Lisa+R.

Lisa Reas - 4th Grade Teacher @ Horizon Elementary Twitter name: LReas21 Lisa's PLN Wiki

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media type="custom" key="8989498" Had to share my first flipbook!

Week 1 (March 8th-March 15th) I never saw myself using Twitter on a daily basis and didn't understand why I would need to know what other people were doing every minute of the day. After day one of class I found the tremendous power of Twitter exciting and at the same time, very overwhelming. I am trying to keep up with Twitter but I'm finding that what I've done in the past gives me enough information that I feel like I'm adding to my bank of knowledge just to add it. We will see how I feel once I learn about Tweet Deck and maybe organizing chats and information into groups will help me find information that I'm looking for.

Another thought comes to mind as I ramble on in this journal. When is this wealth of knowledgement enough? i'm not saying that I don't want to learn about new tools that can be used in education and help me become a better teacher, but at some point all this information makes teaching even more confusing. Each year feels like I'm a first year teacher again and although it's great to have new ideas and try new things, I'm burning out quickly. It's only my fourth year teaching and I feel like all of this information is telling me I could still do more, I'm not doing enough, and that every year I will change what I do. I find technology exciting and I got a Master's in Educational Technology because I see the value in it, but the more I come across the more I feel like I am not doing enough in the classroom. Sometimes I have to take a step back and remind myself that I teach fourth grade and that the students are still very new ti basic skills. I need to remind myself that a great idea posted on Twitter might take my students a month to complete which sometimes with the curriculum we have to follow, it just doesn't work. I also have to remind myself that Technology is a tool and that teaching is what I do. I am not here to use all of the new web 2.0 tools but rather to expose students to the tools as they fit within the material I am teaching. There is enough adding on to a year's curriculum and agenda as is, so I need to find ways to incorporate technology ideas to what I already do.

Overall I think this class will give me a lot of value able knowledge and open my eyes to new ways of using technology to make my job/life easier but at some point I need to realize that my students do not always need it in their lives. Sometimes they get enough technology on their own and so what they need from me might be something other than using a computer, website, or other technology tool.

Week 2 (March 16th-March 22nd) Playing around with Twitter has been fun and using TweetDeck was something I needed to organize my own thoughts but I still haven't been able to make it something I do everyday. After an hour of complete silence with my PLN classmates, I realize that technology does have the power to make a world full of people become isolated. I started to get overwhelemed with all the tweets coming in from all of the different groups I was following and it helped to hear classmates explain how they use TweetDeck. Coming to the realiztion that Twitter is a resource more than a lifestyle I am willing to incorporate, I feel much better. I see the value of participating in discussions that revolve around one topic but as far as getting new ideas for classroom projects, I feel as though I get more out of my Diggo groups. Having information not only sent to me but with the direct link and a description of how to use the resource is more benificial to me then following so many people and their tweets. I might change my mind the more I use Twitter but for now, it's something I have to tell myself to do and check where as I have other learning networks that come to me without leaving me feel overwhelmed and confused.

Week 3 Last week's class was really eye opening when I saw how Google Reader really can bring information to you whenever it is updated. I no longer need to search for the news, it will come to me and even better I can pick what news I want to come to me. I am a person that loves technology but can easily become overwhelmed with a lot coming at me. I also feel overwhelmed when there are so many great tools out there that I'm not using. I start to feel as though I'm never doing a good enough job with my students. Having information that I want come to me instead of me going out to get it and being exposed to so many tools as once is nice. I can now focus on the information I want to read more about without the searching of it.

Particpating in an organized discussion on Twitter was also interesting. I liked that it was a debate where people posed questions and then stated reasons to back up their opinion. This is extremely valuable as a teacher especially since it forces up to see an opposing view point that will challenge us to think outside of our comfort zone. So many people had great reasons and if it doesnt cause you to change your opinion then it leaves you with a better sense of your own beliefs. This was a great class period that gave me new tools to use in my personal and professional life.

Week 4 Although I was unable to attend class this week, I have been using Diigo for awhile now and can say that this has been my most valuable resource yet. I've had an account for about two years and it's allows me to get links to resources that other people feel are beneficial to use in the classroom as well as share knowledge that I have. Having the option to have an email at the end of each day with updated information is perfect. I'm not overwhelmed with information coming at me a various points of the day and with it being saved into my group's account, I never have to feel stressed to look at the sites before they disappear. I have a constant list that I can go back to, high light information, and share with other groups I am a member of as well as groups I've created. It's a great way to collaborate on projects as well which I have done in my Master's program and in a media conference and in both situations, Diggo helped us work together without being by each other.

Lisa - I am so glad you are taking this class. It is nice to have "students" at all levels of learning. That is often ties the most challenging part of being an instructor - meeting the needs of ALL learners. But I also find it the most rewarding as well. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and talents with the others in class. Amy