Thing 2 – Thoughts about Web 2.0

My initial reaction to the Web 2.0 video was my jaw dropping and my eyes getting really big.  I felt like I didn’t catch everything and I wished the video would have played a little slower.  Then I realized that echoes my reaction to the internet and web capabilites in real life.  I wish it would slow down and let me digest what I see, hear, and do at my pace (so I don’t feel left in the dust).  Just like the video, I need to tell myself and know that is okay not to understand everything the first time.  The wonderful thing about technology is that it is always available for replay.  It might take 2 or 10 times to listen and practice and make mistakes before I get it right. 

Kids are very good at doing that.  They will play (Habit 7 1/2) and enjoy the learning process, whereas I am crunched for time and get impatient and frustrated if my own learning is not progressing smoothly.  I am excited about learning and passing it on.  We have 4 computers in my classroom this year for the students’ use.  We set rules for time and sharing and the kids have done enormously well with them.  They can do more than I give them credit for sometimes and, realizing that, I have given them more responsibility and exploration with their assignments.  I am seeing the ‘digital learner’ in all my students.  I am also encouraging my students to encourage their parents to learn along with their children.  In our little classroom, we can becom a network of learners!  I am super excited to be a part of the future~

Thing 1 – Reflections on Lifelong Learning

most challenging for you :  Habit 1:  Begin with the End in Mind:  with the extent of technology, its impossible to know what’s out there.  Therefore, having a goal is a challenge.  I guess I will have to approach this habit with the mindset that I do not have to have one single, far-fetched goal.  the attitude that I will need to adopt will have to be that small, attainable goals is the best approach.  Once I have met a goal, then I can allow myself to extend my goals at a reasonable and attainable pace.

• easiest, or are most resonent for you :  Habit 2:  Accept Responsibility for your own Learning:  Being in graduate school, I have experienced a passion for learning that I didn’t experience in college.  Now that I know what my purpose is and where my talents lie, I get excited by my work and extending my knowledge, applications, and opportunities.  I enjoy taking on learning challenges.
•  most important for you :  Habit 5:  Create your own Learning Toolbox:  This is important for me because this is where I have a weakness.  As I discover new technology applications in my personal and professional life, I do not have an effective method of organization.  I think the del.icio.us site will help me with having an online toolbox to which I have total access anytime.  I am excited about this.  I also wish I had a laptop so that I could do my work anywhere, anytime, but I don’t have that convenience, so I’m going to have to make several PC’s work.