinite Thinking Machine. There is a current posting called Friday Five- Tools for teachers. The posting happens to have sites posted that we have already experimented with during our 23 things time. The posting was created because "sometimes as teachers/administrators, we are so busy looking for the perfect resource for our students, that we forget to take care of ourselves. By nature, teachers are caretakers and we do often take care of others needs before our own." The posting shares tech tools that can help us be more successful at our job.

Thing #14

I ended up playing around quite a bit on the ToonDoo comic site. I also found a use to for the TaDa site. It seems that we always have to-do lists and the site provides endless ways to play around and create a list for anything you can imagine. The site can definitely be used to create lists in a fun way of all the things teachers, administrators, parents, students, etc. need to do. I made a short comic in regards to 23 things on the ToonDoo site. It was fun creating characters to put in the strip. I hope I saved it correctly so it can be viewed by anyone visiting my blog. If not, I will work on getting it right.

Please check out my short 23 Things comic at : http://www.toondoo.com/cartoon/688043

Thing #13

I need to know if I am doing things right on this "thing". Did everyone have to keep signing in on all these mashups? I again struggled, but it was fun playing around with different pictures, bubbles, etc. It seems like I have fun playing around but when it comes time to post to the blog, the struggles really kick in.

Thing #12

I hope it's okay that I strayed from my pictures in Thing #11, but I needed to play around and have a little fun with this activity. I know I will be able to use this for future slide show presentations. Plus, I am working toward everyone sharing the same appreciation for the Vikings as I.

Thing #11

For some reason, I was thinking about science when I was flipping through Flickr. Everybody loves the Menthos and Coke experiment, right? I looked at all kinds of pictures on all kinds of topics. It is cool how much stuff is out there to pull off the site. Any topic I try to search came up with great pictures. I almost posted all the awesome Viking pictures, but I didn't think everyone would be interested, so I stuck with the academic type pictures. Menthos and Coke...academic.....sure!!!!

Thing # 10

I have to be honest. I don't check the copyright guidelines as closely as I should when I take things from the internet. I have always paid attention to the "cc" when making paper copies to use in the classroom, but the internet is so loaded with immediate clips for use, etc., that I don't look for the copyright guidelines. Watching the video clips makes me more aware of looking out for the "cc" as I prepare presentations for staff development sessions. How does all this apply when you are giving a presentation? Sometimes, a clip I find can add clarity or inspiration to a presentation and I just need it to fit. I can't really say for sure if I have broken copyright guidelines or not while using internet resources, but I can tell you that I will pay closer attention in the future.

Thing #9

Whew!! This one was not easy for me. I had difficulty with the headings, the link, etc., etc. However, it's complete or at least as far as thing 9 is concerned. I do like looking at other wikis and finding out what people are interested in doing with their time. Nobody else is interested in the Vikings? I don't get that. Everyone's world doesn't revolve around mine? Well, I'm just babbling. I did struggle with this exercise and I'm hoping they get easier from here, but for some reason I don't think that is going to happen. Here is the link to my wiki. http://misd23things.wikispaces.com/VikingsRock

Thing #8

I'm falling behind on my things. I am getting my competitive juices flowing and refuse to trail so far behind. It is time to get busy again. I looked at almost all of the posted wiki's. It is interesting to see such variety and styles. Some are well constructed while others are poorly constructed. Some of the wikis make you think that the creator really has a grasp of using technology effectively in the classroom to accomplish curriculum based projects while other wikis make me think "what is the point or purpose of this?". I'm not trying to be critical, because I give kudos to anyone who tries to utilize the tool. However, isn't an ineffective wiki that is utilized for instructional purposes just as bad as a lesson poorly delivered by a substandard instructor? I really liked the wolves den wiki. http://fhswolvesden.wikispaces.com/ There was so much information on the site. I read many of the discussion posts and thought that using the posts is a great way to allow student discussion without intimidation. I like the video links as well as the chapter by chapter posted assignments.

Thing #7

I'm hanging in there. Reading the Ten Commandments of Blog Commenting was very interesting. I'm not sure I can follow all the suggestions because I am taking this course with friends and I so enjoy making sarcasm a part of my blogging. I am trying to make a concerted effort to post comments on blogs I follow on a more consistent basis. It is fun to look at my blog and see there is a new post, so I need to allow others to have the same fun. I need to be more of a giver than always a receiver of blog comments. Like one of my friends stated, we are a third of the way through: let's keep the ball rolling.

Thing #6

Okay, this task created frustration. Is anyone else having the trouble I'm having going from tab to tab? I did get it worked out and I found two pretty cool feeds. The first feed is called Steve Spangler's Blog http://www.stevespangler.com/. It gives information and links to a variety of science experiments, etc. The second feed I found This Week in Education http://scholasticadministrator.typepad.com/thisweekineducation/. It offers a great variety of current events/activities involving education. I am now subscribing to eight feeds. I guess I better find the time to keep up, right? These activities are definitely started to test my patience and frustration level. I'm not giving up. I will make it to #23. (I hope...)

Thing #5

Wow! Just try to keep up with the RSS feeds. I added USA Today to my reader and I have 263 updates to catch up on. I don't think that is going to happen due to the amount of time it will take. I need to be a bit more selective on what I add to my reader. www.usatoday.com

Thing #4 Response to blogs

I read the blog Spies Like Us . I like that blog writing is so casual. You don't have to think about making everything perfect. The blog itself was facinating because it illustrates how technology can be used in the educational setting to have a very negative impact. I have been known for being a half-empty person at times (as many of my friends would tell you) and as the facebooks and myspaces have experienced an explosion of interest and use, I have tended to look at them from the viewpoint of being damaging to personal privacy, etc. I know this is probably the viewpoint of someone out of touch or "old", but the blog definately covers some of the reasons I am cautious of technology. The blog illustrates how we are losing touch with our privacy and making ourselves too accessible at times.

I do like the immediate feedback you can get from blogging. You get to put information or opinions out there and receive agreement, opposition, different thought avenues, etc. It truly can be thought provoking. It's an avenue for expression instead of having information spoon fed to you like other means of writing. Caution should be taken when reading blogs since anyone can post anything. Fact or fiction should be the thought process utilized when reading. Tom, Dick or Harry can post whatever they want and leave it up to the reader to buy or sell.

Thing #2 Reflection

I like reading about the examples of educators using web 2.0. I am encouraged by the fact that I have teachers on my staff who really work to integrate our available technology in the classroom. Teachers are utilizing podcasts for reinforcing science vocabulary and giving students a visual representation to go along with mental imagery. Teachers are using websites for interactive stories. I see a higher level of student focus when I go into classrooms using technology, but I realize we are far from where we need to be with student created/shared materials that utilize technology. The more experience and knowledge I gain in regards to technology, the more I can confidently encourage its use in the classroom.

Thing #1 Reflections

What do I think of when I consider 7 1/2 Habits of Effective Lifelong Learners?

This is probably the biggest mental challenge I have pursued in quite some time. Not because of the difficulty level, but because of my frustration level when technology doesn't quite go as planned. I can't think of much that gets me as tempermental as technology; however, that is the very reason I finally agreed to pursue this challenge. I must devote time and effort to learning technology in order to prevent being left further and further behind.

As an educator, I see and hear young students working with technology and realize I don't have the skills necessary to keep up. I am hoping this course provides me adequate knowledge and the confidence not to fall so far behind in the future.

As stated earlier, I have a frustration level with technology, so Habit 3 (View problems as a Challenge) will be the most difficult part for me as I continue along and reach my goal of completing 23 Things.

Habit 7 1/2 is probably the easiest for me because I do like to play around on the computer. Playing is easy. I need to move beyond the playing and apply the technology to my advantage.

In order to meet the needs of today's learner, I need to be able to effectively teach and mentor others in utilizing technology. I need to encourage others to step outside their comfort zone and meet the interest level of students. Students utilize interactive devices in their daily lives and at this time, these devices are not integrated as well as they need to be in school.

I am now a blogger. I never thought I would get into blogging. You never know what being ridiculed by friends will do for you. Just kidding. It's encouragement not ridicule. I am looking forward to communicating by blogging.