Part 1:
I'm really into social networking. (Pun intended. I watched "He's Just Not That Into You" last night. :) I read on one of the hundreds of blogs I've explored lately that "If one gets smarter, we all get smarter." (I didn't mark where I read that, so apologize for not giving proper credit. It was a quote from a sports star, I believe. If anyone knows for sure who said that, let me know. I want to give proper credit.) This is so true. Networking is possibly one of the greatest tools educators have available to them. As they say, "Two (or more) heads are better than one." Collaboration, vertical and horizontal teaming, PST committee, grade level planning meetings, ... so many instances where networking is put to great use in our district.
In beginning Thing #23 I explored a few networks and found one I really like and have added to my Reader. Classroom 2.0 is fascinating. Naturally, I joined. :) They have developed a strand dealing specifically with ESL!
Classroom 2.0 is extremely user-friendly. The strands of topic organization and groups make it easy to tune in to one's specific interest and weed out other information. Classroom 2.0 is international. I like being connected to others outside of Mesquite. That is a big step for me. I enjoy learning about education trends in other countries.
As networks tend to do, one link led to another, which led to another, which led to another, and, well, you get the picture. Some names I ran across I was already familiar with in the ESL community. (Read, Write, Think and EdHelper) I also found new people I want to read and follow. (Larry Ferlazzo and EFL Classroom 2.0.)
Read, Write, Think has a neat activity for vocabulary development in younger students. Construct-A-Word is a good resource for Spelling and word families.
Culips is an ESL podcast site. In their podcast for July 13th the two hosts, Maura and Jessie, discuss the idiom "Hit it off" for second language learners. I really like their choice to have two people discussing the phrase. It's a co-teaching strategy that I strongly believe in also. I can see my ESL students enthralled with listening and learning. (Copyrights: Podcast/ Lipservice: ESL Culips, Photo credit: casch52) It's good that their podcasts can be downloaded to my hard drive, thus enabling them to be used without requiring Internet access.
Part 2:
Collective Intelligence. In the article 7 things you should know about Ning, the distinction between Ning and Facebook/MySpace is that Ning has the ability for users to create their own social networks with more control over how they are set up and function. I like the term "collective intelligence" in reference to networks.
In her article, Schools and Online Social Networking, Nancy Willard offers four strategies for school districts in setting up guidelines for networking at school. I would like to know more about MISD's policies. That will be one of my future research projects.
I'm really into social networking. (Pun intended. I watched "He's Just Not That Into You" last night. :) I read on one of the hundreds of blogs I've explored lately that "If one gets smarter, we all get smarter." (I didn't mark where I read that, so apologize for not giving proper credit. It was a quote from a sports star, I believe. If anyone knows for sure who said that, let me know. I want to give proper credit.) This is so true. Networking is possibly one of the greatest tools educators have available to them. As they say, "Two (or more) heads are better than one." Collaboration, vertical and horizontal teaming, PST committee, grade level planning meetings, ... so many instances where networking is put to great use in our district.
In beginning Thing #23 I explored a few networks and found one I really like and have added to my Reader. Classroom 2.0 is fascinating. Naturally, I joined. :) They have developed a strand dealing specifically with ESL!
Classroom 2.0 is extremely user-friendly. The strands of topic organization and groups make it easy to tune in to one's specific interest and weed out other information. Classroom 2.0 is international. I like being connected to others outside of Mesquite. That is a big step for me. I enjoy learning about education trends in other countries.
As networks tend to do, one link led to another, which led to another, which led to another, and, well, you get the picture. Some names I ran across I was already familiar with in the ESL community. (Read, Write, Think and EdHelper) I also found new people I want to read and follow. (Larry Ferlazzo and EFL Classroom 2.0.)
Read, Write, Think has a neat activity for vocabulary development in younger students. Construct-A-Word is a good resource for Spelling and word families.
Culips is an ESL podcast site. In their podcast for July 13th the two hosts, Maura and Jessie, discuss the idiom "Hit it off" for second language learners. I really like their choice to have two people discussing the phrase. It's a co-teaching strategy that I strongly believe in also. I can see my ESL students enthralled with listening and learning. (Copyrights: Podcast/ Lipservice: ESL Culips, Photo credit: casch52) It's good that their podcasts can be downloaded to my hard drive, thus enabling them to be used without requiring Internet access.
Part 2:
Collective Intelligence. In the article 7 things you should know about Ning, the distinction between Ning and Facebook/MySpace is that Ning has the ability for users to create their own social networks with more control over how they are set up and function. I like the term "collective intelligence" in reference to networks.
In her article, Schools and Online Social Networking, Nancy Willard offers four strategies for school districts in setting up guidelines for networking at school. I would like to know more about MISD's policies. That will be one of my future research projects.
- A clear policy with a strong focus on educationally valuable use of the Internet -- no "Internet recess." The policy must be supported by curriculum and professional development, and a clear expectation for teachers that all student use of the Internet should be for high quality, well-planned instructional activities.
- Student education about online safety and responsible use.
- Effective technical monitoring.
- Appropriate consequences. Schools and districts should consider a full review of Internet use management policies and practices. A needs assessment and evaluation of Internet use would provide helpful insight. Safe school personnel must be involved in that process.
In summary, I believe the keys to technology working at school are supervision (by teachers and parents) and education (for teachers and students).
Part 3:
I was already a member of 23Thingsters. I noticed the membership isn't very large yet. Perhaps that will increase as word of the group is spread. I made a comment on Carla's 23Thingster. I also put my 23Thingster badge on my blog home page.
I intend to continue networking and monitoring sites of interest. I believe there are LOTS of information and ideas out there just waiting to be gathered. At this point, I introducing my students to these networks will be on a limited basis. I will preview, screen, and scrutinize in depth anything I present to my students.
Part 3:
I was already a member of 23Thingsters. I noticed the membership isn't very large yet. Perhaps that will increase as word of the group is spread. I made a comment on Carla's 23Thingster. I also put my 23Thingster badge on my blog home page.
I intend to continue networking and monitoring sites of interest. I believe there are LOTS of information and ideas out there just waiting to be gathered. At this point, I introducing my students to these networks will be on a limited basis. I will preview, screen, and scrutinize in depth anything I present to my students.
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