Technology in the Education Arena » Blogging http://jzcolby.edublogs.org My thoughts and ideas on Technology in Education and how we can all benefit from our use of technology in the classroom. Tue, 19 May 2009 12:53:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 en hourly 1 Looking Back To My First Blog Post http://jzcolby.edublogs.org/2008/02/09/looking-back-to-my-first-blog-post/ http://jzcolby.edublogs.org/2008/02/09/looking-back-to-my-first-blog-post/#comments Sat, 09 Feb 2008 14:08:54 +0000 jzcolby http://jzcolby.edublogs.org/2008/02/09/looking-back-to-my-first-blog-post/ I am currently enrolled in a course through Endicott College being offered in my district — Millennials: Technology, Teaching, and Learning.  This week’s task is to create a blog or wiki.  Since I already have a blog and wiki, I thought I would look back on my first entry posted my blog.  Teachers feel overwhelmed getting into this Web 2.0 world, but if they know that we all feel that way at one time or another and to take one tool at a time, the movement grows and more and more teachers will be using these great tools with their students.

My first post to my blog on June 20, 2006

Well, I have finally arrived in the blogosphere. I have spent the past month reading about blogs, wikis, and podcasts. Needless to say, I was overwhelmed. It felt like when I began using a search engine oh so many years ago — I would put a search word in and get 50,000 finds and not know where to start. One month later and thanks to Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms by Will Richardson, Publishing a Blog with Blogger (a Visual QuickStart Guide), along with Classroom Blogging by David F. Warlick, I have learned a lot (at least enough to get started). I am going to spend time this summer learning about blogs and how I can work with the teachers on integrating them into their classroom — whether it is for a daily journal, a grade-level news update, a discussion on a project in class, or a blog with input from the students. The best way to learn is by doing so here I am!

]]> http://jzcolby.edublogs.org/2008/02/09/looking-back-to-my-first-blog-post/feed/ 1 21st Century Learning with Apple http://jzcolby.edublogs.org/2008/02/08/21st-century-learning-with-apple/ http://jzcolby.edublogs.org/2008/02/08/21st-century-learning-with-apple/#comments Fri, 08 Feb 2008 22:45:25 +0000 jzcolby http://jzcolby.edublogs.org/2008/02/08/21st-century-learning-with-apple/ Attended a session sponsored by Apple yesterday entitled “Tour of 21st-Century Learning.”  It was a great day.  I knew about a lot of the tools but they not only focused on the tools, but focused on project-based learning with the tools and integrating areas of the curriculum.  We, as students, did research that we posted on our wiki, then created a summary podcast and posted the podcast on our blog.  We moved on to another session and did scientific research using digital probes and microscopes.  With the microscopes, we took digital images and created an iPhoto book where we also posted the data from the digital probe.  It was a great day and I had good company — Nancy and Beth.

]]> http://jzcolby.edublogs.org/2008/02/08/21st-century-learning-with-apple/feed/ 0 Benefits from Reading Blogs http://jzcolby.edublogs.org/2007/12/31/benefits-from-reading-blogs/ http://jzcolby.edublogs.org/2007/12/31/benefits-from-reading-blogs/#comments Tue, 01 Jan 2008 01:13:24 +0000 jzcolby http://jzcolby.edublogs.org/2007/12/31/benefits-from-reading-blogs/ Spending my time trying to get better and catch up on my feeds in Bloglines.  Was about a month behind so I had a lot of posts to read.  One of my favorite blogs to read is Around the Corner by Miguel Guhlin.  He posts frequently, so I was really behind on his.  I really enjoy Miguel’s thoughts, his tips, and his postings of Web 2.0 tools.  Found a lot of good information and thought I would post on some of the information not only for others but for my reference as well.

Miguel noted a site containing free open source software for kids at: http://junauza.blogspot.com/2007/12/freeopen-source-educational-software.html.  One of the schools I work at has a planetarium, so these two sites I found interesting:  Free open source planetarium for your computer.  Set your coordinates and go.  Site at http://www.stellarium.org.  Also, free space simulations allowing you to explore the universe in three dimensions.  Celestia doesn’t confine you to the surface of the earth.  You can travel throughout the solar system, to any of over 100,000 stars, or even beyond the galazy.  Site at http://www.shatters.net/celestia/

 postit.jpg

Free PostIt Notes Generator available at http://notes.mastervb.net/

Since I have been promoting Google Docs at my school district and I have been invited to present with Beth Knittle at a MassCUE SIG on Google Tools, I found the following post interesting where he links to three blogs that discuss using Goodle in Education: Google Docs in the Classroom by Tom Barnett, Google Docs in Schools by Art Gelwicks, and Google Docs in Schools by Tonia Johnson.

The Power of One on YouTube — A Video Worth Watching and Thinking About

Miguel pointed out some helpful information on Twitter: HeyJude Blog has posted a Twitter Guide written by Caroline Middlebrook; from Educause Learning Initiative, 7 Things You Should Know About Twitter; and Twitter Collaboration Stories for using Twitter in the Classroom.

Free Software for Educators.  I have been looking at SnagIt and Camtasia and now as an educator you can download both software products for free.  They are not the latest versions but you can't complain when it is for free.  

Owners of Camtasia Studio, TechSmith, are offering the full version of Version 3.1.3 for free dowload.  Great educational tool.  This offer is only valid a little longer. 

Download Camtasia 3.1.

Get the serial # for Camtasia 3.1.3 

SnagIt Pro is now giving away retail editions of SnagIt screen capture software for free. Follow these steps to download SnagIt for Free: Download the demo version of SnagIt 7.2.5 at ftp://ftp.techsmith.com/pub/products/snagit/725/SnagIt.exe Request a SnagIt 7 Software keyI have already downloaded both software programs and have spent some time playing with SnagIt.

Thank you Miguel for blogging.

  

]]> http://jzcolby.edublogs.org/2007/12/31/benefits-from-reading-blogs/feed/ 0 Ideas for Student Blogs http://jzcolby.edublogs.org/2007/08/19/ideas-for-student-blogs/ http://jzcolby.edublogs.org/2007/08/19/ideas-for-student-blogs/#comments Mon, 20 Aug 2007 00:24:58 +0000 jzcolby http://jzcolby.edublogs.org/2007/08/19/ideas-for-student-blogs/ Karl Fisch on his blog “The Fischbowl” has listed many class blogs along with teacher blogs.  This is a good place to go when giving professional development to teachers on ways to use their blogs for themselves or for use in the classroom.

]]> http://jzcolby.edublogs.org/2007/08/19/ideas-for-student-blogs/feed/ 0 I Have Been Tagged http://jzcolby.edublogs.org/2007/08/10/i-have-been-tagged/ http://jzcolby.edublogs.org/2007/08/10/i-have-been-tagged/#comments Fri, 10 Aug 2007 23:39:32 +0000 jzcolby http://jzcolby.edublogs.org/2007/08/10/i-have-been-tagged/  I have been tagged by my good friend, Beth Knittle.  I am not a very exciting person, so I will try to think of some good comments you would enjoy.

First, the Rules:
1. Post these rules before you give your facts.
2. List 8 random facts about yourself.
3. At the end of your post, choose (tag) 8 people and list their names, linking to them.
4. Leave a comment on their blog, letting them know they’ve been tagged.

8 random facts:

1. In high school, I was one of two head majorettes and loved it!  It was a great experience.

2. I used to work in business.  Was a Technology Specialist.  Worked at AT&T Bell Laboratories and at Day-Timers.  Was in charge of the mainframes, security on the mainframes, and the network.  Also gave professional development to the staff.  Good time.

3.  While working at Day-Timers, I was working while I was in labor with my first daughter.  Had a meeting with the auditor and I will never forget the look on his face when I told him I had to time my contractions while we were meeting.

4.  I have been in education only 7 years and I absolutely love it and wished I would have gone into education a long time ago.

5.  I am an Elvis Presley fan.  Last year, went to a conference in Memphis and finally got to tour Graceland.  It was awesome!

6. For the past 25 years, every Christmas I bake at least 10 different kinds of cookies.  I bake over 1000 cookies and give trays and trays away.  And, oh yeah, every year I complain that this is the last year I am baking so many cookies.  My kids just say, “Sure Mom.”

7.  Love reading books written by James Patterson.  Have read all his books he has written except two.  They are on my to do list.

8.  This is pretty sad but I have only been outside of the United States when I went to Canada.  I don’t get to go on many vacations and never had the opportunity to go overseas.  Definitely is something I need to work on for the future.

Told you I am not too exciting. I won’t be tagging anyone because most I know have been tagged already.

As Beth noted, tagging is like receiving a chain letter and no matter how much bad luck they say I am going to receive if I don’t send the e-mail to 10 people, I still don’t send it.

]]> http://jzcolby.edublogs.org/2007/08/10/i-have-been-tagged/feed/ 0 Bloglines and so many postings! http://jzcolby.edublogs.org/2007/08/08/bloglines-and-so-many-postings/ http://jzcolby.edublogs.org/2007/08/08/bloglines-and-so-many-postings/#comments Wed, 08 Aug 2007 19:20:15 +0000 jzcolby http://jzcolby.edublogs.org/2007/08/08/bloglines-and-so-many-postings/ It has been a tough 2007 for me.  With the death of my mother in the winter, I fell behind at work and couldn’t seem to really catch up.  Have spent well over 100 hours at work this summer and still am trying to catch up.  Well, sorry (and excited) to say, I will be moving on and beginning fresh so I won’t be behind (at least not yet).  Not only did I fall behind at work, I fell behind at home.  So, reading (and posting) my blogs took the back seat.  My Bloglines account kept getting fuller and fuller.  But there was no way I was going to click on “Mark All Read.”  I am so happy that as of yesterday, I got through every single feed and posting (over 1000).  Edited my feeds, added some new, removed some old.  So, I am back on track logging into Bloglines again every day.  I just have to add what a great tool Bloglines is and how easy it makes it to read through all the blogs.  And, oh yeah, I love reading blogs.  What a great way for a free education.  It is just too much fun learning about all these great new tools.  There is one major drawback of blogs, however, and that is TIME.  Need more of it!

One comment, though, is that every now and then it is great to click on the blog title and go to the actual blog to see their templates.  I happen to go to Educational Discourse yesterday and absolutely loved the graphic in the header.   So, one more goal this summer will be to go to the blog of each of my feeds in Bloglines just to check out their site.  Gives you more insight to the person.

]]> http://jzcolby.edublogs.org/2007/08/08/bloglines-and-so-many-postings/feed/ 0 Blogging For Yourself http://jzcolby.edublogs.org/2007/08/08/blogging-for-yourself/ http://jzcolby.edublogs.org/2007/08/08/blogging-for-yourself/#comments Wed, 08 Aug 2007 19:05:54 +0000 jzcolby http://jzcolby.edublogs.org/2007/08/08/blogging-for-yourself/ Lately I have been thinking about my blog and the purpose of my blog.  I think about the fact that very few read my blog but, you know, it doesn’t bother me because I blog for myself and for the teachers I work with.  If someone else happens to read my blog and finds some useful information, that is a very big plus.  Thinking about this lately and reading a recent posting on the  Educational Discourse blog I find that there are others in the blogosphere who don’t consider their blog “in the mainstream” and this is ok.

I can’t agree more with the following comment from Educational Discourse:

I will continue to post as a teacher and administrator who doesn’t just find the tools fascinating but as someone who uses them daily in order to save time, delineate information in an expeditious manner, ensure contact with parents and students, communicate with staff, students and parents and improve my teaching and administration capabilities. I will continue to work with my teachers, I’m the IT person for the school, in developing and enhancing their use of these tools to help organize themselves and enhance the learning of students. I will assist the teachers to build their programs using new tools in order to help our students develop 21st century skills. I will continue to look for teachers who are interested in making connections using these tools and try to bring students together in unique and educational ways.

So, looking forward to a new, exciting, and challenging school year and another year of blogging.

]]> http://jzcolby.edublogs.org/2007/08/08/blogging-for-yourself/feed/ 0 Blogs and Comments http://jzcolby.edublogs.org/2007/08/08/68/ http://jzcolby.edublogs.org/2007/08/08/68/#comments Wed, 08 Aug 2007 18:48:15 +0000 jzcolby http://jzcolby.edublogs.org/2007/08/08/68/ Miguel Guhlin recently posted “What is a Blog?” wherein he discussed blogs without comments.

He writes:

What I am increasingly sure of is that blogging isn’t necessarily about conversation with others, as it is a conversation with yourself, a way of sharing your ideas with others without interruption. Blogging has helped me professionally in encouraging me to express my ideas. The more I express them, the less silly they seem when voiced aloud. This transparency, openness, has helped me give voice to ideas, concepts that I might have been too timid or shy to share before.

Blogging is great in that we can post as Miguel said — for ourselves — but there are so many educators out there reading blogs that it becomes professional development for so many. In the last year I cannot begin to fathom how much I have learned just from reading blogs. There are days when I feel very guilty because I feel like I should be contributing more — I am gaining so much but not posting enough or commenting enough. But then, my giving back is partly found in the professional development I provide to the teachers. Commenting isn’t critical to me but it is always nice to get some comments every now and then. I guess it depends on the purpose of your blog entries. On the other hand, comments are very important to a classroom blog with your students. It is all about collaborating.

]]> http://jzcolby.edublogs.org/2007/08/08/68/feed/ 1 Edublogs has Videos too… http://jzcolby.edublogs.org/2007/05/16/edublogs-has-videos-too/ http://jzcolby.edublogs.org/2007/05/16/edublogs-has-videos-too/#comments Wed, 16 May 2007 15:57:48 +0000 jzcolby http://jzcolby.edublogs.org/2007/05/16/edublogs-has-videos-too/ After I published the previous post, I saw that Edublogs just posted today information on videos they have created for help with using Edublogs.  Listed below are the videos available at http://edublogs.org/videos:

  • Intro to Edublogs (4:50)
  • Writing Posts and Pages (11:49)
  • Picture Perfect Presentation (9:30)
  • Plugins (5:37)
]]> http://jzcolby.edublogs.org/2007/05/16/edublogs-has-videos-too/feed/ 0 Blog Workshop at Our School http://jzcolby.edublogs.org/2007/05/16/blog-workshop-at-our-school/ http://jzcolby.edublogs.org/2007/05/16/blog-workshop-at-our-school/#comments Wed, 16 May 2007 15:48:22 +0000 jzcolby http://jzcolby.edublogs.org/2007/05/16/blog-workshop-at-our-school/ I will be holding a Blogging Workshop at my school next week.  During this workshop, we will discuss safety with blogs, look at educational blogs, learn how to comment on blogs, set up our own blog at www.edublogs.org, log into our blog, edit our blog, select our presentation style, create links, create categories, and create our first posting. 

 We will also be going over RSS and creating an account on Bloglines along with learning how to add an RSS feed to Bloglines.

While putting this workshop together, I found so many great sites with handouts, tutorials, and videos for working with your blog on Edublogs.  Thank you to the authors.  Here is a list of the sites:

Resources on Blogging with EduBlogs:
Setting up a Blog with EduBlogs, David Warlick, Landmark Project: http://landmark-project.com/workshops/handouts/edublogs_setup.pdf
http://blogfolio.kboan.com/2006/05/18/edublogs-wordpress-workshop/
EduBlogs Blogging Handout: http://freidhof.fts.educ.msu.edu/Tech_Handouts/tech_handouts.htm
WordPress Blogging Handout: http://blogfolio.kboan.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/05/wordpress.pdf
Joe Freidhoff’s Tech Handout Page with an excellent video tutorial: http://freidhof.fts.educ.msu.edu/Tech_Handouts/tech_handouts.htm#Edublogs
Step-by-Step Video Tutorial for Edublogs: http://teachteach.com/workshop/
Excellent Video Tutorials on Creating an Edublog, Dashboard, Writing a Post, Writing a Page, Moderating Comments, and Changing Theme: http://miketemple123.edublogs.org/2007/02/26/first-steps/

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