21st Century Teacher

We have success! The mic works now and Audacity and the mic see each other! I confirmed with playback and now all I have to do is post the podcast...Thank you to all who offered to help! Persistence can be a wonderful thing... On to the uploading phase of this little odyssey... V : )

I am working on the mic issue (two other mics haven't worked, but I am still working on the problem. Audio on the computer is fine when I play something; Audacity runs, but doesn't hear the mic. I am going to WIN this, and catch up by Sunday!) Just wanted to give you the update. Bleh. V : )

I am attempting to record my podcast and get it uploaded today. I have been having issues trying to get the recording to work (audacity loaded just fine) on my laptop and my desktop. I have one other desktop to try today. Thanks for being patient with our technical issues. Victoria

Just added NPR's pop culture podcast to my RSS feed...clips from All Things Considered and Fresh Aire are included, which is great for me, as sometimes I miss those shows due to meetings, etc... V

Soooo, in talking with my husband tonight (who is also a teacher), he said that they have the ability to send the report cards to their parents' emails when they validate/export their grades for the report cards! He said that they've been doing this for the past two years? Why can't we??? Why??? V

WOW! How can I explain how much I love this idea??? I used to fantasize about a way to teach online, even having "chat tutorials" where I would open an online chat time during certain hours. The students could ask their questions in an open window and I would respond to each of them before the chat tutorial time was closed. This was especially helpful during short turn-around assignments where they had something at stake but couldn't attend a traditional tutorial due to athletics, arts, or family committments. Parents really liked it because they could 'chat' with me as well, asking for more explanation of a topic or concept so that they could continue helping their student as we spoke online. This also kept me from having to give my personal phone number out while making me available during a controlled time. I see podcasts as having the ability to allow me to teach, be put on pause, and returned to during these essential learning times for the students/parents a...

Well, in trying to catch up on my homework, I'm now posting about my RSS assignment. (We're renovating almost the entire house and it's been really disruptive. Please excuse the lack of posts!) I've been using an RSS for a while now (Most email accounts have an opening page that you can organize into what information you wish to receive, be it news or blogs.) and it's been interesting, but I've not used it to follow blogs on a regular basis. This is my first foray into that arena. I selected NetVibes, but PageFlakes seems similar and just as good in many respects. Taking the time to add all my classmates' blogs was time consuming, but I can keep up with everyone in one place, so it is an advantage to have them all there. The three "non-classmate blogs" I selected were the following: 1. Wired magazine's Science blog (I subscribe to Wired magazine and read it cover to cover each month. I truly enjoy the analysis of how technology is a par...

Compelling thoughts: http://futureoftheinternet.org/

Blog #1: http://jhh.blogs.com/webwriters/ (I love how kid-friendly this site is! It's powerful because each child's blog is available and there are so many resources for them while they write! It is an online diary of their processes, but also of who they are as a human, and there is something really compelling about the computer-ready medium that lends itself to feeling more open, more willing to share with your audience. While this is the gift of blogging, it is also a double-edged sword...to be wielded with the protection of a guide and coach while learning and sharing.) Blog #2: http://www.dawnsbrain.com/ (Ok, other than the fact that this site is visually yummy and very inviting, I love that the teacher is reflecting openly about what impacts her classroom. The organization of the website is easy to navigate as well. I want to put lessons on my blog that enable students to go through the entire lesson from home. Although I believe that nothing replaces the physical...

1. What did you learn? While I have ventured into the blogging waters somewhere around my calves (text/photos), I am anxious to actually get out there and ride the waves of possibility! Embedding video, interactive lessons, podcasting...I am THRILLED with the idea of putting lessons online for students/parents to use at home! I basically learned that I have a lot to learn, and that's fantastic! 2. How will you use what you have learned? (Please see answer to question number one above.) 3. How did you feel about this tool? Can't you tell??! I love blogging! I am excited about the opportunities it will provide for us! 4. What do you not want to forget about this tool? ...Where the help section is...Seriously, power is knowing how to access information you need... 5. How can this be used in the classroom? Students have the space to pose questions to each other, publish their thoughts and texts for feedback, and to offer their influence to improve their writing. They als...

I am excited to be a part of our blogging community, and I look forward to using blogs, wikis, and more resources to give even more opportunities to my students this next school year. I hope to learn how to use new tools, examine where technology in the classroom is heading, and to work with my colleagues to consider topics in a new way. I teach 8th grade ELA at Ridgeview Middle School, and I also serve as the Department Chair for the ELA department. I have been teaching for about thirteen years, half of which were spent teaching high school pre-AP and AP English (9th/11th grade) and the other half have been spent learning wonderful things from 7th and 8th grade students. I love middle school! Though I enjoyed my high school students, I felt that many of their decision-making processes and world-perceptions were permanently fixed by the time they arrived in high school. I wanted to help them during the formative years of their personalities, so I dove into middle school philosophy and ...

I love blogging! No, really, I do...I have another blog that I've been using for a year now (though not as consistently as I would like). It's a travel/life experiences blog that I began just before leaving to teach in Israel and Palestine last summer, and it's meant to be both a raw, honest look at what I experienced as well as a place to ask questions, integrate and challenge perceptions of reality and possibility, and to reflect on where my path in life takes me. The ability to share my experiences overseas in (almost) realtime with my family and friends was an amazing opportunity to share traveling and personal growth with those who understood me most deeply. They asked compelling questions and encouraged me, and I think this medium creates a powerful opportunity to influence and learn in both directions. It is my hope that my students discover the power of this portal to a new journey and share it in order to both inspire and be inspired. ~V