Adventures in Creating

I recently worked with Microsoft Publishing and Word to devise a possible template for a newsletter. I love designing these types of projects and look forward to being a part of a team of colleagues that create together. Perhaps we can find a way to work onsite in different locations. Was that with Slideshare, Delicious or Wikispaces? We learned so much in 23 things I will have to revisit my notes. It was Wikispaces. Anyway, gathering pertinent and relevant data, and then adding a little spice with photos and quotes is my idea of FUN!

I Found MY Blog

For ten days I have been searching for my blog. I forgot that I used the gMail account to set it up. I could see it through another blog but could not edit or write posts. I put so much work into this I did not want to lose it. I added a new widget that I noticed on another blog (Show Yourself) and miraculously it appeared and I figured out my solution.

My First Blog after 23 Things

My first blog is about how wonderful I feel being an American citizen being led by such an intelligent couple. Their love for family, friends and country are exemplary and definitely one we can admire and emulate. God bless the Obamas.

Reflections of Tweety's Adventure

My Adventure is similar to Tweety escaping her cage, let out by some unsuspecting stranger, flying within her surroundings near her habitat, experiencing the view and testing new waters. "OOOOO, I tawt I taw a puddy tat" she exclaims only to find a ferocious tiger ready to devour her. More time on task is needed and perhaps the owner will periodically let her out of her boundary to experience life in another world. Tweety is ready to share her story with others. What other "old birds" will listen? Will they see her excitement? Will they feel her frustration? Will they help to make the next adventure better so that Tweety can "inspire, instill and praise" life and learning.

This completes my official thoughts on this course.

My Wiki - Thing 22

I have begun my wiki for K-12 education through Wikispaces. They offered a promotion so I began with my idea for a wiki for Priest Elementary School. The name of the wiki is PriestLearningCommunity. I made several titles of pages for the wiki. i will continue planning there. I need collaborators from the school and have sent out invitations to those I believe would be interested. No response as of yet. Time is an issue. Since so much of it is undeveloped it is not for public view.

Wikis Wikis Wikis

I love Wikis. I can see the potential in these sites for student instruction, classroom management and lifelong learning. As noted in 23 things these sites can enhance:
- Collaborative writing
- Brainstorming
- Creation and organization of content and study guides
- Lesson summaries
- Group notetaking
- Dissemination of classroom information
- Literature circles
- Collaborative textbooks
- Resource collections
- Vocabulary study
The idea behind several contributors would lead to collaboration and editing by more than one person. There is a space in wikis to use many of the tools we have learned in 23 Things. Perhaps our collaborative can begin a wiki. Volunteers anyone? I would like to experiment with this approach, similar to the one explained in the Common Craft video. As usual, LeFever rocks with his explanations!

Subscribing to Podcasts with Tweety

I reviewed EPN and Pod Alley was frustrated by how many podcasts were no longer available. Then I ran through a few which were not of good quality. I guess I am hard to please. I finally stubbled on EPN's DreamExtreme. I liked the concept of working with students on different subjects, allowing them to report out, knowing they had to do the research. I also liked the theme in their song and would like to teach it to a group of students. I have found another use for podcasts. I also viewed several videocasts and still have a preference for them. Perhaps other users who have found quality podcasts can share them.