Diigo Tag Roll

My Diigo Tags

Journal 2

Ferguson, H. (2010). Join the flock. Learning and Leading with Technology, 37(8), 12-15.

            
Summary: Join the Flock is an article about creating and utilizing professional learning networks.  The author explains the benefits of building a professional learning network, also known as PLN.  The first benefit is that professionals are coming together to assist in each other’s research and learning.  Rather than ‘learning’ on our own, professionals are able to turn to other professionals for assistance.

           
Professional learning networks take time but the amount of time one dedicates is very flexible.  One way to be sure that your time is used effective is to create an interest list.  It is important to include interests in the bio section of the twitter account because other people will be able to ‘follow you’ based on similar interests.  This helps people connect who have similar ideas and interests.  Professionals can also ‘watch’ from a distance and not ‘say’ a word on Twitter.  By having a list of ‘followed’ people allows professionals to watch the conversations without feeling the need to directly interact.  

           
Question: I have often viewed Twitter in a negative light.  Have people used Twitter for classroom purposes?  I wonder how students would react to the idea of Tweeting for a homework assignment.  Just like any innovative teaching strategy, I am certain students utilizing Tweeting as a means of homework brings excitement and a little uncertainty.  I believe, as a middle school teacher, educators would encounter similar issue with Twitter as one would with a typical type an assignment.  There are certain kids who would love the idea of Tweeting and excel utilizing it, whereas other students would struggle.  For some families, having a computer creates an issue.  Just like at school, some students’ personalities would over power others.  All in all, I think it could be a great teaching tool AFTER a long lesson is completed on cyber-bullying and how to communicate appropriately via the cyber world. From the teacher’s perspective, I see this as a wonderful opportunity for the teacher to ‘sit back’ and watch the kids interact with one another.

McClintock Miller, S. (2010). Enhance your twitter experience. Learning and Leading with Technology, 37(8), 14-17.

Summary:  The overall objective of this article is to expose people to twitter and enhance their twitter experience. The author provides 'baby steps' for people use so they can become familiar and comfortable with using twitter.  First, a person can 'observe' other people's tweets without commenting because it can be an overwhelming feeling of 'putting yourself out there.' After feeling comfortable with being a part of the tweeting community, start posting comments such as, 'great idea.'  This provides the feeling of participate yet does not give too much exposure.  Exposing yourself would be the next step.  If you find an article or participate in an interesting activity, one can post about it.  The last step to increasing your tweeting confidence involves tagging your tweets.  By using (#) sign, also known as a hash tag, allows the stream of educators to follow your tweets.  Some example hash tags are: #teachers and #educators. Once a person is hash tagging their tweets, some may become addicted to it!  Enjoy!

Question: Where do educators find the time to tweet?  I, personally, take one day at a time.  With all the paperwork that is included with being a special education teacher, meetings, lessons, and how can I forget having a personal life, how does one have the time?  I feel if teachers use tweeting int he classroom, we as educators will only be expected to work at night in order to monitor the students' status and posts.  I love my job but won't ever do that because I love my personal life also. 

                 

Journal 1: 100 Things that make ME HAPPY!!!

1. Family
2. Wine
3. Danee'
4. Pizza
5. football
6. Saturdays
7. Summer
8.  The color GREEN
9.  teaching
10. sunny days
11. beaches
12. getting my hair washed at the salon
13. having a pet dog
14. 539 West Magnolia
15. memories with my friends
16. Ana
17. Kyra
18. Graham
19. My mom
20. My dad
21. fruit
22. running
23. thunderstorms on a hot summer night
24. romantic comedies
25. dancing
26. champagne
27. taking pictures
28. photography
29. cheese steaks
30. Philadelphia Eagles
31. Wii
32. learning
33. reading a great book
34. love stories
35. family reunions
36. Christmas
37. Mary
38. camping
39. Wildwood 
40. Atlantic Ocean
41. Pacific Ocean
42. Sam's Pizza
43. My Dog Skip
44. Frank Sinatra's voice
45. making wishes on the first star
46. rustic elegance
47. pearls
48. laughter
49. massages
50. shopping
51. cards
52. hugs
53. The Fire House
54. organizing
55. making dinner for someone special
56. the future
57. finishing my level 2
58. St. Patricks Day
59. mint chocolate chip ice cream
60. positive thinking
61. poetry
62. riding a bike
63. mountains
64. the feeling of the first snow fall
65. the feeling of the first warm spring day after a long cold winter
66. The last day of the school year
67. vacations
68. saying hello to someone special for the first time in a long time
69. star gazing
70. having four older brothers
71. decorating Christmas trees
72. surprises
73. impromptu get-a-ways
74. dark chocolate
75. field hockey
76. Jack Johnson
77. New York City in December
78. watching the sunset
79. vegetable sandwiches
80. filet Mignon
81. monkeys
82. Motown
83. choloate chip cookies still warm from the oven
84. traveling
85. reading non-fiction
86. teaching
87. my wedding day
88. Sean
89. babies
90. cleaning
91. changing of the seasons
92. jumping into a pile of leaves
93. wearing dresses
94. Target
95. knitting
96. making crafts
97. sushi
98. happy hour
99. fall
100. spring