Teachers 2.0

This network is awesome! It is another social network for educators to discuss and swap ideas and share anything in regards to new tools that are out there from the basics of PowerPoint (no offense) to Web 2.0 (which I am just learning about). It is a really good fit for me because I have access to educators from everywhere and am learning what is "new" in other areas that I don't yet know of. I just got a really great quote from a blog discussion on "How are you using technology in your classroom?" One of the response included "Technology won't replace teachers. But, those teachers that use technology in their classrooms will replace those teachers that don't." I couldn't agree more and I feel that this network will keep me where I need to be as far up to date on technology as well as even helping me out with this class!

Connectivism & Constructivism

The learner today is constantly changing. There is not one definition to encompass what a learner is. The learner can be thought of metaphorically as a piece of clay. It can be pulled to meet one persons needs, molded to reach another’s, and fired to form someone else’s, but in the end it is considered clay, just in different forms with different purposes.

The learner today in this day and age is molding into a high tech person. We are relying on technology to communicate but at least we are communicating. As George Siemens said in his video The Impact of Social Media on Learning http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grI_h88vs3g&feature=related , "Our learning today is one of forming networks with each other," and he goes on discussing how in education we have a problem with communication. He quotes Vygotsky in saying that, "Words really give life to thoughts," so if we are not communicating then how are we being effective educators? I agree that any communication is good communication and through these social networks we join and form on-line, we nonetheless are learning.

In George Siemens article on Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age, he revisited old theories like constructivism, behaviorism, and cognitivism, but also introduced new ones like the theory of Karen Stephenson who said, “Experience has long been considered the best teacher of knowledge. Since we cannot experience everything, other people’s experiences, and hence other people, become the surrogate for knowledge. ‘I store my knowledge in my friends’ is an axiom for collecting knowledge through collecting people (undated).” This is what we are doing right now! Our blogging and joining social networking groups, are in a sense "collecting people" and therefore "collecting knowledge." Staying connected, literally and figuratively, is the key!

3 ways I could use blogs in my class

I can use a blog with my students for so many things. I can use a blog for book discussions. I can pose a question each night or week on my blog and require all my students to respond to the blog and then respond to each other in regards to the book.

I can also use a blog for over the summer to stay in touch with my students or for new and upcoming fifth graders. I can post my summer reading lists, things to expect for the year, a supply list. I could have blog where they introduce themselves to their new classmates! I really think the children would love the blog for this especially, it prepares them for something that they are usually dreading. They know what to expect and can make friends before the school year even begins!

I can use my blog to post assignments, have "Help" Sessions, where I can be available for help as well as other classmates. They could do projects together using their blogs. Also we could go international and link up with another fifth grade classroom! We can see what they are learning about, what they are reading, and different educational topics they are studying that we may be able to study along with them and then have blog discussions about it.

First Blog ever!

Hi everyone! As I have overstated this is my first blog ever. I hope I am doing this right. I had fun navigating around and customizing my page. There is still some maintenance I want to do but for now this is ok. I just got back from Rochester, I was visiting family and I am kind of tired. I don't know if it is from the long weekend I had or the ice skating I did this afternoon! It was so fun. There is a place in Rochester called Manhattan Square with an outdoor rink. I loved it. Actually, that is why I am tired! Nitey-nite!