Is It the End or Only the Beginning???

          Some of my favorite things were using Flickr and discovering numerous graphic organizers. Both of those inspired me. I think they are great tools for me to have as an elementary school teacher. They are free, fun, and easy.
          I think my lifelong learning goals have been made more attainable through the vast amount of resources I have discovered. Even small things such as calendars and to-do lists to keep me on track will help. I am learning so much and gaining so many tools to add to my knowledge that the only possibility is that my goals are more attainable.
          When I first found out I was going to have to blog 23 times and perform various tasks, I wondered what I was really going to learn and take-away from this assignment. I am amazed! I have learned so much! I discovered things that I never knew existed. (and I am supposed to live in the Technological Era) I have taken away more things that I can list. I am excited to put these tools to use in my future classroom. As I am observing, I see things and want to tell the teachers that there are easier ways to perform that task and find that resource. :)
          I really do not think many things could be done differently. The only thing I do not love it having to sign up and create accounts for various programs, but the reason I do not like this is because some of them send reminders to me to tell me I have not visited their site in a while. I will visit when I need it! Other than that, this program is a great learning tool that does not need to change.
          I have so many new tools and resources to use in my classroom. I will use these resources and become a teacher who is knowledgeable about how to integrate technology into my classroom for my use and my students use. I have learned ways to communicate with parents, students, and colleagues better. My classroom will be more of a technological community thanks in part to this assignment.
          I plan to search more of what is out there. I also plan to stay more informed with new things that are being added to the web. Before this blog, I usually just did not think things applied to me or would be useful to me. When I talk to people and hear them mention new tools that are out on the web, I will definitely check them out. I think discussing things with other people is going to be a great way to continue learning. I will find people to share my discoveries with and who will share their discoveries with me.

Thing 23

Our blog, Learning 2.0-23 Things for Teachers, is based on Learning 2.0-23 Things. Learning 2.0-23 Things was used as a staff development program in the Mesquite Independent School District. The staff development program was based on Learning 2.0 which was developed my Helene Blowers. Helene's name is linked to her blog. I read some of it and enjoyed it. I attached the link so you all could read and explore it as well. From what I understand, Learning 2.0 was first adopted by the California School Library Association and a few others. We are able to blog our Learning 2.0-23 Things for teachers because it has been borrowed with permission of the author of the original blog. This all happened under a Creative Commons License.

As a student now and future educator, it is crucial that I understand Creative Commons. I do not need to change, interfere, or steal any of the rights of concepts, ideas, unit plans, lesson plans, strategies of other, etc. without permission. Creative Commons also ensures that nobody is going to change, interfere, or steals our rights to our creative work. When you use Creative Commons correctly, you are allowed to borrow and share ideas with one another, and as one of my very wise teachers said, "Beg, borrow, and steal all you legally can to help your students learn." Creative Commons also allows us to modify each others ideas with permission in order to make those ideas great!

Thing 22

The three education related LiveBinders I created were titled: Annotated Bibliography Resources, INTASC Information, and (one that is related to my education but is actually sports) Fall 2011 Golf Season. I know that golf is not education related, but I feel like it is part of my education. I am learning to manage time, stay organized, and stay focused. I am choosing to share the Fall 2011 Golf Season with you because my others are just websites for class projects I am doing. The one I am sharing explains who I am :)
http://www.apsugovernors.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=85883&SPID=10148&DB_OEM_ID=16900&ATCLID=204796379&Q_SEASON=2011

I think I could use LiveBinders to keep up with all of the resources and websites I am using for each subject and lesson in my class. I will not have to search the Internet to find them if they are all in one place. I think it will also be great for the children when they are doing projects that require them to have Internet sources. The children can create a LiveBinder with the title of their project and have all of their Internet sources in one convenient place so they do not have to keep searching over and over.

Thing 21

I really like animoto. I think it is awesome that I can create these videos with pictures I love and want to share. I also think it could be a great tool in the classroom when sharing small things for the children. I think they would enjoy the short picture-videos. I thought animoto was really simple to use. It was quick and easy to make an awesome video.
If you are like me and have been very stressed lately, I hope you take the time to watch this video. I wanted to create something that even just for 30 seconds took me to a place to relax and remember how wonderful the work of God is. I hope you enjoy :)
http://animoto.com/play/MPf2UK0Mog0s1ZSxC3ITMg