Week 4 Thing 8 RSS Feeds

Exploring RSS was interesting. It was crazy how many different feeds with varying topics you can subscribe to. The best part is that someone else is getting the info for you, organizing it, and posting it. The only thing you have to do is subscribe to the feed and click on whatever you want to see. I will use it to subscribe to news because I like to know what is going on all over the world, especially the places in which I have friends. I will also subscribe to library feeds to have access to current info and ideas. I'll subscribe to sewing feeds, too, because I like to sew, but am not the greatest, so maybe I'll get some help. Once again, though, the problem in using this is time. I barely get to my e-mail. I think that students could use it in classes to keep up with current events of all types and as resources for papers they write. It will be fun to play with RSS and add more feeds more when I have more time.

Week 3 Thing 7 Technology Article

I read a short clip in Reader’s Digest about how to locate your laptop if it has been lost, misplaced, or stolen in the U.S. There are two choices: you can subscribe to Computrace Lojack for Laptops Premium software that will track your computer, report the location to police, and remotely delete personal info. The other is a free program from researchers at the University of Washington and the University of California, San Diego. This free program allows you to track your computer and even take a photo of the thief (if you have a Mac with a built in camera.) The program is called Adeona. It can be downloaded at adeona.cs.washington.edu. (Reader’s Digest April 2009)
This is great, especially for college kids who carry their laptops around with them all the time and live in apartments or in a dorm. I will be getting this info to my kids in college.

Week 3 Thing 6 3rd Party Sites

Siblings
Originally uploaded by lean cuisine

My older daughter and youngest son have a very close and fun relationship. I know they will get a kick out of this. It was a lot of fun playing aaround with the Magazine Cover maker. It is a little tricky getting the colors to be visible. One color is too dark, the other too light. Can't wait to have the time to play some more.

Week 3 Thing 6 Flickr mashups& 3'rd party sites

A Late Given Rose
Originally uploaded by Kuzeytac

I looked at mappr and was hooked looking at so many photos from all over the world. What a fun way to explore cultures in different parts of the world. This photo was taken in Istanbul. How beautiful with the water droplets glittering on the petals.

Week 3 Thing 5 Ex. b Center Photo

Readoplogy display and library pictures 001
Originally uploaded by lean cuisine

This is not in the media center but is in the display case right inside the front door to our school. We based the diplayed on Monopoly, as you can see. It was a lot of work, but was enjoyed by everyone as they either walked in the door or by the display. (The following year the display was not as complicated.)

Week 3 Thing 5 Ex.a Discover Flickr

IMG_0721
Originally uploaded by http://www.flickr.com/people/buenavistabh/

I chose this photo because it reminds me of the good times we have had with friends while on vacation. We would go to the beach every night to watch the sun go behind the horizon. No matter how many times we saw this it was a different experience each time. The only problem in choosing this photo, though, is that I would rather be there than here.

Week 2 Thing 4 Registering Blog

Hope I did everything right up to now. Hopefully I am registered.

E-mail from Blogger Account: Your blog, http://dreamweaverdreaming.blogspot.com/, is associated with the Google Account username _______. Please use this Google Account username to log in to Blogger and access your blog.

Week 2 Thing 3 Setting up Blog

Finished setting up my blog. Not too bad. Happy blogging.

Week 1 Thing 2 Pointers from Lifelong Learners

Very interesting the 71/2 habits of lifelong learners. Really made me think about my approach to learning and how an educator's goal is to make lifelong learners of all students. Do we really give them the tools to do so? I think not, and a lot of it is simply the logistics of being in the normal classroom setting where there is not much room for going outside of the box. But creating lifelong learners is our goal and we keep trying.

The easiest habit for me is accepting the responsibility for my own learning. I like to try new things or sometimes I have to try new things in order to accomplish something I must do. Going on the web to watch a video on how to use a plumbing snake to unclog a drain is one of my most recent (and proudest) accomplishments. Such a simple thing, but I needed to do do it and it worked! A lot of times new computer programs are presented to us for use and we really aren't given much instruction. I go on line for tutorials or call out the troops for help (Jill and John).

My most difficult learning habit to face is the lack of confidence in myself to become a lifelong learner. This may seem like a contradiction of what I wrote above, but even though I accept the responsibility for self learning I have a lot of qualms about being able to do it. I can be persistent, though, and I keep telling myself that everyone has a different learning curve. I sometimes have a hard time catching on, but once I have it, I have it. Sometimes I feel incompetent, and the confidence is not there.

Week1 Thing 1 About the Program

I have gone through the introduction to the program and it sounds interesting, if not a little overwhelming. There is so much out there in the world of technology and it's practically a full time job keeping up with it. The next 12 weeks or so will be very interesting.