Last day of class

I would think that the most important thing I have picked up is the fluidity of information and the importance of a back-and-forth between student and teacher; that information comes from so so many sources. We need to be- have to be- aware of knowing how to access knowledge. In this class we were introduced to a huge variety of resources all available over the Web. I think I am really going to LOVE Google reader. I love the idea of being able to bookmark through Diigo, too- makes using different computers less problematic. I feel as if my head is so full of knowledge I have to be sure my head doesn't tilt so it doesn't pour out of my ear. I am really excited about these new possibilities.

University of Wisconsin Redefined!

More thoughts from the comfort of home...

I think the most important thing that I learned today was feeling more familiar with the vocabulary and how to move around in blog land and wiki land. (Love that the word "wiki" comes from the Hawaiian for "quick"). I was glad too that there are varying degrees of familiarity with the concepts introduced; I wasn't the only one for whom this was pretty new stuff.

Interesting too is the concept that "real" blogging demands interaction; it is not just "journaling my day" but connects resources and links as well as one's reflections and thoughts.

As for applications, the book suggests several that would be applicable and fun: an online book club, an on-line, structured research activity, provide internet links for specific activities (pp. 38-40). I would love to do something literature based.

At the end of the day I felt as if my head was stuffed full of exciting information! It has really helped to be able at home to go over the reading and practice my skills at my own pace.

Comments Chapters 1 & 2, Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts etc.

The idea that students think in "hypertext"; hopping from one idea to another; thinking in parallel rather than sequential lines is a good reminder. I have seen this in teaching how to search online. I am also interested in the idea of the Read/Write Web; using the web as a communication tool.

I've been thinking, as I am reading, how to implement this concept in the student's library visits to the library. Maybe I could collaborate with the middle school reading teacher to have the students blog reactions to the book they are reading? This bears more thinking about.