Thing #3: Reflections on Blogging

Generally, blogging is sharing your thoughts and ideas in an interactive way. After reading the various blog example, I found that there is not a specific rule to blogging. It can be very casual, as if you are having a conversation, or it can be very formal with very collegial writing. The type of voice a person chooses depends on the purpose of the blog and the audience to which they are speaking. Reading a blog is much more interesting than just reading an article or book because it is interactive. Often a blog will link you to other information. If you have a deeper interest in the topic you can easily find more information through these links. Blog writing is in turn more interesting for the same reason. You can share more detail and provide resources for others through your writing. When others leave comments about your blog you are able to further explore the ideas you are sharing and possibly learn more than you did initially. You are able to connect easily with other people and gain knowledge from many different people. Our students can use this to learn from others and share ideas with each other and give and receive valuable feedback. It provides many opportunities to collaborate. This is a valuable tool for teaching students to write. They can easily locate postings they've made and see the development of their writing. Blogging and reading others blogs can spark imagination and creativity and connect students to a world of resources.

Activity #2: Reflections on Web 2.0

After watching the Web 2.0 videos, I recognized how instrumental these technologies can be to the teaching profession. It was very interesting to see how all of the teachers in the learning community interacting to create activities for their students to connect their learning across curriculum. I can see how the idea of web blogs and pod casting can allow parents to have insight into their child's education. By allowing them to engage in the activities that their children are experiencing, they can better assist them in understanding how these activities relate to their life and future learning.

This is also a great way for other educators to share ideas and strategies for effective teaching. I have learned more in my career from other educators by watching them perform. This gives everyone the opportunity to see what others are doing without spending time and money organizing staff developments. Teachers can engage in development activities on their own time as well as chose the activities that best suit their needPr

Thing #1 - Reflections on Lifelong Learning

The "Habit" that I found to be the most difficult in my own life I believe would be Habit #4. I have, until recently, always questioned my abilities. I always felt that I was just putting on a front and eventually someone would figure me out. It wasn't that I didn't have the abilities, but that I simply didn't believe in them. I have recently found many opportunities to use my own personal strengths in my personal and professional life and this has given me the confidence to believe in myself which, in turn, has shown me that others believe in me, too. This is a very important habit because it can make or break your journey to reaching your goals.

Habit #7 is probably the easiest for me. I have always found that teaching others strengthens my own knowledge. If I am able to effectively teach something to another person I build confidence in myself and my abilities. A lifelong learner should always be "paying it forward".

The Habit that I think will be an asset to me through this course is Habit #2: Accept responsibility for your own learning. It is important that I take the time to truly learn from this experience and use the knowledge to further my effectiveness as an educator. My choice to participate in Learning 2.0: 23 things was to improve my ability to utilize technology in my classroom and I need to take the responsibility for gaining as much knowledge as I can.