Today we set up blogs in PhotoII!! It was nice to have semester I under my belt to live and learn. I am not getting too much into the designing or adding of widgets. We will be using them as a digital portfolio to turn work in AND the unit we are in is video so we will be watching "Julie & Julia" when Julie is a blogger and Julia Child is a chef. My students will have to blog/reflect as Julia & Julie do with their own lives and my kids will have to do a "How to" video of their choice.

Next year, I think I will build blogs right away and start the year with video. The blogs are still the best way to turn things in. The blog has the time stamp so they either did or didn't and they are SOOOO efficient. And I get to give my two cents about professional vs. personal for email, social media, etc.


I also loe Google Drive and will be organizing all of the lessons/units on the Drive. The idea o opening a folder anywhere and having all of my items whereever I go is genius. :)

The social bookmarking may be the most helpful thing yet. I have soooo many bookmarks and just stuff on my computer that I could put and organize online. I am still waiting for diigo(sp?) to approve my teacher account, but when it does, it will be a dream. This is seriously one of my goals, to have a website that is so neat and organized with all of my class info and assignments. Now I will cut myself a break since this is my first year teaching this course without a lot of guidance so it's pretty much just keeping my head above water, but I look forward to the summer when I have time to organize my class content.

The browser thing is pretty crazy. I used three different ones today to try to get something to work. Unfortunately it was the website, not the browser, but still, my students have confidence in me that I know what I'm doing and five an honest effort.

Here is a the link to my students youtube videos....it's a mix between silent movies and stop motion (Photo I & Photo II)

We did a ton of watching other videos and learning how to problem solve using youtube to watch videos on specific tech issues that arose. It's so powerful to teach kids how to find information and to teach themselves. I know it sounds like a contradiction bc that's my job, but to teach kids how to learn and how to problem solve is so powerful. I want my students to never stop learning, to always be innovative and tinkers. :)

The beginning.....

Began grad school courses to become a certified online teacher, pretty stoked. Hoping that this training gives me more tools needed to teach more technology for engagement and career purposes for my students. I feel that if I am teaching technology, I can't get complacent in my teaching bc it's always evolving. Not sure if I'll ever teach an actual online course, but I will be completing my pdp in technology and can use the info learned during these courses to not only satisfy my requirements, but to also share this knowledge with staff.