Monday, June 29, 2009

Thing 5. Getting started with RSS

It was very interesting reading the postings from the Students 2.0 blog, the one that caught my attention, was Don't Save the World . I thought it was a very honest point of view from a high school student, who writes about her opinion about some students who get involved on humanitarian causes overseas, not because they want to help, but because that will give them points on their application for College. She thinks that students should do what they are really interested in and not what will look good on their Resume.

I agree on the fact that we should do what we really like to do, because that is what is going to make us happy. One should still focus on what your goal in long term is, and always be honest with what you really are. That is called integrity.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Thing 4

Blog writing is a way of sharing. Sharing anything from ideas, articles, thoughts, memories. And what is really special, is that it is alive. People can respond, add, discuss, link, etc.
Blog reading is different from other types of reading because it is not just linear, it is multi directional, and it lets you read other peoples opinion and express your own.

From the Blog postings that I read, this was specially interesting. Wandering Ink: with the article How to prevent another Leonardo Da Vinci. He cites the book "How to think like Leonardo Da Vinci", and gives 10 ways in which we can promote, or kill creative thinking. Here are my thoughts: We as teachers should be promoting creative thinkers, but having to prepare students to take standarized tests, brings a lot of preassure to teachers, students and administrators. You try to focus on the standards, and discourage any question or activitie that is taking you in a different direction. That is why, I think that in order to have creative thinking friendly environment, it takes a whole effort, from top to bottom.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Thing 2. Thoughts about Web 2.0

I find a lot of applications for my classroom. One of them, is having a digital newsletter, where parents could read what we are going to be learning every week; track their son/daughter’s reading fluency rate, or I even think that they could read aloud a chapter that is posted on the letter, listen to a read-aloud podcast, etc! The possibilities are endless!!!

Thing 1. Reflections on life long learning.

Which habit(s) may be most challenging for you to employ as part of your Learning 2.0 experience?
Accepting responsability for my own learning will be the most challenging habit, because we are used to rely on the teacher, to be receivers, not to take action and research, create. Also, viewing problems as challenges. That is an attitude in life, and it is a habit that you have to develop, putting you fear to new challenges aside, and becoming more open to new adventures.

Which habit(s) will be easiest, or are most resonant for you as a lifelong learner?
Probably, using technology to my advantage, because I am very used to gadgets and software, so, it requires constant knowledge updating, but it is kind of a habit for me.

Which habit do you think will be most important for you as you work through this course, and why?
Teach/Mentor others, because in order to teach others, you should master the skill you are trying to teach. It is true that you also learn and reinforce your knowledge while you teach, and that is probably the neat part. Sharing is also receiving.