I'm Technically Speaking

Technoconstructivist--using technology to completely change approaches to teaching and learning in the classroom I believe that I am in the "technoconstructivist" group or at least mostly in the group. I try to be "up" on technology resources and use them in my classroom. But I have a confession to make.... I have been a Twitter user in name only. Today I learned that I could be called a "lurker". Honestly, I have not been sold on Twitter. It was intimidating to me. There are certain ways to post with hashes and @ and RT, etc. Following my presentation yesterday in which I posted my twitter handle, I added about 15 or so followers. Adding those followers made me feel responsible to be more productive with it....like at least use it :) I had become brave enough to connect my TLC (Teacher Learning Center) activity to my Twitter account, so that I was posting something. However, I felt the need to learn what it meant to be a Tweeter (even now I am not sur...

I presented my webinar today! Wahoo! I always think presenting will be a good idea....until the day before and day of the presentation :) Then my nerves get the best of me! What a relief when it is over! Today's presentation made me very aware of some teaching/learning opportunities that are completely reliant on technology. Everything today was dependent on sound and my (new) headset working, the internet and connectivity working (which was a little iffy), my presentation software working and their webinar side working. Speaking in person, if the technology decides to not work you can at least have a backup plan. This seemed like an all or nothing deal. I am glad that the "bugs" were worked out and I was able to "hold up on my end" of the presentation. It was a little overwhelming, the feeling of dependence on the technology. Dependence so much that you feel like you might fail your task if the technology fails you. Today technology did not fail me and I di...

Well on the "down" side of things, I did not get selected for the Google Teacher's Academy. Fifty teachers were chosen from all over....it would have been quite something to have been one of them. I guess there is always next time! On the "up" side, I submitted to be a presenter for SimpleK12.com and was chosen! I will be presenting my very first webinar on Wednesday July 20th at 10:00 a.m. entitled "Wixify Your WebQuest". I am equally excited and terrified to do this presentation. Fortunately it is only a 30 minutes presentation, for this first adventure. If it goes well, this might open the door for more opportunities. I have attached a screen shot of the advertisement for it below: I really like this website and the Teacher Learning Community that you can (for a price) become a member of. Even without membership there are opportunities for free webinars (such as the ones on the 20th) and other free resources. So there it is the ups and downs of ...

I think myself techie, at least when it comes to knowing about educational technology. So, when I ask one of our IT department dudes (one of the student workers) to put a program on my computer and received a small laugh.... For my one and only computer, my WORK computer, to allow for any downloaded programs, etc. we have to go to our tech guys. So, I did what I was suppose to do and went to them. Already pre-saved on my desktop (I have learned this time saver), I waltzed myself into the office to make my request. Sometimes they ask what it is (I suppose the rest of the time they know) and this was one of those days. To the question, I answered "it is to create games". And would you believe that I heard a snicker?! A SNICKER! Which what I read into it was...what do you need a game creator for! So to this "unbeliever", I felt the need to enlighten him to my abilities. I am techie I told him. I am branching out, I told him. I have the t-shirt (Info Tech t-shirt....

As promised her is my report on my Prezi exploration. I know that you have been waiting for it :)....whoever "you" might be. Prezi is worth the time that it takes to learn how to use it. I did need to watch their tutorial videos. However, they are good, short, and very visual. Once you have watched their tutorials, a good place to start is with their reusable (copyable) templates. They will give you a good sense of what you can do with Prezi. I think that I will use several of these templates for my initial use. I did create one original. I have debated sharing it....only because then I have to explain why I made it. Not that it is a big secret, but not something that I was going to talk about unless I end up chosen....oh, well. I have applied for the Google Teacher's Academy that will be held in Washington in July. Only 50....yes 50...are chosen for this honor. Part of the application process is to create an original video on a particular topic. I chose "classr...

I had not been very excited about summer yet. I do not like the change in schedule...I like schedules and routine. However, now that we are settling into somewhat of a new schedule and we are surviving each other :).....and I have noticed that I have more time to "play" with technology...I am ok with summer being here. Taking advantage of the summer "freedom", I started with the Gmail account and all of the Diigo emails that let me know that there have been Diigo in Education postings. I like to at least scan these emails to see if there might be a great resource that I need to bookmark for later. Having been busy I only had 20 or so (that have multiple links each). I can check that off the list! However, as soon as I did check it off, there was another weekly email. Next I have been wanting to figure out Prezi . I have heard a lot about this tool and try as I may, could not get it. At first I wanted to figure it out on my own, but now realize that the tutorials...

Symbaloo  is a different way to organize your web resources (or bookmarks). I have been searching for another way to organize and share my bookmarks. Like I said in another post, I have over 1,000 sites bookmarked. However, the piece that I left out is --this may be a surprise-- I can't always find what I want. I know that I have a resource, but can't find it again. I have tried to do a good job to "tagging" the sites so that I can easily search by a given "tag". I have also started making "lists" to gather specific resources together. I have created "groups" and shared with specific classes. Something about Symbaloo EDU appealed to me. Those of you that know me know that I am a sucker for anything FREE! This certainly falls into that category. I like pictures and that is a plus here. If you want pictures from your favorite actual site you have to be creative. Symbaloo will provide generic icons that you can put with each resource. In...