Thing # 6

For my exploration of a Web 2.0 Award-winning site, I chose Digsby. I had never heard of this site before seeing it on this list, and the name and brief description intrigued me. While use of the actual site would have required a free download, I was able to read about the site's features and see screenshots without committing to the download.
Digsby is an application that allows users to manage multiple email, social networking, and instant messaging accounts from one "place" on the internet. Organization of your contacts from all email and IM accounts can be customized according to a list of "favorites", alphabetical order, frequency of conversation, or a whole host of other options. Also, contacts from multiple lists may be saved under one name through the site, preventing "duplicate buddies" on your contacts list. Digsby can even be personalized with "skins", themes, and layouts of your choice.
I like the concept of a site like this because I have many accounts such as these and it can be time-consuming to operate from all of them on a daily basis. (This strikes me as somewhat similar to the new Onestop feature on APSU's website that allows students to access their D2L and APMail accounts through one username and password, rather than having to enter login information multiple times on one site.) I think that Digsby could be useful in a school for the faculty, staff, and administration to keep in communication with one another in a convenient manner throughout the school year. One login operation that connects a user to any and all methods of online communication is certain to be a time-saver for anyone.

http://www.digsby.com/

Thing #5

The term "Web 2.0" refers to a new age of internet usage in which virtually anyone may contribute to the content of the World Wide Web. While "2.0" is not technically correct according to one of the written perspectives on the term, this number refers to a concept more so than an actual technology. The concept is that we can all participate in the shaping of the Web, and that it can even be used for "instant, global publication" of our thoughts and opinions and/or any factual information that we might be privy to on a particular subject (think Wikipedia).
Social networking has also become a popular aspect of the internet; most school-aged children consider the operation of sites such as Facebook and Myspace to be second nature, and educators would likely benefit from embracing these as tools for the classroom. However, in doing so, extreme precautions must be taken to keep students safe, as it is possible they will come into contact with persons they are unfamiliar with when using the Web.
To me, "Web 2.0" means that the internet is a usable, readily available tool that will make classroom instruction more interesting and interactive for the students that I will one day have. Proper internet use opens up a world of possibilities for educators, and I feel fortunate to be entering the profession in a time of technological advancement such as this.

Thing #4

Commenting is of utmost importance to the blogging community in general because it fuels the main concept of blogging at its core: self-expression. Through our comments we offer our perspectives on the issues at hand in the blogs that we choose to read. The interaction between writers through commenting is also valuable in that they may help and learn from one another. Two of the points on commenting that I found to be of particular interest were found in the post by Cool Cat Teacher. They were "Interact with comments left" and "Be controversial". The advice to interact with your commenting readers via comments of your own reminds me of the usage of my personal facebook page; whenever I log on and see that a friend of mine has written on my "wall", I always respond in a timely fashion. I feel that this is only polite, and know that I would not want my own posts to go unanswered after I took time out of my day to write them. The tips on this page also advised bloggers to be controversial; I had not thought of this previously but it makes sense that readers will be more likley to read and respond with interest to a blog written by a person looking to make a point, especially one that is outside "the norm".

I have chosen five of my fellow classmates whose blogs I would like to follow: Courtney Berg, Kortney Knight, Skylar Riley, Leigh Ann Nicholson, and Anna Hall. I chose these ladies' blogs because after sampling them, I've found them to be very well-written and insightful. I also know each of them personally, which I believe will help me to get a good sense of where they are "coming from" in their posts, and therefore lead to a greater understanding of the points they make. In my comments on these posts, I focused mainly on "Thing 3", in which we discussed how we would use education-based web logs as teachers. Kortney Knight's idea to use blogging as a time-filler for advanced students who finish their work early in class stood out to me the most because while I never thought of it myself, I can readily envision myself implementing such an exercise.

I haven't yet chosen two blogs outside of our classes, but plan to do so very soon!

Thing #3

 For your Thing #3 post, write about ways that you might use a blog in your teacher education program or your future classroom.

Having been a member of Austin Peay's teacher education program for two years now, I believe that keeping an online blog on educational topics will prove very useful. As teacher candidates, we can use this web tool to communicate regarding our ideas. The posts are also a good "place" to express frustrations, questions, and challenges we find ourselves facing as we move through the program. Through blogging we can get the assistance that we will inevitably need from time to time, and get the word out when we have come up with something useful for teachers. Keeping educational blogs also provides a way for us all to get to know one another as pre-professionals, fostering a sense of community in the College of Education.

When I become a teacher, I will most likely continue to keep a blog similar to this one. I will endeavor to be a part of as many educational groups as possible, and will use my personal blog to post ideas for lessons on which I desire feedback and constructive criticism. Doing this will give my lesson plans the fortification of multiple perspectives. With the help and suggestions of other education professionals and parents or caretakers of children of the same age group I will teach, my lessons will hopefully be as well-polished as possible, and I will be extemely well-prepared. Another possible use of a blog would be to create a group specifically for the parents of my students, on which I would make daily posts reflecting on the day's happenings in the classroom, as well as quick notes of the next day's plans. This would be a convenient method of keeping parents informed and prepared, and would ensure that their children get the most out of their learning experiences from day to day.

Thing #2

As I mentioned previously, the setup for this blog was quite simple. Although it's easy to become frustrated when setting up accounts & profiles like this online, the steps were clear, concise, and few. When creating my avatar, I found it really entertaining to find options for hair, eye color, etc. that resembled me! I gave her a biker jacket because I think they're really cute, and heels because I wanted her to have a little flair. :) The process reminded me of the time I made a "Mii" on my friend's Wii console; we had more fun creating little e-images of ourselves than we did playing any of the actual games! I like that on our 23 Things blogs we get to use these avatars because they help to make everyone's posts more personal; if you can envision the little person at the top of the screen while you read the words of the writer, you're reminded that we're all unique individuals and not just a bunch of typed words that all look alike in black and white.

Thing #1

Of the 7 & 1/2 habits of lifelong learners, I personally find habits 2 and 5 come to me the most naturally. Habit 2 states that one must take responsibility for one's own learning, and that an education is to be considered an investment in your future. My parents instilled these beliefs in me at an age earlier than I can even recall, and throughout my fifteen years of school thus far I have continued to hold them to be true. Habit 5 encourages learners to create their own "toolbox" of materials useful to learning such as technology, books, classes, and mentors. As a student, it is hardly possible not to implement all of these things in the daily quest to receive and complete an education.

Although most of the 7 & 1/2 habits are easily achieved, the two that I find myself struggling with from time to time are habits 3 and 7 1/2. Habit 3 maintains that obstacles should be viewed as "challenges" rather than "problems". This is difficult for me because I often get frustrated when faced with an obstacle and if I am not careful, I occasionally miss out on the learning opportunity within. Habit 7 1/2 emphasizes the importance of "playing"; that is, taking time off from hard work and studying. While I would dearly love to be more capable of letting go of my various responsibilies and obligations from time to time, it is hard for me to validate doing so regardless of the circumstances.

 Setting up this blog was not a tedious task! I'm familiar with blogging but have never done it before, and am excited to explore this aspect of online technology in an educational setting.