Discovering the name for something always proves to be a brain exhausting chore. Parents are faced with the challenge of finding the perfect name that will suit and define their child, and authors are plagued with the deed of molding a crafty title for their books that will hook the minds of the readers. Fortunately for me, the title of this blog is not set in stone and can be changed with the click of a button if need be unlike the names mentioned previously. Trying to find a clever and catchy name was certainly an interesting feat. I wanted to find a name that was poetic, but that still met the requirements given. I started off with the title "23 Things with Ms. Anderson," but found that it didn't satisfy me, so I went back to the drawing boards. I began to ponder what came to mind when I heard the word classroom. Words came flooding into my mind... Teacher, Desks, Apples, Pencils, Books, Chalkboards... ah ha! Chalkboards. If I remember correctly, chalkboards can be considered a type of assistive technology. Well, that's a start. I then decided to connect to the modern classroom, and it just so happened that we had a tutorial over Smartboards that morning in class. How convenient?! After a few failed attempts, I finally created the title "From Chalkboards to Smartboards." I found that the title was a perfect fit because it described my journey with technology in the classroom.
As for my posting name, I decided to use my future teacher title. It's the one my parents gave me, so why not use it? I chose to include the Ms. because I wanted to sound like a teacher. Also, I plan to use this blog in the future, and by using my government name, my fellow colleagues or anyone who is interested will be able to identify my blog easily. Besides, I want credit for my efforts. I'm so excited to see how this project helps me grow professionally as an educator.
In Thing One, I mentioned my experience in creating a blog. When first faced with the task, I was a little concerned. I had never done anything of the sorts before. There were numerous steps that had many different ways to complete them. So, I panicked. I feel more comfortable when things are explicitly clear, and the steps to creating a blog were as clear as a mirror after a hot shower. Thankfully, with the much assistance from a fellow classmate, I successfully set up my blog. The second time around was much easier (Thank Goodness!). Since I had previous knowledge on setting up a blog, I was able to share my knowledge with a few classmates. They say practice makes perfect, but I find that practice only makes things easier. Because new ideas are always being revealed, there is only room for improvement.
I chose to create an Avatar that looked as close to me as possible. I contemplated creating one that was crazy and fun, but decided against it. I created one that looked professional because I plan to use this blog for other things after the completion of this course.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Thing #1
Technology and I have never had the greatest relationship. While I find the new advancements intriguing, I can never seem to conquer the task of comprehending how to use them to assist me in everyday life. The sixth habit of lifelong learning states that as a learner one should use technology to his/her advantage. This proves to be the hardest habit to embrace in regards to my lifelong learning process. Granted I use the Internet for Facebook, online homework assignments, and sending emails, but that is the main source of technology in my life. I hope to learn of new ways to use technology. In doing so, I anticipate that I can enrich my learning process, and use the new technological discoveries to my advantage. By becoming more knowledgeable about the technological gadgets that are right at my fingertips, I will be able to better serve my future students.
Growing up, I was always told that education was an important key to being successful in life. From a young age, I took learning into my own hands. I would always experiment with ideas, read anything I could get my hands on, and asked lots of questions. I was consumed with the appetite for knowledge. As I grew older, I realized that the amount of knowledge I obtained was a combined effort by my teachers and myself. Although teachers play a huge part in the learning process, it is ultimately up to the individual to take responsibility for his/hers own learning. As the old saying goes, "you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink". With this said, I find that the easiest lifelong learning habit for me is habit number two which states that learners must accept responsibility for their own learning. It is the easiest for me because at a young age the importance of education was instilled in my being. In my opinion, you must have a desire to learn in order to truly gain knowledge.
In regards to Web 2.0, I am anxious to learn numerous, innovative ways to integrate emerging technology into my classroom. New things are always being developed, and thanks to the Internet and other tools these things are always just a click away. There seems to be an endless amount of resources available due to Web 2.0.
Setting up my blog for this project was nothing short of a simplicity. However, when faced with this task in my Children's Literature course, creating a blog was beyond challenging. As with most things, experience and determination proves to decrease the amount of obstacles and frustration standing in the way of the final result.
Growing up, I was always told that education was an important key to being successful in life. From a young age, I took learning into my own hands. I would always experiment with ideas, read anything I could get my hands on, and asked lots of questions. I was consumed with the appetite for knowledge. As I grew older, I realized that the amount of knowledge I obtained was a combined effort by my teachers and myself. Although teachers play a huge part in the learning process, it is ultimately up to the individual to take responsibility for his/hers own learning. As the old saying goes, "you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink". With this said, I find that the easiest lifelong learning habit for me is habit number two which states that learners must accept responsibility for their own learning. It is the easiest for me because at a young age the importance of education was instilled in my being. In my opinion, you must have a desire to learn in order to truly gain knowledge.
In regards to Web 2.0, I am anxious to learn numerous, innovative ways to integrate emerging technology into my classroom. New things are always being developed, and thanks to the Internet and other tools these things are always just a click away. There seems to be an endless amount of resources available due to Web 2.0.
Setting up my blog for this project was nothing short of a simplicity. However, when faced with this task in my Children's Literature course, creating a blog was beyond challenging. As with most things, experience and determination proves to decrease the amount of obstacles and frustration standing in the way of the final result.
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