Reflections

Yesterday I was introduced to some new tech tools and revisited some I already know about or use.
After a keynote address by Iowa & National Teacher of the Year Sarah Wessling-Brown where she she shared her vision of a panoramic digital learning world there are some concepts I need to think about. I especially liked her idea of teaching by theme or major questions rather than by things. "Technology is not the motivation to learn, it is the gimmick. We need to tap into the students' motivations." and "Let go of the hierarchy and let collaboration occur." are two ideas I plan to ponder. Sarah showed how she uses www.PollEverywhere.com, www.Wordle.net, and MITOPENCOURSEWARE in her classrooms. I will also be checking out author John Dewey and the book by Garr Reynold called 'Presentation Zen.' HA-HA, I just used check out as a pun.
After her address I attended her session on technology in the literacy classroom where she demonstrated some tools she used in her classroom at Johnston High School.
I especially like and want to try www.animoto.com and www.wikispaces.com.

Nick Sauer introduced our group to creating a blog [web log] using a Google email account and we made a personal blog. You're reading mine! I have others. WE ARE BLOGGERS!
We looked up other blogs using Google Reader and also suggested www.technorati.com to use for the same purpose.

OK. What are some ideas you especially like/use? Have you used any of the tools I mentioned?

Today we learn how to use more tools under the direction of Mr. Nick Sauer and Dr. Scott McLeod of CASTLE. It's an all-day computer boot camp!

Well, my wake up call from the hotel called and it's time to get ready for the big day! See ya!
Theresa