1. LearnPort has some interesting options and lots of classes to investigate. Some are short little tutorials. I was hoping to finds some on Office 2010 products but I didn't find any that new so I will have to check back. I can see that they are trying to develop online professional development tools to fit the future teacher requirements.
2. Twitter, Facebook and other social sites can make staying updated on activities and information easy. Both are easy to use and can be used to stay up to date and communicate with personal friends, families and groups. The trick both in our personal lives and in our professional lives is to be aware of what we are posting, remembering that once posted we lose control over the item and it is no longer private. We also have to remember the whole audience, mixing students, parents and personal items leave opportunities for inappropriate items becoming visible to the wrong group and for items to be taken out of context. The tools show promise for communication if set up carefully.
Using twitter or online sites to alert students and parents to due dates, activities, and important information could be an effective tool but only if everyone participates, if not everyone participates then it becomes one more responsibility for the teacher. Right now our teachers are required to keep their homework updated on the school access website but they also need to keep notes in other places too, they may be required to e-mail parents but since not all parents have signed up for e-mail they need to follow up in other ways too. If we could use one tool for everyone this would be helpful, adding another tool that just adds one more task is not a benefit at this time.
Many of the tools could be used for publishing class projects and give students the opportunity to be publishers and share their skills, knowledge, presentations.
3. I did create an account in MaculSpace and am waiting to hear back on my account. In the mean time I was checking out other resources, some of it reminds me of a list serve, a place where professionals and share ideas and information. Then there are the links to videos of interest on the topics. I notice a lot of resources that can be useful - one way to stay up on technology when I'm done with this class. (Which is really going to take me a long time because I haven't really had a chance to check out all of the resources listed - and Ron keeps showing us more.)
4. Professional organization: I’m a member of MAME Michigan Association of Media Educators, it cost me $50 a year. The purpose is to help support media specialist and library staff in Michigan to encourage professional growth and to promote libraries. The group offers online information, conferences and workshops. I get to participate in an online professional list serve where we share information and find support. The web site also has a host of useful information. I contribute my technical skills, share lesson plans, and discuss ideas to support other library staff across the state. Together we help keep each other updated, find information and tools and create a professional network. In the past I have participated in local and state committees and volunteered at our state conferences. Which reminds me, it is that time of year to renew my membership, better get my check in the mail. There are so few of us left, they might actually notice one less member.
No comments:
Post a Comment