5/11/2010

Wow! This class has been a challenge for me, but I am feeling much more comfortable with things. I had to go way out of my comfort zone.

Looking back over the semester, we started with the webquest. I had done one years ago and had really forgotten how to do it. It was like starting from square one- but I did it.

We had our instructional website. That was a long drawn out disaster. :) It was painful. I used an online site where I could design my site. I kept hitting a button while i was typing, (and I'm not sure which), that kept deleting entire pages. I was having a heck of a time. I started many pages over and over!! -however, I did it!!

We had our podcasts. I had no idea what to do mine on. I actually fouund this very enjoyable and I think that I am likely to use this in the future. I liked using audacity. I had fun with this. I did it!

We also created classes on moodle. I thought this would be very difficult, but I enjoyed this one as well. I had a hard time figuring how to use it with my kindergarteners,so I planned a 5th grade class. I would use this agian as well. I did it!

The wiki was my least favorite assignment. I really had no idea what to add and how to contribute. I felt that the people I was working with did a great and complete job. I did not realize that so much work had already been done when I went in to work on it. I think that was the biggest problem. I waited too long. However, as bad as I felt it was, I did it. :)

We created blogs and participated in many discussions. We used secondlife and the palace. I found a lot of tools and sites and articles that I want to go back to try out, use, and read. I am maybe even looking forward to another of these classes in the future...maybe! :) As I have said many times, I did it. I may not have felt as comfortable as I am used to feeling, and I may not have done as well as I am used to, but I took a leap, and tried soemthing new. For that I am happy.

5/3/2010

Today we are on second life for our group synchronous discussion. So far I have to say that I am not that impressed with seoondlife. It is really hard to figure out and nothing is marked, or if it is, it's hard to read. Dr. Ingram said to meet at Kent State, but I ran into Lee and we had no idea what to do or where to go. I don't think it's something I'd use, but we'll see after the discussion.

So a strange tech thing happened today. I was on facebook today and soemone sent me an invitation to a group that had teh name of an old friend with her birthdate and the day she died. This is how I found out that she passed away on Saturday. Wow! Things have changed. Anyway, I found that to be an odd use of facebook (as well as a sad one).

May 2, 2010

Today I got to work on the wiki. I have to say that it looks really good. Everyone made it a great resource. I want to go back and check out some of the links when I get a chance. This was my first time with a wiki. It was an interesting experience. It was difficult to make changes to what others had written. I didn't want to change their line of thinking or insert other ideas. It was a very different experience than traditional editing because with pen and paper editing, the original words and thoughts are still there and the writer is able to decide if what the editor changes is better or more appropriate. With the wiki, however, when I edit, the original words are replaced. I didn't like that part of it. Also, as an editor, I like to reread more than once what the writer wrote, as well as what I have changed to be sure my edits are what we actually want. I wish there was a way to use editing marks first before making the final changes. (Perhaps there is and I don't know it yet.) I don't know if I'd use a wiki in my classroom. I have found a lot of technologies that I am excited to work on and become more proficient in, but I don't think a wiki is for me.

April 28, 2010

I FIGURED OUT MOODLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok...I got that out of my system. :) As I said, I figured out moodle (or at least I think I did). It really didn't take long to do my moodle project at all. I think I am going to turn it in tonight. I was proud of myself for figuring it out. I was unsure of how to use it in a kindergarten classroom though, so I went back to my days in 5th grade. I did my project on 5 topics in grammar. I think it went well. I think that moodle could have been a little more user friendly, but overall, it was ok.

Now I need to do the wiki and that is actually the one I have been dreading. I am not sure what to write or add. But, it's the last one. (Yay!)

I got feedback on my site last night and I was fairly happy with how it went. As the overachiever I tend to be, I kept going over things with my husband. ("I should've....) He finally said, "You did good on soemthing you had no idea how to do. You're fine." I guess he's right. I'll be settling down now. :)

When does the class actually end? I am leaving for Florida May 15. Hopefully everything will be wrapped up by then. I need to check that out today.

Have a great one!!

April 25, 2010

This was not a productive week!!! I planned to get a lot of work done this weekend but sadly, that did not happen!!! I just spent the last half hour or so reading thru the discussion boards and responding to them. I hoped to be halfway thru my moodle by now. ugh! Now I have some of that panic sneaking back in. I need to get down to some serious work now. Night all. :)

April 18, 2010

What a productive week!!! I turned in my website assignment the other day and today I did my podcast. I was surprised at how easy it seemed to be. I would like to take an online tutorial to see what all audacity has to offer, but I think I did an ok job with what I figured out on my own. It was really easy to do. I sent my husband and kids on a few small errands so that I could have some peace and quiet. :)

Today I also wrote my wrap up of my discussion and started poking around with moodle. I also got caught up with the discussion boards and am actually doing a blog post on time. I guess this crummy weather has helped! At least it's good for something.

Have a great week everyone!!

April 13, 2010

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYY!!! I finished my website. Tonight I'm going to go through and double check that all my links are good and then it's outta here! Feels good to be done with that one.

My little guy is sick right now with the flu and is clinging to me. It makes it really hard to get anything done. Oh well- he comes first.

I missed the synchronous chat last night. I had stayed up till 1:30 the night before learning second life and then couldn't download or log on to Palace correctly. I tried over and over. I tried again today because I don't like when I can't figure something out, but still no luck. :( Would've been hard/impossible with a sick baby anyway.

Anyway, I feel like I've got a handle on this finally!! Just a few projects to go! Have a great day everyone!!