Registration was a breeze. Filled out the form, clicked 'submit' and logged off. Then I went to D2L so I could see what questions should be answered in this entry, and I didn't see my name under EDUC 3040 - 12. I saw other student names, but not mine. We'll see. Maybe it has to be read by someone first. Anyhow...
I checked out Edublog and really liked some of the uses for blogs in teaching. I am uncertain how I would use blogs. I don't want to tell the students I will check the blogs all the time, so they can get help anytime they need it, for fear that they would expect me to check it 24 hours a day. I am supposed to learn how to play you know.
The most effective use of blogs for me would probably be as a journal of my classroom experiences and reflections from lessons presented. Maybe as a forum for teachers to share ideas as well. These two ways seem to me to be the most useful, right now anyway.
Wooo hooo, only 20 'things' to go.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Thing # 2
Why did I choose my posting name and the name of my blog? Well, I created an email account with hotmail about 11 years ago, and that name is always available when I open new online accounts. So I always use the same one. Plus, it's easy to remember my user name for any of my online accounts; it's always the same. The name of my blog was just another way of saying 23 things; twenty plus three things.
My experience creating the blog was just a little frustrating. The directions made it sound extremely simple, but they didn't match exactly and I had to hunt around for the right controls to click while customizing my blog site. However, it was not so hard that I decided to give up. But this brings up a point I really do not like. If a student is told that their assignment is extremely simple, and they have difficulty doing it, they might lose confidence in their abilities and begin to think they're not smart. They will also not feel like they accomplished anything when they finish it because the teacher already told them it was so simple a caveman could do it.
My avatar looks as close to myself as a cartoon with the choices I had available would, but I already wrote that I take myself too seriously. I even made the background a classroom. Is my personality reflected in my avatar? To a degree. I am serious about my studies and will succeed. That's why I am pictured in a classroom. That, and the fact that I take this blog site as an assignment, which it is, and did not think the tropical island background would be appropriate. But that is why I need to learn how to play. I doubt I will be in the classroom much longer.
Now I get to register my blog site with APSU. Wish me luck.
My experience creating the blog was just a little frustrating. The directions made it sound extremely simple, but they didn't match exactly and I had to hunt around for the right controls to click while customizing my blog site. However, it was not so hard that I decided to give up. But this brings up a point I really do not like. If a student is told that their assignment is extremely simple, and they have difficulty doing it, they might lose confidence in their abilities and begin to think they're not smart. They will also not feel like they accomplished anything when they finish it because the teacher already told them it was so simple a caveman could do it.
My avatar looks as close to myself as a cartoon with the choices I had available would, but I already wrote that I take myself too seriously. I even made the background a classroom. Is my personality reflected in my avatar? To a degree. I am serious about my studies and will succeed. That's why I am pictured in a classroom. That, and the fact that I take this blog site as an assignment, which it is, and did not think the tropical island background would be appropriate. But that is why I need to learn how to play. I doubt I will be in the classroom much longer.
Now I get to register my blog site with APSU. Wish me luck.
Thing # 1
I watched the slide show, but got frustrated at the end. I was supposed to click on the attachments and complete a learning contract. For a technology class, the technology is not very friendly. First, the D2L page "The 23 things" is delivered with unsecured items and requires me to "... compromise the security of the entire page." before I can proceed. That's a little scary.
Then, the learning contract attachment doesn't open when I click on it. I hear a noise like my pop-up blocker just blocked something, but when I check, my pop-up blocker is not on. I then go to my laptop, download and save the contract, email it to myself, then get back on the desktop to print it. My printer is only connected to the desktop computer.
Now to the heart of this 'thing'. The easiest habit for me would have to be setting goals. I mapped out every course I required for my degree and when I needed to take them during my first semester at APSU, and I check it every time I register for classes. My time in the military helped me to learn about goal setting and its importance.
The hardest habit for me would have to be playing. I take myself way too seriously, study way too hard, and have no time for play. However, I will have to learn this if, for no other reason, I want to be a successful teacher. Learning is easier when you're having fun doing it. I will be able to keep my students more effectively engaged if I make learning fun, and they will get more out of my lessons. Since that is my overall goal, to become an effective teacher, I will have to learn the habit and importance of playing.
Then, the learning contract attachment doesn't open when I click on it. I hear a noise like my pop-up blocker just blocked something, but when I check, my pop-up blocker is not on. I then go to my laptop, download and save the contract, email it to myself, then get back on the desktop to print it. My printer is only connected to the desktop computer.
Now to the heart of this 'thing'. The easiest habit for me would have to be setting goals. I mapped out every course I required for my degree and when I needed to take them during my first semester at APSU, and I check it every time I register for classes. My time in the military helped me to learn about goal setting and its importance.
The hardest habit for me would have to be playing. I take myself way too seriously, study way too hard, and have no time for play. However, I will have to learn this if, for no other reason, I want to be a successful teacher. Learning is easier when you're having fun doing it. I will be able to keep my students more effectively engaged if I make learning fun, and they will get more out of my lessons. Since that is my overall goal, to become an effective teacher, I will have to learn the habit and importance of playing.
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