I do see the value of blogging…………as I said in a previous post:  learning is social.  Learners need to discuss their ideas and thoughts about content…………blogging has just given students another tool for discussion. 

I do have to agree with Angie though…….I am a little relunctant to let children post so much information about themselves on the Internet.  I realize it is up to the teacher to monitor what the students are publishing and the teacher needs to coach the students about what kinds of things are appropriate to publish and what are not.  

If I remember correctly, I think one time Angie and I had discussed that it would be interesting for students with Asperger’s syndrome (a milder form of autism) to start a blog and talk to each other about their frustrations.  They could even form a community in Tappedin.org and chat together about the problems they encounter in daily life.  Many of these students love to get on the computer and they would probably like to talk to each other, but how do you get around the confidentiality issue?  I am always so worried about that?  I see technology as a wonderful tool for some special needs children if it were not for this issue.  Anyone have any suggestions?  Nate?

If you ask my administrators what the ultimate goal is for my students; they would most likely say “to prepare my students so that they will score proficient on the state exams when they enter 4th and 5th grades”.  If you ask me what my goals are for my students, I would say that I want them to become lifelong learners, to become independent, to become good citizens, and to become productive members of society.  In order for my students to meet these goals, they will have to learn to read, add, subtract, etc. so it is my job to provide an environment where they are given opportunities to learn.  I believe children learn best through play and hands-on experiences.  I don’t think me lecturing is going to teach them anything………..my job as the teacher is to design instruction in the form of games and hands-on activities that will captivate their interests and help them learn the content.  The teacher’s role as an educator, in my opinion, is more of a facilitator and the students’ construct their own knowledge from the experiences the teacher sets up in the classroom.

I’ve always been an advocate of using students’ interests to teach new content.  I also believe that students learn more from each other than the teacher standing at the front of the classroom and lecturing.  I feel that learning is social and that students need to talk about what they are learning with each other.  My classroom is not chaotic, but it is also not quiet because I  believe strongly that students need to engage in discussion.  It seems like blogging goes right along with my philosophy………….only instead of students discussing content orally, they write about it instead.  For students who are shy, blogging would be more beneficial than classroom discussion.

When I was younger, Lexington seemed very distant to me.  It was someplace that my parents drove my siblings and I to at Christmas time when they were shopping.  I was unfamiliar with the area and it seemed like a huge city that was very far away.  Now, I jump in the car and drive to Lexington all the time; it is only a 40 minute drive and Lexington almost seems like it is a part of my community because I travel there so often.  I think the difference between then and now is PARTICIPATION.  As a child, I was merely a passenger in my parents car, along for the drive; now I drive to Lexington myself and I am familiar with its landmarks, roads and shops.  I am an active participant now.  I feel connected to the community. 

With distance education I think it is important that students are active participants.  When they get connected to others in the class through discussions, blogs, and chats, the class will no longer seem like a “distant” education course.

Tapped In was one of the neatest technology resources I have ever come across.  I was very impressed by the after school online sessions that are available.  I doubt that my principal would let me count one of these sessions toward professional development hours, but I would still be interested in attending one of these sessions to see what interesting things I could learn.  For example, on September 13, there is a session on Storytelling using a Web-Based Movie Making Tool. 

I found the Tips and Tricks Tutorial to be very helpful.  I was totally lost before attending the tutorial.  I couldn’t find Nate’s office.  I got in rooms and then I didn’t know what I was supposed to do in them.  After attending the tutorial, I have now visited Nate’s office, posted a comment, seached the calendar for after school online sessions, and decorated my own office.

I can’t see my kindergarten students using Tapped In; they don’t have the writing and reading capabilities or technology skills that are needed for this program.  However, I definitely think Tapped In would be a wonderful resource for any person that conducts professional development sessions frequently.  The online tutor is wonderful; even people who are not very proficient with computers can figure out what to do with the guide of the friendly tutors.

The main difference between distance education and classroom education is the location of the students and the teacher.  In the classroom, the teacher is present to deliver instruction face to face to the students.  With distance education, the instructor delivers education to students who are not physically “on site” to receive their education. Instead, teachers and students communicate through technology.  This communication could be conducted in real time (like in virtual chats) or it could be conducted over the course of a few days (like in a discussion board).

To me, distance education is all about communication.  Students don’t meet face to face, so they meet for discussions using tools such as blogs, Blackboard, email, instant messenger, etc.  Students submit work to the instructor online.  The one advantage to distance education over traditional face to face instruction is that students from all over the world can be in the same class together at the same time.

This is an example of a WordPress page, you could edit this to put information about yourself or your site so readers know where you are coming from. You can create as many pages like this one or sub-pages as you like and manage all of your content inside of WordPress.

My name is Laura. A little about me……………

 I am from Mt. Sterling.  I am currently teaching kindergarten.  School began last Thursday and I have twenty five adorable, very active children in my classroom and I do emphasize the word “active“!  It’s amazing how much energy five year olds have! 

I also have a very energetic toddler at home.  She just turned three.  Her personality is really starting to develop now.  She has a huge interest in Cinderella…………..it seems we are constantly reading Cinderella books, watching the movie of Cinderella, singing Cinderella songs, dressing in princess clothes, coloring Cinderella pictures, ……….I think you get the picture!  She definitely keeps me busy!  Thank goodness I have a great husband that helps out around the house; I am definitely blessed with a wonderful family.

Other things that keep me busy………..I play piano; I especially enjoy contemporary christian songs.  I read mystery novels and assist in teaching children’s church and youth group.  In addition to these things, I enjoy spending time with my little sister from Big Brothers/Big Sisters.  We have been “sisters” for six years.

I am not a huge movie fan; I would much rather read than watch a movie, but my favorite movie is Fried Green Tomatoes.

As for what I want to get out of this class……………..I am hoping to learn new ways that I can communicate with my parents through the use of technology.  Currently I use a newsletter, however many of my parents have the Internet and I’m sure would be interested in receiving information through the web as well.