Thing #5

I added to my google reader several blogs that I was already reading. I didn't really get the point of the reader at first because there is email, and then I've also added them to my igoogle home page, but after I tried it, I really like it. You could scan through all of the posts, and nothing was cluttering up your email box. I particularly liked starring something of importance as a type of filter.

I also found a music education blog that pertains to what I do. It talked about SQUILT, Super Quiet Uninterrupted Listening Time. I've decided to try SQUILT in my music classroom as well.

I already had a listening worksheet, but I really like hers better.

I also found an idea for a reward system that I would like to try at another blog, Music Money!

Thing #4

Blog writing seems almost like writing a diary. You're sharing your thoughts and wonder if anyone else will really read it. Or, it could be like writing an editorial, you just want to voice your ideas.

In Mark's edtechblog, he mentions how his own reading habits have changed over the years, and I feel the same way. I seem to want quick little blurbs to read rather than a lengthy novel, and if I am interested in a lengthy novel, I buy the audio version.

Commenting on the blog let's the writer know someone read it. It also helps to expand the originally blogger concepts or offer differences of opinion as the case may be. This leads to more diverse thinking and a broadening of discussion. This can facilitate learning.

Thing #2 Thoughts about Web 2.0

The biggest obstacle is just keeping up with the new technology. It advances so quickly.

I love the capability technology offers us that we can look up "anything" on the Internet. It can be important or not important, educational or not, entertaining or not, and unfortunately, appropriate or not.

The world is at our fingertips while still in our pajamas.

More words, it seems I need more words....I'm truly not a wordy person, but I'll try.

Web 2.0 is people interacting, creating, collaborating together much more quickly than ever before. Emails, podcasts, blogs, posting pictures and videos have created even greater avenues of learning, sharing, and researching.

These are tools that I embrace and just like the cell phone, microwave, etc. we can't remember what life was like before we had them. I have never been afraid of technology and always wanted the newest "toy" whether this was a type of computer or ipod or the "toy" was a software program or web tool that I thought would improve my work or play.

Thing #1 Reflections on Lifelong Learning

As I listened to the lifelong learning video, I thought I do all those things! And I thought I was just ADD! I do have trouble keeping the end in mind. I know the end, but I have so many things or projects that I get off task. I haven't always been this way.

I do think technology has made our attention span just a little bit shorter. We want to click here, and click there. I have found things on the internet that I love, and I really have no idea how I got there. I don't know how I got so involved in my 2 favorite hobbies, genealogy and digital scrapbooking, but things evolved.

My husband always says that I jump into things with both feet. Well, why bother if you're not enthusiastic and at least try to be good at it.