Chapter 5 (Richardson, 2006)
I have a clearer understanding of what RSS is and its purpose. The text defined it as “Real Simple Syndication” although I have also seen it defined as “Rich Site Summary” on various web sites. I can see myself using this as my research agent for supplemental information regarding my KAMs and dissertation. I attended a Walden residency where I met a student that was in the midst of his dissertation. Due to his many RSS feeds and other resources, he already has 100+ pages and he only halfway finished. I agree with Richardson (2006), having this information conveniently come to you is wonderful but it means nothing if you don’t know how to recognize and extract the nectar of your thesis without feeling you have to read or included everything from the article.
Chapter 6 (Richardson, 2006)
Glad to get deeper understanding of the other social networking services such as bookmarking and folksonomies. I felt that an attractive feature of Furl was saving quotes and having your sources automatically formatted. Now if that feature could just check the format of the entire paper. No matter how many times I’ve checked my APA manual up against a paper or project, its always something that’s not quite right. I can never win for losing. I need to invest that APA software.
Chapter 9 (Alessi & Trollip, 2001)
This year, amongst other things that have changed, our new principal has decided to randomly check lesson plans. They must be fully written and on top of our desks each morning waiting for her if she happens to stop by. This has added extra pressure on many of the teachers. I’m afraid I’d get cut if I mention to my fellow colleagues what new technology would bring. They would also be required to change their teaching pedagogy and be equipped to know much more. This was the statement made in regards to microworlds (p. 308). I’ve concluded that this is not the year to bring up any technology revelations to them. I’ve been keeping the revelations within my classroom and with my students.
References
Alessi, S.M. & Trollip, S.R. (2001). Multimedia for learning: Methods and development. Massachusetts: Allyn and Bacon.
Richardson, W. (2006). Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms. Thousand Oaks, California: Corwin Press.
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6 comments:
Lori,
I totally understand your reluctance to add anything else to the plates of your colleagues. Our school did not make AYP this year, and the state OEPA officials are expected to visit sometime during the year. As such, our administration has added all sorts of new and interesting tortures to our daily routine "Just in case OEPA comes in." Fun, fun, fun!
Heather
Hey Heather,
I'm treading lightly because I do not want anybody to snap. It is so nerve-wrecking.
Ah yes, I remember when the state reps came to our school and in the days prior the principal testing us on whether we could recite the mission statement from heart. It was crazy. I just prayed to never run across one of them in the hallway. I felt like a fugitive in my workplace.
I set up my first RSS for this class and definitely see the tool as a huge boon for KAM writing and the dissertation. What a great way to keep track of what is being published online about particular topics!
Hi Christine,
I'm sold, RSS is excellent. And to think, back in the day I used to trudge to the library and use the card catalogue and microfiche.
Hi Lori-
It is too bad your principal has not been able to use technology to help her. My principal requires teachers to have their lesson plans in the shared directory on the server by a certain day each week. That way she can check them anytime she wishes, anywhere she wishes. She follows these checks with email or comments directly on the lesson plans using the comment tool in Word. Everyone is very happy with this method, including me!
On another note, I have often wondered when writing those lesson plans becomes simply an exercise. Do you think a teacher with many years of experience should be made to write lesson plans?
I started using the RSS too and hope you will share more specifics on what resoureces you might include for your KAM and dissertation. Have you tried adding your own blog to the RSS? I am having problems for some reason. Maybe I can ask some of you in the IM tonight. I have added several others and they seem to be fine. My own is the only one with problems.
Becky,
This principal has yet to lighten up. I think she is trying to personally see as much as she can until she trusts in her heart and mind that we are handling things the way she wants to see them done. Using technology would lessen the stress load for everyone involved. At this point though, she wants to do it her way.
A veteran teacher should be able to work from a script of their lessons plans. They've paid their dues. Writing full lesson plans should be an option for them.
Good idea. I have not tried adding my blog to RSS. Did you figure out what was the issue with adding yours?
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