Reflect This- My Better Half

     The describer "my better half" when referring to ones spouse is a phrase that is more often than not thrown around with little to no thought behind it. How is it that the "other half" in a marriage is most often the better half; is the half of the marriage that talks less automatically deemed the better half because his or her "other half" is  speaking of his or her "better half" more frequently? See how this can get confusing!? So here I sit on day two of my school break compelled to voice, by means of written language, why my "better half" is truly THE BETTER HALF. First and foremost my better half has too been to war; she too has been forced into this world of never ending nightmares, swerving vehicles in avoidance of things that are no longer there, and the acknowledgment, understanding, and acceptance that my mind has forever been altered to experience the world and life through a much darker perspective. My "better half" takes care of most all financial responsibilities. My "better half" openly worries about me and hands-down it feels good to know that I am being thought of. My "better half" OFTEN gives me back massages. My "better half" makes my favorite meals. My "better half" makes me smile, laugh, and love. My "better half" makes my life experience easier and more enjoyable than I ever imagined. My "better half" makes me want to be a better person. My "better half" takes an interest in things I enjoy just to be around me. My "better half" would be OK with experiencing the rest of life with me alone and that in my mind is an unbelievable example of love. My "better half" has opened me up to experiences I would have never known had our paths not crossed. My "better half" always wants whats best for US. My "better half" is not better at spending money; this fact still astounds me; my preconceived cognition that all females do not understand how NOT to spend money is proven wrong on a daily basis by me handing her a plethora of receipts. My "better half" enjoys me for the goofy, silly, stubborn, difficult individual I can often be. My "better half" wants and needs me just as much as I want and need her and that is an amazing feeling, experience, and thought to dwell on. My "better half" openly talks to me about some of life's most intimate and moral thoughts and experiences. My "better half" educates me. My "better half" cares about herself in such a way that maximizes our time and experiences together by quitting smoking (which is easily one of society's hardest and most sought after accomplishments) and working out (which is easily another one of society's hardest and highly sought after goals). My "better half" leaves me little notes that sometimes make my entire day. My "better half" is not a sucker for cheesy business entrepreneurship's. My "better half" enjoys all types of good music; actually this can be applied to art in general. My "better half" cares about humanity. My "better half" is worth it. My "better half" means the world to me and I would do ANYTHING to keep my life just the way it is. My "better half" loves me in every way, shape, and form for the imperfect me I am. My "better half" is worth more than these words to me. My "better half" is mine and in my mind my "better half" is better than yours. Enjoy your "better half"<period>

:)

Reflect This

THANKSGIVING WEEKEND

     Attempting to think of where to begin about this past, experience filled weekend is like playing one of those claw machines that are often found in Wal-Marts and laundry-mats; its tough deciding which fluffy goofy looking animal or flashy expensive looking watch is worthy of 50 cents, and in my case which experience is worthy enough to be a beginning. So I have decided to begin with... well the beginning. It would humor me to see my mother-in-law not hold her tongue as much as she says she does, however, when the experience presents itself the comments are often very down to earth, blunt, and hilarious; we learned that some people enjoy having candles, 10 to 20 seems to be the understood preference, lit and warming the dining environment because it simply feels like there is fire around. Um... that's because there is! I love my down to earth, matter of fact, clever, sometimes unknowingly funny mother-in-law; As my wife would say "She makes my heart smile."

  My wife and I decided to visit with a friend of mine from high school whom I have not seen since I left for the military, 11MAR2004 (funny I'll never forget the day that changed my life, but that's another story). It was really fun to catch up with someone that has shared a part of my past. I love knowing what people from my past are doing these days. I am often fascinated with running my hamster wheel of a brain towards thoughts of who has turned into the have, the have nots, and more commonly found the have not changed one single bit. Its hilarious how many people from the area where I graduated high school say the same thing when asked whats  new: "Oh you know... its East Tennessee, not much happening round here... I got a kid now (that seems to be the thing to do when a female resident of E. TN is tired of being a stripper)." Yeah, I know, and I know that's why I will never be moving back to the other side of the state; I like change, I like exciting, I like experiencing, living, and learning life way too much to be consumed with a smaller town life. The small town life is enjoyable, but just not for me. I can find satisfaction just outside the city limits, or the general publicly accepted center of town. Anyways the friend I visited did have a rather interesting story. I learned that sometimes females too can become addicted to video games... for 4 to 5 months. Its good to know that there are other people out there willing to put forth the effort to be a "Rock Band" legend or a true "Guitar Hero". Drum away girl, and the next time we meet we will run up the high score of every song on that game. Learned my wife is a pretty darn good singer too; 95 to 100 percent accuracy was commonly shown on her score card. Good job babe, and way to growl it out on that heavy metal genre; there may be a hidden freak inside you ; )

     

     I got to spend some time with my nephew. I learned I love that little guy a whole lot. He is quite the character and I am very interested in being involved in his life and watching him grow up. Thinking about my brother here a bit and how I wish he could see that a simple small change would make the world of difference. Without a change, the same results will continue to follow. Love you brother and I hope you are getting your stuff together in there.

     Somehow, and I can't remember how, I talked my wife into checking out every NFL stadium; this year the experience took place in Atlanta Georgia. Wow, is all I can really say. What do you call two white Packer fans in a post-game tailgate party in the dirty south underground predominantly filled with black Falcon fans? One would think dead meat (would say not literally but it was Atlanta), or the laughing stock, however, somehow we were like the token white guys (definitely not literal) that everyone wanted to hangout with. The experience was grand to say the least; great food, good beer, and awesome company. Hell, we even met a couple that will be passing by around Christmas time that would like to get together again for a night on the town of Nashville. That's whats up!!! I learned that even in the mists of being surrounded by what most would call at first glance Falcon thugs, or hoodlums, speakers pumping bass so hard the heart could have possibly skipped a beat, and being the only white couple that just so happen to be Packer fans on a day the Falcons beat the Packers my wife and I still decided to show off our dancing skills. The experience was worth it; from that point on there was not a single moment when I was not in conversation with someone. Thanks Atlanta for the experience. I learned peoples superficial appearance deserves a chance. For if a chance is not given, an experience may be wasted.

     To conclude... since it is Thanksgiving I shall state what it is I am thankful for. I thankful for the way my life is, and all those that are involved. Every person I have met has in some way, shape, or form helped mold me into the man I am today. It has been a life learning experience of mine to consciously take something from every individual I meet and apply what I have learned from the experience to my life. Sometimes this is something simple, and sometimes the applied is life changing. Either way there is something to learn from every social encounter. I am thankful for all my brothers, friends, and family. I learned that my wife is beginning to apply some of my beliefs to her life, and I think that she is enjoying the experience and that makes my heart smile; she deserves so much more than this imperfect world and I can only try to help her enjoy her life experiences. My wife is very special to me for many reasons, but one above many is the fact that she has experienced so much of life with me; "not in front or behind, but side by side". (lol... I feel like something manly needs to be inserted here. So, remember I just got back from a football game... yeah! CAUSE I'M A MAN!!!! )

Reflect This

Take some from all, but leave all for all. One should take all they can from another when the topic communicated between the two deals with the betterment of ones life; the more life experiences one has the more another can learn from him/her. The individual that has life experiences should share as much as they can. Kind of goes along with the old saying "... two ears, one mouth..." I have learned many important life lessons simply through listening. Lending an ear is a lesson learned.

Reflect This

Manual Communication Board

When it comes to difficulties with communication the manual communication board is an excellent option to go with, and if can be highly economical if need be. A manual communication board is something that a student may use to communicate with; it does not need batteries so it is always available and in most cases is a good start point when introducing alternative/augmented communication devices to individuals for the first time. A manual communication board made only from drawings on a piece of paper is as simple as it can be, although, it should be noted that advancing technologies have brought about communication boards that are also speech synthesizers. Either way one wants to go with it communication between the teacher and the student with communication barriers is a must that a manual communication board ensures. Funny how the simplest things are still the most reliable. One should enjoy what technology can do for him/her, but he/she must also remember how to use things in there simplest form too.

Reflect This

"the invisible rope" - still one of the best pranks I have ever seen. This is such a fun social experiment to watch. Another great prank show, for the more grim, is Scare Tactics, but hey 90210's Shannon Doherty used to be the host; now it is Tracy Morgan. I enjoy social experiments; its such a learning experience to see what people do in different, sometimes drastic, situations. Be afraid... be very afraid if some how I one day become a writer for Scare Tactics. Final thoughts on pranks; one shouldn't dish out what one cannot take.

Reflect This

     Even though one cannot always control the environment one is in, one may always control how one interacts with that environment. Always take a moment and think about which part of the environment the self can control and then act upon it. Do nothing and nothing will change; this can be applied to the many different aspects of life.

Reflect This

"Reflect This" is going to an enjoyable personal test of commitment that includes at least a single, sometimes multiple, topic reflection on something having to do with anything I feel has been learned within a 24 hour, sometimes longer, period. Enjoy the daily thoughts of experiences I deem as worthy of remembering; the mind of just another dude looking in the mirror. (see what happens when you click the light bulb)

 ReFlEcT tHiS

I learned that I will always be a kid at heart; this may be the reason I feel so inclined to work with children; either as a teacher or as an occupational therapist. It means a lot to me to be able to be a teacher, a learner,a healer,a problem solver, and a friend of children. What better way to ensure a successful future than to work with those that will one day run it.

Thing # 23

Creative Commons or Final Thoughts on 23 Things

    I was gotten again here... and because its just the type of guy I am I must comment on both of these subjects.

     Creative Commons is a web site that gives out various copy-write licenses to individuals that would like to have their originals ideas protected. It is an awesome idea... the web site and the idea of doing it. It makes it a lot easier to share information on the web. Rights to originality is something that I will bestow upon my students.  The site is easy to use and navigate around.

   23 Things is an invaluable experience <PERIOD>, but since this is for a class and I know that wont cut it... let me explain. Before 23 Things, and my instructional technology class, I often left technology alone... it confused me sometimes and I often ended up more frustrated than when I began. Now, I am a lot more confident, and I have realized that yes there were things I didn't like, but there were many things I did. These tools, skills, and experiences will be shared for as long as my blog stands and forever in those individuals lives that cross paths with mine. LOOK OUT!!! Real blogging here I come... in no way does this mean that 23 Things was not real blogging, for it was truly a real experience that I am glad I had. Happy Readings:), and don't forget to comment to make the world go 'round.

Thing # 22

PODCASTS UGHHH...

    Wow... ever thought you had something down and then BAM!!! that something let's you know real quick that you never did have that something in check. Well, that something for me is podcasts... and I may seriously need some help. Not only did I get frustrated because I couldn't figure out why I couldn't hear anything... I was stumped for several minutes by this colorful event. Now, my wife may be the only one that knows just how mad I can get at technology, and I am sure she was glad to be out doing something, but boy did I get hot. One couldn't even call what came out of my mouth "bad words"... is more just growling gibberish ... GRRR!!!!

 So needless to say I did not listen to anything, and I do not believe that I will be sharing my ignorance with a future class. Maybe I got to used to listening to live streams and thought that's what an podcast was. All the directories were easy to use to find specific things it was just the whole need for some audio input thing that through me off. Good luck and good riddance of "Thing 22".

-this was definitely one of those experiences I am glad to be done with, and just in case yes speakers were plugged in and on : )

Thing # 21

Animoto

      Animoto is not a Japanese Steak House, it is a tool that automatically produces unique video pieces from personalized photos. I will admit it was fun... probably spent a bit too much time on this one, but it was a good time. What a great way to tell a picture story for a class. The process was very easy and... very addicting:) All I had to do was upload pictures from my computer. Now, since my wife is the one that usually messes with pictures on the computer (job and hobby) I did not feel like playing through those so... I used my go go gadget brain and uploaded them from my facebook account to my desktop and then downloaded them to Animoto from the desktop. Easy, peasy<----( it will be interesting to see how many people know where this reference came from). Anyways, once the pictures are decided on, music is the next decision to be made. Easy too. Music... good music... good popular music is provided by Animoto right there. A very quick and very easy process. The finalizing kind of threw me off; the computer screen read "click here"... I clicked, a few moments later my video clip was playing. I couldn't believe that it was that easy. Now, yes... only being ablt to play with 30 seconds was kind of a let down, but this a tool I will definitely look into using for the classroom. Enjoy my video easily peasily made using Animoto; the direct link to share this on my blog was a huge bonus too.

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

Thing # 20

YouTube as an Escape or Education

     YouTube is a great way to find video information. There is nothing really negative to say about how YouTube is ran. Featured videos are on the homepage, and anything else is a search and click away. I decided to search for the comedian Josh Blue. Josh Blue is a stand up comedian that has Cerebral Palsy; he is a huge disability advocate. Most of the material that Blue uses stems from his disability; his interaction with what he calls "condescending people"; he explains in a comic twist how his disability has effected his life. A Josh Blue clip is a prime example of how YouTube can be used as an escape or as education. If one just wants to laugh then he/she can enjoy Josh Blue for that reason, and if one wants to be educational this is a great way to introduce the disability Cerebral Palsy to a group (classroom) of individuals. YouTube is already something I use on a regular basis for both personal entertainment and for educational purposes, and will continue to do so. One can search for anything and become bombarded with a plethora of videos pertaining to only what was searched for. I picked the clip below because laughter is best enjoyed shared. Sit back a listen to life from the perspective of Josh Blue.

Thing # 19

Social Networking Beyond Facebook and Myspace

     Does Myspace and Facebook rule social networking??? Yes, but there are many other options out there and if one cannot find a social network that he/she likes than he/she may create his/her own social networking site with specifications built only to his/her standards. Social networking has become just as important as going to work and providing a living for some, and others do not do it at all. The truth is the world is moving to a form of socialization which is almost entirelyy online, and learning how to navigate through the online jungle is a huge benefit to any member of society... especially a teacher; which is why I am a member of the pre-service and in-service social networking site TeacherPop which is a place where teachers can collaborate and share ideas.

                                                       got teacherpop?

(The S on my chest)

    
     I am already a member of a couple social networking sites; myspace, facebook, teacherpop, and pretty soon maybe the site Gather. I feel that I may already be stretching the social networking a bit; sometimes I feel that I have no more time in a day to socialize on any other site without giving up physical interaction which is something I am not willing to do, but Gather did catch my interest. The main reason why gather caught my eye is because it is described as an outlet for National Public Radio listeners like myself. I also like how the site asks questions that may be debated, a way of almost forcing social interaction online. The key to social networking is the interaction; leave comments... no one knows if his/her work/ideas/posts/blogs is being looked at if no one leaves comments. I really liked playing around on Gather, and will probably end up completely swapping my Myspace account for a Gather account.

Thing # 18

Facebook and Myspace

     I have both a facebook and a myspace. I was actually surprised to see that myspace is more popular than facebook. I use my facebook account a lot more than my myspace account. I enjoy "facebooking", what the action of being on facebook is sometimes referred to as, mainly because I no longer live in the town where I grew up, or in the same town as my immediate family so it is nice and easy to keep up with them via facebook or myspace. Facebook also has a plethora of games, or extras one can fill his/her time with; it is an easier and more entertaining site to use. For a teacher to understand the what and how a social networking page works is highly valuable if used the right way. A teacher does not need to have posted too many too personal photos and/or information posted to his/her facebook/myspace page knowing that a student may access it which usually happens; this is another way in which knowing a social networking page could prove to be valuable.A teacher may seem "cool", or "with it" if he/she is ale to talk the talk of the student which just so happens to include a heavy interest in social networking. A teachers social networking page should be strictly business or strictly set to private so that not anyone in society may take a look into his/her life. There already are school sites for social networking; through my experiences these have mainly been found at the college level (hence APSU involvement), but I don not know how they would workout in elementary, middle, and high schools. A cause for concern may be that not every student has Internet access outside of the school, but a teacher could use such a site for posting homework assignments, getting feedback from the students via messaging, etc. Come find and friend me on facebook, but play nice or you may be de-friended.

Thing # 17

Del.icio.us

     Del.icio.us is social tagging network that allows one to keep things of interest in one nice little spot; on his/her Del.icio.us page. When one is on a page he/she likes he/she can tag the page and share it to his/her Del.icio.us account. Comments can also be left; so using such a program could be highly beneficial to teachers and their peers. This way a teacher may be able to share a link to any specific information and write an analytical review for whatever it is that he/she reads. This way other teachers can see if something is even worth their time. Same concept could work with a summer reading program too; the students share readings and make comments on them. An individual (student or teacher) could also use this tool to benefit while doing research. Researchers can use common tags or highly tagged articles to find high points of interest; this way research information is always up to date with current events. Del.icio.us seems to be a beneficial tool for research and this is probably where I will use the tool most often. There is a lot of things out there on the web that can collect all the information an individual needs, and adding one more would just confuse me, but none-the-less give it a try; happy searching.

Thing # 16

     I decided to go with iGoogle because it was most appealing and truthfully the easiest. I like how one is able to customize a web site that fits their needs. I had fun playing with and adding different widgets until the page was to my specifications, it passed all of them. It is fun has only information I care about, and from it some can see that I am a little bit business, a little bit fun, and a Green Bay fan. Yes, I will make this my home page. Now, when I am in a hurry I wont have to click through 20 million different things to get the two cents of sometimes needless information that I feel is all too important to go on without knowing.
     I have already been using an online calendar to keep me updated on when I have appointments or when school projects are due. What I like best about the calendar is that is synced to my phone so I can add and delete things as needed on the go, or I can sit down at a computer input the needed information and my phone will alarm me at the time entered on the computer. Great, great tool to use. This method of keeping a schedule is also highly preferred by speech/language pathologists.
     Online to-do-lists may be a good idea for long trips or field trips for the classroom, but on the fly I would rather just jot down my own to-do-list instead of having to log on to a computer and print it out. However, the calendar and an iGoogle class page are great ways to manage a classroom, and a great way for the teacher and student alike to keep up with the schedule. This way students are never caught off guard and teacher will have more time to actually teach.

Thing # 15

WIKI's

This little youtube clip gave me some great ideas on how a wiki could be used in the classroom. This could be exactly how a class puts together a list for who's bringing what to the winter party, or it could also be used for a class project and/or field trip. This past summer I planned a military reunion, and boy were the e-mails back and forth forever long and confusing, At one point I had really wished that I had not of gotten the idea to have a reunion, but none-the-less the reunion was a blast and next time I WILL be creating a WIKI to coordinate with everyone interested. I really like that when the content is changed it shows one who changed it.
 I tried to edit the the 23Things wiki, but it would not let me... even after I created the account. Any help with that will be much appreciated:)

Thing # 14

I decided to set up a mind map account with mindmeister. The account set-up was as easy as changing the face of a Mr. Potato Head, and not time consuming at all. I attempted to use mindmeister with a project in which I will be creating a podcast explaining the five different subtypes found in the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD); the results are as follows:The building of the mind map was very easy and this will also help me conduct my podcast for a later assignment. I really enjoyed making the mind map; it is a great way to brainstorm when one is stuck with nothing but blanks. I decided to share this on my blog because this is such a great way to generate thoughts. The downside as one can tell I could not for the life of me figure out how to get a full sized view mind map displayed on the blog. I spent enough frustrating minutes trying to figure this one out; so, any help will be much appreciated with this aspect. A link to the web page is as follows for a full viewing of my podcast mind map on the Autism Spectrum Disorders: http://www.mindmeister.com/maps/show/65672858 . I decided to create a flowchart using Giffy. I did not find the experience nearly as easy, or as enjoyable as working with mindmeister. None the less though I have seen flowcharts used effectively in the classroom before. I have added a flowchart idea for the classroom. The teacher could either handout the flowchart by means of printed copies, or he/she could project it on a screen. This way the students know exactly what is to be down and when it is to be done.

Thing # 13

ZOHO To the Rescue

     ZOHO Writer... wow, wish I would have known about this one oh about six semesters ago. For the longest time I e-mailed anything of importance back and forth to myself. Now with the use of this great information saving cloud-in-the-sky program I will no longer have to use the time consuming process of e-mailing myself. The program is just as universal as any word document I have done, and now I also do not have to worry about my documents not transferring over to another computer; ZOHO Writer allows me to bring up any document on any computer anytime, and if I am unable to get on-line I can now look and work on my documents to have them synced up at a later time off-line. The option of saving multiple documents is awesome for experimenting with new tools without fear of losing the original. The downside for me is the tool-bar; this may just take some time getting used to, but I am not all that fond of having to keep hitting drop boxes. Other than that the pros for ZOHO Writer definitely out weigh the cons. One is also able to post his/her document publicly which hold an opportunity for feedback. What a great idea, and I am glad that I am now aware of it.

Thing # 12

     I have had a Google account for a while, however, I have not been using the account to its maximal potential. I played around with Google Alerts and really liked the easiness of navigating around. I decided to have alerts sent on the Green Bay Packers as an example of how Google Alerts can be used for leisure news and I set an alert up for classroom management to be an example of how Google Alerts can be used in an educational standing for more professional news; any type of profession could benefit from having updated news that is specific to the individual sent to him/her on a regular basis. Google Alerts can also be used for a class activity; a class could get involved in topics in their community and then follow updates using a Google Alert that would provide them with updates. In setting up an alert one should be careful of how often an alert is going to be sent. At first I had the Green Bay Packers set up to update every time there was new news, which on a Sunday with my e-mail being synced to my phone caused my phone to go slightly psychotic. I decided to change the Green Bay Packer updates to weekly; one must decide how often he/she wants to check their phone if their email is linked to their phone. I already use Google calendar to keep up with important dates, but setting up a classroom calendar for parents and students to follow is a great way to get Web 2.0 activities into the classroom.
     Also check out the iGoogle page I created with my account. I have used Google for a while now, and for many different things; I never knew that all the different online gadgets I used could be interconnected. It is so great to be able to go to one page an view what is important and specific to me and my life. Out of playing with these all I would view the iGoogle as the one that would be least beneficial educationally speaking and the calendar would have to be the most beneficial.

Thing # 11

     I did not like using Google blog search at all. When searching way to many irrelevant choices were displayed. One would be better off using regular Google search. I think the problem lies within how the data base searches for new blogs; any word that happens to be in the title of a blog shows up regardless of if it is actually relevant to whatever it is that one is searching for.
     Topix was really convenient and easy to use. Right after viewing the web-site I was able to find something I wanted to RSS; Clarksville News. As a High School football coach it is nice to be able to see what is going on in the other area High School football programs with ease. This is a highly valuable tool that any coach should use. A teacher may also be able to find something similar to this; he/she could possibly find a link to a collaboration web-site for area teachers that could be used to brain storm with more than same school professionals and reach out to an entire community.
     Syndic8 was easy to use as well. To get to the site I wanted to follow a couple more steps were involved, but none-the-less the process was still only a couple of clicks. The site I decided to follow using Syndic8 is Moreover Technologies - NFL: Green Bay Packers news because 1) it was very easy to do (all I had to do was follow the links), and 2) I love the Green Bay Packers so what better way to keep up with them. Now, I will have a constant feed of Packer news updated every fifteen minutes. I will now know some things even before the details are expressed to the public (way cool!!!)
     When using Technorati I found a interesting feed that will keep an eye on AskSocratesNow. The post  "Can Reflecting On Death Lead to a Better Life?"    gave me the opportunity to reason with the way I think about life.I love to read things that make me think deeply about who I am and what I am about. The process of finding the feed did take a little hunting, but in the end was worth the find.
     Another way which I found to be very easy to find other links to follow was to look at who I already followed and see who they followed. The process was a bit time consuming, but most every one I read was worth reading and of interest to me because I followed the link of a blog that I was already interested in. I decided to RSS the blog Journal for Jay because this a dear friend of my wife's and I love watching her live her life the way she wants to.
    

Thing #10

RSS and Newsreaders

     RSS and newsreaders is a great way for the busy person to keep up with the world. Now instead of wasting my time jumping from web-site to web-site I can stay connected using only a single piece of technology. Being able to choose what you want to follow is a great bonus too. I do not know how often I have gotten updates from sources of which I do not care about. Now, only those of my interest, which happens to be school right now, can be followed. Teachers can use RSS as a way to indroduce technology use to students. The teacher can assign certain blogs that students must read and react to whether it be online by leaving comments, or in the classroom with discussion. The teacher could even have a web-site that the students are expected to keep up with, and this is one of the ways that the students would be able to do that. RSS has made the busy persons life a little less stressful by putting all those things that one must just keep up with throughout the day in one spot. Most people like when the world comes to them. 
http://www.google.com/profiles/matthew.ciezki is my public page!!!

Thing #9

ImageChef.com Poetry Blender

     Image Chef made these images possible. What a fun and neat way to personalize photos and ideas. The process that one must follow in order to use these images is quite simple. One can just play around on the web site to find different ways of displaying information. Saving the picture with "save as" allows the picture to be saved to the desktop which can then be easily uploaded to be displayed elsewhere. A teacher could use this site for word association. Instead of the words Green Bay making up of the heart, a teacher could find different images and have them made up using the word that actually makes the shape. Another idea would be to use settings that may hold the attention of students; much like the stadium photo above for sport fans, but instead of a self portrait a teacher could say something to the effect of even a filled stadium understands the importance of Benjamin Franklin which could then lead the class into a discussion of electricity. Without Mr. Franklin all games would have to played during the sunlight hours.

 

Thing # 8

My Presentation

     Flickr and/or Flickr Mashups are both excellent tools that can be used in the classroom. A teacher could use it to introduce a new subject to students by using a key word that directly relates to the new subject; much like the above example. The searching of introduction material could be done by the class as a whole, or the teacher could split the class up into groups have them search for certain key words from the new material in order to allow the students to come up with their own ideas about what they are going to learn. Tools such as Splashr could be used by students, and teachers, to visual enhance presentations. Flickr could also be used to give students images in which they create stories using the photos provided, or the a teacher could use Flickr to make word association flash cards, or even a communication board.
     Sharing photos online is a great idea. It allows others the opportunity to experience something they may not have had the opportunity to do. Looking at pictures is a great way to share life, a great way to understand life. Playing with the various tools and setting up different presentations. The process was very simple; once again a key word, topic, or idea is all that is needed. Uploading the presentation to this blog... well, that is where using these tools got some what frustrating. The instructions to do so are not universal for the computer illiterate, and even after I did more research on how to upload a presentation the process was still unclear and unsuccessful. The concept/idea is great, but if it can not be used to maximize the learning opportunity for students then the concept/idea of Flickr and it;s tools are limited to extra curricular activities.

Thing #7

     

     I chose the above picture because I like the title the most, but I also like what the creator did to make it personal by adding words that describe what her ideas of happiness are. The word I used to find this image was happiness, and the title stuck out; "{ Happiness .. only real when shared ,,". Happiness is much more enjoyed when shared. Nobody likes to have a good time by themselves. The other thing I found neat about the photo is how the smiley face is drawn over post-its with one word written on them. This may be the creators way of saying happiness does not come in one way, shape, or form, but it can come from any direction at anytime.
     The only downside to Flickr is that in order to use and/or share a photo one must register for an account and wait on a license to get approved via Flickr contacts the originator. The membership is free, but when trying to upload a photo for an assignment I do not really want to wait two to seven days to know if I can use the image or not. So, if the image is not yet up I will come back and upload it when I get the approval.
     Overall Flickr is really easy to use, entertaining by-self or with company, and it is fun to see what images pop up for specific search words. This will be a great tool to use to find photos useful in the classroom. One could even turn this into a word-of-the-day class activity. 


photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22910954@N08/2403068469/ 

Thing #6

     I looked into Pandora Radio because I enjoy music; it can take a person out of one mood and put them into another. This Web 2.0 award nominee is of no surprise to be found on the hot topic list. Radio that the user can control... to an extent. The user can decide on the genre of the music by either typing in an artist or song which in return cues the Pandora to create and play one's music of that same genre. The site offers an upgrade that allows one's music listening to be completely uninterrupted by the annoying commercials. The upgrade is called Pandora One, and it only takes 36 dollars a year from the bank account; that is three CD's. Another downside of Pandora is the ability to only skip so many songs in a given amount time (6 songs in 1 hour), but this is something that can easily be avoided by creating multiple stations of the same genre. Other than the commercials and inability to skip more than six worthless songs in an hour, Pandora Radio is right on.
     After one creates a station a song can be liked or disliked. If liked the song will randomly be looped back through the play-list. If the song is given the thumbs down... well, annoying sounds will forever be silent inside the creators speakers. Pandora Radio is also linked with sites such as facebook and twitter which allows a larger social network. Songs that are liked by ones friends on facebook will be shown on the station creators home screen when viewing Pandora's website. This feature is neat because it shows one who like who, and sometimes he/she may be surprised (because of this feature I am no longer a NKOTB fan). The other idea that Pandora Radio has capitalized on is opening up people to new experiences. Because of Pandora I have come to find some great new artist that I would have never heard of. The radio is always playing songs I know, songs I don't know and get the thumbs down, and songs that intrigue me and make me take on a new interest. Pandora Radio has broadened my horizons. Pandora Radio is the way to go. Go create a station sit back, relax, and enjoy some life... compliments of the concept Web 2.0.

Thing #5

    Web 2.0

     Richard MacManus (2005) describes Web 2.0 as an "...everyday, non-technical people using the Web to enhance their lives and businesses", and the act of people using it as more of a movement; he goes on to explain "[t]he Web is an infrastructure, a foundation. What we create and build on the Web is what Web 2.0 is all about". From the time society figured out that a stick could be used as a cane the advancements of technology has been heavily sought after. Wars have been fought and decided on the fact of higher technology. This technology should be adapted in to the classroom. A student should have to construct a project on the Internet as well as create a hands on representation too. The student needs to learn how to write on paper and type on a keyboard. The student should know how to problem solve using a book and using the Internet. The best of two worlds has never been looked at as a bad thing, and in time something else will replace what society knows as Web 2.0.
     Web 2.0 is best described by Susan McLester (2007) as "...today's Internet [that] has become a pervasive influence on the daily lives of a significant number of citizens across the world". The Internet has opened so many opportunities that were not there before. Now people can have what they need at their finger tips. Even most public libraries offer free Internet use. However, as much as the Internet has changed the lives of the older generation, the younger generation sometimes assumes that the way they experience the world is the way in which it has always been. Web 2.0's use in the classroom must be maximized; if this is how the world is going to work then students need to become much more familiar with using the Internet as a tool rather than a source of entertainment. The presidents, vice-president, human resource workers, or anyone that has the power should be getting on this; as a company they could easily sponsor some type of fundraiser to ensure that schools are technologically able to teach, which would better prepare the companies employment future. This is called protecting your assets.

Thing #4

    Don't Be Scared it's Just a Comment

      Commenting creates a sense of community and interaction among blogger because bloggers then know that they are not alone and they are not writing only to have their words lost in that cloud in the sky. Commenting in its own is interaction that more often than not causes a snowball effect of interaction that soon turns into a community, and in blogging one can keep their community as big or small as they want it. One point to make is that by commenting and asking a question requires more interaction from the original blogger; it provides an opportunity for a higher level of thinking and different perspectives to be seen, or read. The other point to make was not to criticize in a harsh manner, or use sarcasm that could be taken this way. Often times when reading it is hard to really feel the authors original intent, but it should be this that is the goal of any author. 

The Who, What, and Why

http://deshuser.blogspot.com/  
     I decided to read and comment on this blog because I have had the opportunity to get to know this person and like the persona that she puts out.

Comment Left: Maybe we should have got together and worked on this blog thing together:) Sounds like we both had a good time with it. I really like the quote and totally agree with what a teacher should do, but what can a teacher do if the student does not know where the door is? Just something to think about. Oh yeah, and... Quack! Quack! ;)

Why: I left this message because it seems as if we were both on the same page trying to put this blog together, and I wanted her to know that she wasn't alone. I asked a thought provoking question to understand her more, and the "Quack! Quack!" well that's just in reference to her bleeding orange:)

http://michellesimportantthoughts.blogspot.com/
     I decided to read and comment on this blog because I really like what she had to say and want to know more. This individual could prove to be a great study partner as well.

Comment Left: I have also found talking about what I am learning to family and friends is highly beneficial. If you ever need a new friend to talk school business with I will be more than happy to lend you an ear and opinion if wanted. Also I commented on Sarah LaBean's thing #1 about how to view problems. You should check it out. I think it may help, or at least provide another outlook towards problem. Could not figure out how to link this in a comment, but this is where you can go.

http://sarahlabeans.blogspot.com/2010/09/thing-1.html#comments

Why: I was interested in her learning skills as they are similar to mine, which could prove to be highly beneficial to both of us. I also saw that she had a similar post to another individuals blog I had already posted on and thought that she might like to read that one too.

http://somedaygoodmanteacher.blogspot.com/
     This was one I happened to enjoy while browsing through. This individual thinks on a level that I often do not, or overlook. So reading this blog could be beneficial to generating new ideas, or just a different look at things.

Comment Left: Yes, yes, yes!!! Love all the ideas. Way to think and make it personal to you. Of course not every student is going to have parents that are able to afford a computer. How would you ensure all parents are involved. Parent involvement is a huge key in a child's education, and I am glad you see that.

Why:  I wanted her to know that her time and effort in addressing the specific topic were not unnoticed, and were appreciated. I also posed the question to evoke thought into her mind.

http://sarahlabeans.blogspot.com/
     I decided to read and post a comment here because she was the first one to leave a comment on mine, and after reading her blog I wanted to leave some words of encouragement, promise, and hopefully a view she has not yet seen.

Comment Left: A thought to think about... A problem is another opportunity to learn something new. Most problems are called problems because they put people out of their norm and the feeling of uneasiness comes about, but the second time one encounters something that could be labeled as a problem he/she will be more ready for it; even more so if that person sees the problem and remembers that instead an opportunity to learn something new has presented itself. I have faith in you because you are where you are now. I have seen so many friends and family fail due to lack of effort. So, keep the effort, build off of your strengths, and the confidence will follow.

Why: Well, as I described I have seen many fail for lack of effort and I did not want her effort of getting where she is now to go unnoticed. The words I wrote are how I confront problems and it seems to work for me so I figured it would not hurt anything to live, learn, and pass on.

http://justanotherblogger2-third.blogspot.com/

    I read and commented on this blog because she read and responded to mine. Man, that snowball effect works, but in the end I liked the HOW she wrote. It seems we both are fond of entertaining others with words.

Comment Left: I really like the analogy you used with using blogs as a way to sneak in the vegetables:) Great concept!!! I can easily see a student taking a higher interest in reading and writing using the blog to get kid's to eat their veggies idea. That was something I had overlooked... thanks for making that great point.

Why: Because this individual had a great view and I wanted to point that out, and she asked me a question which shows an interactive blog relationship.

http://j-walkblog.com/
    I read and commented on this one because we could all use a little laugh in our day to day lives.

Comment Left: OK, unless the corn chip packs the punch; this has got to be one of the most disgusting things I have ever tried. I lacked the corn chip so I just mixed some PB and some catchup, and then was somewhat sick. Yuck!!!

Why: I left this comment because it said try recipe and report back here, as in the blog site, and well that was the experience I gained from reading this blog. Coach Ski's cold hard truth: Peanut Butter (of any texture or brand) does not go good with Catchup (of any brand).

http://www.theskistory.com/
     Well the reason I read and commented on this one is because this is my wife's blog and I would be in BIG TROUBLES (yes babe, that's for you) if I did not. Plus she has a good sense of how to write in a way to make other people want to read her thoughts.

Comment Left: I am so glad that you decided to inform me that there is a time frame in which we can conceive;) Our poor little fictitious guy(probably should have said girl here) may miss out on this wonderful opportunity due to insurance and bids??? Whatever! Here is where I put my foot down and tell your boss to move on over!!! I love you and look forward to the day we become parents together:)

Why: Because when I read her post on how her work effected our baby's birthday I felt my two cents were in need to be established. Plus I know that she is excited about having a baby and I feel that it is important that even though I may not show it all the time having a baby is something I often think about.

 

 

Thing #3

Blogging and How it May be Used in the Classroom

      Blogging would be a great way for a teacher to not only ensure that students are technologically able to keep up, but they are a great way for the teacher and student to stay connected. Times like now, more often than not, request some type of technology understanding in order to function smoothly throughout the day. It could be used as a journal for the kids over the weekend so the teacher can keep the students involved. The students could receive grades and/or assignments for a missed class using a teacher's, or classroom's, blog. If the student's are given the opportunity to create their own blog, the teacher may grasp a greater understanding as to where the kids are coming from (not literally) and be able to adjust his/her teaching style to better fit the learning style of the classroom and/or individual students. The teacher could also make a blog site that is really fun, really educational, but also maybe not required. This way the teacher could explore with different teaching methods and different ideas in order to see what works best before presenting a concept to the class as a whole; a type of beta testing for teacher lesson plans. The blog could also be used for student reflections of what may be clear in the classroom and what is not.

     Keeping a blog for personal reasons is not a bad idea either. Most of the time when recalling something it is drawn back by memory, but if a blog were available there would be no second guessing as to what happened and the results of the happening; this would allow a teacher to see what has worked, what has not worked, and possibly discover patterns that may arise. Assuming that all teachers are keeping a blog of their teaching experiences, it would be a great idea to have all of those blogs interconnected among teachers so that they may learn form one each others mistakes and successes. Just having a blog as a teacher may be interesting for the students; one could share about who he/she really is, and make the learning experience more personal for the students. The teacher could also blog about their favorite sports team, or something in politics (there is always something that can be blogged about there).

      Blogging is also a way that some people can gain experiences. If a person is unable to experience something firsthand, reading a blog may give them the insight that they seek on any particular subject. Students reading blogs from specific locations of the world, other than their own, can make them more diverse, and more accepting of differences since they have been open to more experiences. A history book, newspaper, or magazine is not going to give the same experience as someone that has lived through something. The main reason I think that a teacher should blog and allow access to his/her site to his/her students is to show that their is more to a teacher than teaching. Most of my childhood I assumed that the teacher was always at the school with no life other than figuring out more ways to stump societies youth. The students should know that there is more to their teachers than a book. I believe that if a teacher allows his/her students to know them on a more personal, yet still professional, level that the teacher would in return get to know his/her students on a level that the teacher has not yet experienced, and that could prove to be highly beneficial. Making things personal and professional may be a challenge for some, but at the same time it could be as easy as the coloring of the lines in this blog. I could ask the students to give their ideas as to why I chose these colors. A blog would also be a neat way to introduce a new subject over the weekend by asking some simple thought provoking questions.

#2 of 23 Things

     "Teach Effort... Learn Life.": What it means to me.

     Throughout my life experiences I have learned two things that I hope to pass on. Effort above all things is everything. The amount of effort put into anything is everything. The amount of effort, or lack of, put into anything shows up in the anythings end results, and anything is possible with maximum effort. The other thing I have learned is that I am not done learning, nor will I ever be. Whether society accepts it or not, the live human brain will never stop learning; it is hard wired to continually learn. So, learn life and know that the experience is worth the effort. Anyone can live through life, but it is what we take from it that makes us who we are, and this is why I decided on this specific title.

     As said before, creating this blog was easier than I ever thought that it would be. I am kind of frustrated that I allowed the fear of technology to hinder me for so long. At first I thought I was going to be jumping into a unknown world of motherboards, PC's, software, and enough confusing downloads to give me an anxiety attack, however, the concept is simple and the instructions are very universal. In doing this one blog online, my confidence in technology has greatly increased. I finally am able to do something other than D2L(my schools online feature; Desire to Learn) and facebook online. Yay!!! All in all the experience was great and has me looking forward to the rest of the class. 

     MY AVATAR 

     Look at that crazy little dude, and he was fun to make and play around with too. The experience reminded me of Mr. Potatohead. Remember that guy??? Yeah, like virtual Mr. Potatohead. I decided to make my avatar as close to the real thing as possible mainly because... well, I like who I am, and I do not see a need to change anything. Instead I added my favorite color in shirt choice, casual comfortable style in clothes, a football because the sport has impacted my life in so many ways, and without much accessories because that is me in reality. My little guy is simple... like me. Now, will his attire always match the seasons??? Let's just hope that is automatic. He may just have to remain to be the year round laid back, comfortable, life experiencing dude. My efforts tend to lead to bigger things.

Credits

 https://elearn.apsu.edu/d2l

 

#1 of 23 Things

Lifelong Learning Habits
     The easiest of these for me to follow are: "Begin with the end in mind" because if one cannot see what he/she wants, or needs, there will be no desire to reach it; "Accepting responsibility for your own learning" because I understand that the amount of effort put into something directly effects the outcome; "View problems as challenges", and view challenges as an opportunity to learn something new; "Have confidence in yourself as a competent, effective learner" by modeling being excited about new life experiences; "Teach/Mentor Others" because it is a challenge, because two heads are better than one, because it generates ideas, because it is our future, because it induces socialization, and it will teach one something new about himself/herself; and "PLAY" because if learning were not fun it would not be worth it, and if anyone out there is having trouble with this one... I got your back.
     The hardest of these for me to follow are "Create your own learning toolbox" and "Use Technology to your advantages", mainly for the same reasons. I do understand that having more "tools" in one's "toolbox" is beneficial, but there are a many of "tools" out there, and it takes time just to understand whats out there and more time again to see if the idea worked. Technology is a prime example of one of these "tools" that come in a plethora of ways.
     What I hope to learn by playing with Web 2.0 tools this semester is that I am not computer illiterate, and that technology does not have to go over my head. End Result: Take advantage of learning what technology out there is most benefificial and suited to me best, and to have a few more "tools" added to my "toolbox".
     My First Blog
     Wow! Now, that is a title that should be up on Mom's fridge. I have read blogs, but I never thought I would be doing my own. Thank you Austin Peay State University for requiring this great learning experience as a part of your Education Program. Setting this up was a lot easier than I expected it to be; possibly on the fun side. What??? Education... college... fun??? Hey, wait a minute. Yup, that's right fun, and I hope that everything I teach, no matter the subject, is always fun to the learner. To find out more about my blog and me tune into #2 of 23 Things.

Credits

Learning 2.0 - 23 Things for Teachers is based on Learning 2.0 - 23 Things, a staff development program for the Mesquite Independent School District. That program was based on the Learning 2.0 program that was designed by Helene Blowers and adapted by the California School Library Association and others. Content and style for Learning 2.0 - 23 Things for Teachers has been borrowed and duplicated with permission, under a Creative Commons License.