Thing 23: Reflection on my the journey.

What an amazing journey this has been! I have learned so much about Web 2.0 tools. I had no idea that this was all available to me. I would encourage anyone to take this journey and learn about the exciting ways in which you can engage with a larger community by using the tools we have learned. Just had a thought, wouldn't this be an interesting doctoral thesis for someone: The impact of Web 2.0 for seniors who were not afraid of the technology. Their world would just open right up for them. But, I digress.

My thinking has really changed since I started the project. First, I know that I am less fearful about using the technology. That, in and of itself is significant. If a person can overcome the fear of getting lost in the technology, there are so many ways they can learn, engage in a learning community, and enlists us in being thinkers, co-creators, etc. One of the things that I discovered is that I would like to use blogs and wikis as a place to learn with my students, clients, the people who I am coaching, etc. Let me share a shift of thinking...I use to think that technology was impersonal, a sort of artificial social network, but it does not have to be. Now, I think my next task is to get a greater proficiency of the tools so that I can begin to incorporate them in my practice on a regular basis. My view of the internet has change in that it doesn't have to be this ominous black hole where someone is lurking. If one applies a modicum of caution, realizing that it is a social network, I believe things will be okay. A little common sense is what's called for.

At any rate, I just have to thank you for sponsoring this project. I have learned so much. I also want to send a hearty thank you to my fellow participants because they have been a part of our community of learners. What a fantastic voyage...now for the next leg of the journey...or as a faithful trekkie (Star Trek fan) would say...Let's continue to go where no man has gone before!

Thing 22: Creating a Wiki

Wow! I get it, now! By creating my own wiki, I have begun to see some of the possibilities. Here's the address to my wiki http://cultureiconoclast.wikispaces.com.

The purpose of my wiki is to invite guests to share ideas and strategies for building, shaping, and developing an effective school culture. I am really excited about this wiki. (;-o). I realized that I could really have some fun building this wikispace and interacting with participants. I think a blog is more interactive and personal becuase you can answer specific questions back and forth. A wiki space lends itself to collecting ideas and exchanging thinking. I think of it as a big "think tank". HMMMMMM....what an exciting possibility. I really have shifted my attitude about this WEB 2.0 tool. I am so glad I had an opportunity to try this out.

Thing 21: Learning About Wikis

I find the whole concept of wikis to be very interesting. I know that it would involve social networking around a topic. I read several wiki's. I loved the "WikiHow-to" Website. I looked at several of the videos like how to escape from a locked car trunk, how to be safe from nuclear attack, getting a total body workout in five minutes. They were very interesting and informational. I have to admit that I don't quite get the "big idea" behind "wikis". I went on the educational website as well. I enjoyed looking at the student wikis around "themes" or school projects.

One thing I realized was that I don't feel inspired in any way to start my own wiki. It doesn't quite make sense to me. If I chose a topic, how do I know that information people would be sharing with me is credible and viable. We could be swapping "error" or ignorance. Information reliability would be one hurdle for me to overcome. Please enlighten me as to the big idea behind wikis. I am feeling a little "dumb" on this one. Most of the Web 2.0 tools made a lot of sense to me so I could draw applications for my work from them...but not wikis...unfortunately! (;(. Oh well, I see the next thing is to create a wiki; perhaps in doing so, I will get a clearer understanding of the possibilities and potential of this tool. Here's hoping so...the verdict is out for now... I'll get back to you on this one!

Thing 20: Subscribing to Podcasts

While I enjoyed listening to a number of podcasts, I found it a bit tedious to find them. I subscribed to the "Things My Mom Told Me" podcasts on the following topics: How Jealousy Works, and How Office Politics Work. I found it a bit difficult navigating the Ipod website, but loved the Podcast Alley Website. For some reason, the Podcast Alley seemed more user friendly. I like the idea of podcast. What a great way to learn something new or have access to a variety of small module that are easily adapted.

One thing I am coming to realize is that Web 2.0 tools bring an entire world to you. It's very exciting.

NEVER, EVER JUDGE A BOOK BY IT'S COVER! OR NEVER TOO OLD TO DREAM!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxPZh4AnWyk

Check out this video clip of Susan Boyle. It captures the spirit of our learning. The longer version's embedding mechanism was disabled so paste the URL above in your browser. Enjoy the full song! What an extraordinary gift!
This is an inspiring story that really illustrate the journey I have been taking in learning these Web 2.0 tools. This 47 year old charity worker, Susan Boyle, who by all outward appearances has experienced little in life and seemingly has a great deal to offer the world. The reaction of the judges and the audience shows just how shallow the world can be. They judged that she had nothing to offer until... she opened her mouth to sing. God does have a sense of humor, doesn't He! Take a look and a listen to this video...

It also illustrates the power of technology to get the message out. It has been verified that this video had millions and millions of hits on the internet. In so doing, Susan Boyle is now known around the world. Even if she doesn't go any farther in the Britain's Got Talent Competition...her life has been changed forever. Someone will snatch up that talented lady. There is a verse in the Bible that states, "A man's gift makes room for him and brings him before great men." [Proverbs 18:16]. This will probably play out in this woman's life. It will be fun to follow her progress and watch her dream unfold!

Is there any doubt that technology can be utilized as a tool to bring all people of the world together for the purpose of peace! What a powerful tool. I am so glad that I am participating in this project. I want to be able to use these tools to not only learn but also to connect. How very exciting!

Thing 19: Podcasting

Ma, che aqua nella moca? Si...Secura? apunto!. Wow! I love podcasting. I listened to a Italian Lesson for beginners. The phrase that I wrote at the beginning of this blog means... Is there water in the coffee pot? Yes. Are you sure? Then, after a mini-disaster! The responder sarcastically adds, "Sure there is!" I had no idea that podcasting held so many unique possibilities for learning. This is really exciting. I also watched a vodcast of one of my colleagues, Dave Bydolowski, who made a vodcast of a science teacher that has taught his 5th grade class to raise and maintain an aquarium of salmon. That vodcast is on MI-Streamnet. There are so many ways one can use podcasting to teach, learn new and exciting things. I would like to use podcasts in my work, but most of all, I would like to learn Italian using the podcasts that I have discovered. Since I am a professional singer, by avocation. [I sing with Michigan Opera Theatre.] This would be a great way for me to brush up on my languages. I had no idea of the possibilities. I will have to find the links for the podcasts that I discovered.I believe I used a site call "Podcast Alley". Off to Italy and onto new adventures with podcasting! Ciao, bella! LOVE IT! This is exciting!

Using Music in Your Class

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

Using Music in Your Class

View more presentations from childrensministry.

Thing 18: Slide Share

I really love this slide presentation about using music in your class. It shows the importance of music in shaping mood, motivating, and creating an atmosphere of openness to new ideas, learning. I love the Scripture passages that are a part of this slide show. I think that I could use this tool in many ways--particularly to find interesting slide presentations to use in workshop presentations. I also had the idea of choosing a particular subject and asking students to add a slide to the presentation by reacting to a key question or idea. As a matter of fact, I may use this with my Women's ministry group at church. That would be fun!!!

Thing 17: Online Productivity Tools

I chose to use the Bubbl.us concept mapping tool to make a map of the key ideas associated with Old Testament Prophets. I really enjoyed doing this because I find that I can remember more of the concepts if I make a visual picture for myself. I can see how using this tool will nelp me in my personal studies as I research theological and biblical concepts. Here is my mind map.

Professionally, I would use this tool as a way to interact with workshop participants and students in checking understanding of concept we are studying together. I can imagine this would be an excellent tool to use with children for writing, developing a concept, thinking out loud. It would be so exciting to see students develop a concept together and watch and/or map its evolution. Wow, this is wonderful!

Thing 16: Google Docs

I had some experience using Google Docs. I really enjoyed working with it. We use it to track our work in the Districts. It's a great tool. I went to try to explore more uses. I would like to learn more about posting a document on it and have people collaborate on it. This is a great tool for helping people to work on a project. It is centrally located and very accessible. I especially like that whenever you plug in your at looking at the latest iteration of the work. This is a very useful tool for people who are in different locations. You can get quite a bit done through this Web 2.0 tool! Gee, I had no idea these types of tools were available. This would be good for a writing or a research class, even though the students would need an e-mail address. It is well worth it! The only issue that comes to mind would be for those students who rarely get an opportunity to use a computer at home. Many students, however, get an opportunity to work on the internet during school hours at even at the library which is really great. Thing 16 IS A REALLY GREAT THING!

Thing 15: RSS Revisited

You know I had almost forgotten about my bloglines account! I am so glad that we revisited it through this exercise. I added two new feeds to my blogline accounts. I think this will help me to use the RSS more often. I added a scrapbooking video site that shares "how to informational videos". Since scrapbooking is a hobby of mine, it will motivate me to check my blogline account on a regular basis. I really see the benefit of having all my feeds in one place. It makes it more convenient to keep up with them. As I write this reflection I realize that I have to constantly fight the feeling of getting lost in the technology. What I have come to realize is that I need to really relax and use each little new learning as it comes. What I can do is try to not try to make everything "second" nature all at once. I have to adopt a sort of "just in time" mentality to this new learning. Otherwise, I can see how a person might get overwhelmed and give up! I don't want to ever give up on the use of these tools. I can see that this could be a way to stay connected to the world. Being a part of the cyber community keeps you in touch!

After today, I believe I will check my blogline account more often as I want to know what's going on with my favorite hobbies such as scrapbooking. It hasn't become a habit or an obsession yet? But I am hoping it will...

Thing 14: Bookmarking With Delicious

I had already set up an account on the Delicious Website while doing Thing 13. My user name is Tabpsalmist1954. I bookmarked my scrapbooking sites for exploration by the public. I am not completely comfortable with having complete strangers looking at all my files. One thing that I did when I signed up was to bookmark all the sites that I had in my favorites. As I looked over the sites (and there are over 200 of them!) I began to delete those that I haven't used in over a year. Some I did not want to make public. I have to admit that the social bookmarking is not something I feel confident or comfortable with. I do see that this might be very useful for a class that wanted to explore a topic on the internet to learn about the many sites that connect to a topic. Delicious as a tool doesn't seem that useful. It seemed a bit overwhelming to me. I shall have to study it a little more and determine how I might be able to use it to my advantage. But for now... I don't really care for it. Sorry to say... (:-(

Thing 13: Social Bookmarking and Tagging

I found the subject of Social Bookmarking fascinating! Although, I struggled a bit in trying to do the actual taggng of my favorite book marks. Is it useful? Absolutely, the internet can seem like a vast black hole if you don't have a system to locate sites easily. The advantage to social bookmarking and tagging seems to be the ability to first locate a number of resources according to your own interest. It forces you to rely on a community of other users with the same interests! How marvelous is that!

However, as I read the article, it let me know that it takes some practice tagging things appropriately. It means you have to really single out the predominant feature and/or characteristic of the site you have tagged. Then, the difficult part is to choose words that would aptly characterize that theme or feature. The descriptors should be somewhat 'static" in nature. If you have shifting meanings in a tag, you will probably have difficulty finding what you want. That could translate to a big "BLACK HOLE".
I really need some practice in the social bookmarking and tagging otherwise, I believe I will have difficulty using it in the future. Help! don't let me fall into a cyber black hole!