Week 5: SDG&E Ate my Homework!

Candle Light
Originally uploaded by Ian Lambert

Okay, I know this sounds crazy, but it's true.  I had to go to L.A. yesterday to meet with a friend who is helping me with a website.  I drove home around 4 thinking that I would have plenty of time to grade the newsletters and write this post.  However, upon my return home, I walked into a dark house dimly lit by random candles. . .The power was out.  It did not come back on until around 10:45 p.m., at which time I was too tired and hot to do anything. . .but I am working furiously to get the newsletters graded by class this evening.

Hopefully, everyone was able to add some tasty bookmarks to Delicious. . .It is always fun when technology goes south in the middle of class. . .I have taught Delicious @ CSUSM for around 5 years and this was the first time that the plug-ins disabled the shortcut. . .I could say that I was modeling for you how to deal with adversity in the classroom, but that would be a lie ;-)

This week:  I want to get into the discussion of Google Docs and Spreadsheets and how they relate to your writing of your NETS narratives.  You will make small groups to collaboratively write your first narrative using Google Docs. I also want to show you how to begin to embed your assignments on your blog as part of the emerging technology assignment due at the end of the course. Somebody remind me to show you how to do pages on your blog. . .and how to put your Delicious tagrolls on a page!!


Journal 4: "Computing in the Clouds," by Doug Johnson from the Dec/Jan 09/10 issue of L&L.  I think this is a good time to introduce the concept of cloud computing.  You should be familiar with some of the concepts and tools Johnson introduces.

This Week's Question: To whom or what do you attribute your educational success. . .by the fact that you are all here, you have had educational success.  I want to know your "secret". . .

Week 4: Finding Your Inner Geek

Please vote: should Brian embrace his inner Geek?!
Originally uploaded by George Arriola

Well okay, it is time that you all begin to embrace the inner tech geek inside of you and start to have some fun in the course!  We have survived oddly operating scanners and waded through TaskStream. . .and even begun a classroom newsletter.  There is nothing you can't do now, right?

You should be finishing your newsletters and maybe even be halfway through the first round of journal entries. I will show everyone how to save the Newsletter as a PDF so it can be submitted on Moodle/Cougar Courses.

This week: I want to discuss social bookmarking using Delicious.com and introduce you to the Technology Self-Assessment assignment.  We will also take a look at Google Docs and Spreadsheets and discuss the power of this amazing set of collaborative tools.

Journal 3: This article comes from the September/October 2010 issue of L&L. "Bring the World into Your Classroom," by Linda McDermon. 

This Week's Question: What is the best book you ever had to read for school and/or what is your all-time or current favorite book?   From school: I am a huge fan of Catcher in the Rye (it is also my favorite book I have taught!) and probably Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance for outside of school (although I did write my Master's Thesis on the book, I read it a few times before graduate school).

Week 3: Fall-ing into Place?

By now, I hope that everyone has settled in with the Macs, the pace of the course, and how to successfully navigate Moodle (Cougar Courses).  And there was also the issue of getting registered for ISTE and TaskStream. . .The picture this week was completed by my daughter, Zoe, who was tasked to do an "about me" in her 5th grade class.  She chose to do a Wordle, which included key words representing who she is, what she likes and doesn't like. . . I couldn't help but include it this week.

I have graded all of the Intro Letters that were submitted.  If you submitted it but didn't receive a grade, check for my comments and you will have instructions as to what you need to do to complete the project.  Don't forget that you should have either already scanned a self-portrait (or a portrait drawn by someone else), or you will be bringing your drawing to scan at school.  I should be in the PC lab in SCI II before class if anyone needs help scanning.

This week:  I want to discuss TaskStream and we will begin the Newsletter.  I believe we should also have time to take a look at Google Docs and maybe even discuss a technology self-assessment. . .

Journal 2: Is from the June/July 2010 Issue of L&L.  There are actually 2 short articles relating to Twitter.  "Join the Flock!" by Hadley Ferguson and "Enhance Your Twitter Experience," by Shannon McClintock Miller.  Hopefully, after our Twitter discussion last week, these should serve as some background and depth on the topic of Twitter in education.

This Week's Question:  What has been the best class/course you have taken in high school or college and why?

Week 2: I have to sign up for what?

Overwhelmed
Originally uploaded by Walt Stoneburner

OKay, I am running a bit behind this week.  I will usually try and get the weekly post up Sunday evening or Monday at the latest.  This holiday weekend seemed to consume me.  Both my girls played in soccer tournaments at two different locations. . .Anyway, this week we will settle in to the course discuss how to submit assignments, more about navigating the class blog, your web presence and networking. . .I will have you all tweeting by the end of the evening. . .

Goals to Finish today:  the Intro Letter and peer comments, have your subscriptions to TaskStream and ISTE and, oh yes, that Twitter account!

Tonight:  I want to ensure everyone feels comfortable with Moodle (Cougar Courses), the class blog, and managing all of your accounts.  I will also introduce the Journal Article 1-5 assignment, the scanning assignment, and if time permits, the Newsletter.

Journal 1: "Taking Laptops Schoolwide," By Tim Green, Loretta Donovan, and Kim Bass.  This comes from the August issue of L&L.  I included a link just in case anyone is having difficulty with ISTE.

This week's Question:  What is your current favorite musician or musical group?  I would say Radiohead is my favorite, but I have been listening to Phoenix, Mumford and Sons, and Broken Bells a lot lately. . .