Thing 4 RSS

How do you handle information overload and how do you think RSS might help with that?

This was the big question we had to answer and this simple question turned into a four day ordeal. I feel RSS will save me a lot of time and enable me to be more organized with the information I am seeking and the learning I am engaging in. However, it has also been a good way for me to learn.

I made the mistake of responding on the ISD blog instead of going to my own blog to post my response. I waited and waited and waited and it did not show up. Gee what happened. Sooo I did it again.

I started doing the next Thing and again things didn't work. I never received the confirmation e-mail to set up my bloglines account. To make a long story short, after help from the great ISD staff, I have discovered that I already had an account on bloglines, I must have done it a couple of years ago at a media specialist meeting. Good tip for all of you, use the same password as much as possible. The way I discovered I had an account is I tried the other password I usually use. (I created a new one for this project and have been using it on everything new I have been doing.) Bingo, I was into my account and discovered I had already added some blogs. I have learned sooo much in the last four days because I spent that time looking at all your blogs to see if you were progressing or if something was wrong with the system. I have learned so much and I appreciate the comments I am receiving on my blog. This is a great way for us to learn from each other and help each other.

LD

Thing 3 Blogging

I have looked at way too many blogs today. It was interesting reading the numerous ways to use a blog in teaching and I see myself having a blog to promote new books, or provide a book club for the students. I also liked the idea of having students use a blog to talk about acts of good at school. Teachers are suppose to do this all the time and this would be a great way for students to add to the positive support. Our PTO is always struggling for new ways to reach more parents and a blog would allow those who can't attend meetings to keep in touch. I'm not sure I will be able to digest all the settings that are available but, I can always watch the video clip again.

I liked hearing that there is a setting that allows you to review a posting before it is on a blog. One bad egg can really mess it up for the entire group. Yes it would be a lot of work to monitor postings but, it may be worth it if you create a blog for students to use.

Library Dragon

Thing 2 Create a blog

This was very easy and informative. Writing anything for others to read is not my favorite thing to do. I am always afraid of saying something stupid, spelling something wrong etc. I know it all goes back to a friend's mother telling me how poorly I wrote a pen pal letter in third grade. I would love to be able to rattle on the way some people do on their blogs. Maybe this will help me to be more expressive. After reading other blogs and seeing how teenagers write it makes me a little less worried about what I write. This won't be the easiest thing I have ever done but, I feel it will be one of the most beneficial things!

What a great way to spend my summer. I have read about and heard about blogging and just haven't started one. Keeping up with the younger generation is not a easy task but, we all have to start somewhere. I love reading what other people write and it will be great to communicate with others. Technology has become so easy but, why is it that it is taking so many educators so long to get on board? I appreciate this opportunity to learn at my own pace, in the comfort of my home when I am not running in a million different directions with a to do list a mile long.