In addition to being enrolled in MD 499 this fall, I am also taking MD 403: The School Library. This course adds whole new elements to my PLN. As part of my MD 403 requirements, I have joined LM_NET ( http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ ). LM_NET is a giant converstation held between Media Specialists worldwide. It's almost like Twitter, instead it uses emails instead of character limited tweets. If I have a question, I email it out to all the subscribers in the hopes that dedicated followers check their emails and reply. It's quite extraordinary how many questions are asked and answered by this online community.
The only draw back, is that it's the epitome of the "fire hydrogen in the face" PLN. I set up an extra email account just for LM_NET because I receive hundreds of emails a day! In a way, it's more chaotic than twitter, as there are no character limits. However, since it uses email, it opens up for more dialog, and collaboration. Check it out, maybe you'll want to join the conversation. If you've got a question related to Ed Tech or Media Centers, someone might be answer to answer it.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Google Documents
I was first introduced to google documents as just another means of saving your work/word files. From time to time, I would write essays on google, in case I wanted to access them without a flash drive. However, over the last year I have really begun to see them as an educational tool.
In MD 499, as well as MD 403 (a school media center course I'm taking), we have been using google docs as a powerful collaboration tool. Although the google word doc cannot be edited simultaneously, it still enables users to edit and share their work. A google excel spreadsheet however, enables users to edit simultaneously as long as they add to separate cells.
This year, one goal that I have as an educator is to increase my use of web 2.0 in the classroom. I am looking to google docs to help me do so. Already, I have used the excel spreadsheet to let students collaborate on generating a list of topics to study for a project on US history. Currently, I am using google word documents so that groups can share, add to, and edit the same essay. I never imagined that 25 students could collaborate on the same writing piece throughout the course of a day.
I have my annual goals meeting with my principal tomorrow, and I'm going to share with her my goal to incorporate web 2.0. With this as my official goal, I hope to find ways of employing collaborative online tools throughout the year.
In MD 499, as well as MD 403 (a school media center course I'm taking), we have been using google docs as a powerful collaboration tool. Although the google word doc cannot be edited simultaneously, it still enables users to edit and share their work. A google excel spreadsheet however, enables users to edit simultaneously as long as they add to separate cells.
This year, one goal that I have as an educator is to increase my use of web 2.0 in the classroom. I am looking to google docs to help me do so. Already, I have used the excel spreadsheet to let students collaborate on generating a list of topics to study for a project on US history. Currently, I am using google word documents so that groups can share, add to, and edit the same essay. I never imagined that 25 students could collaborate on the same writing piece throughout the course of a day.
I have my annual goals meeting with my principal tomorrow, and I'm going to share with her my goal to incorporate web 2.0. With this as my official goal, I hope to find ways of employing collaborative online tools throughout the year.
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