Reflections

Kathy - this has been a wild ride! I'm surprised any of my hair is left in my head. I used and abused so many people to help me out, but I feel I was successful.

When I saw you yesterday, I said "when is my time to talk to you?". That is my one thought. Could there be a face to face time in the middle of the course. I needed time - and honestly would still like a time - to ask questions about things.

I enjoyed it, and I really feel it will help me. And, when I forget how to do things, I'm coming to you!!!

Thanks for all you did for us non-techno buddies!

Personal Learning Network

This could be great!
During the time I have been doing this course, I read a new section and it is like "Oh, I like that, I can use that". Well, this tells me how to connect it all. Also, I have already added and deleted blogs. It was nice to have it reaffirmed that it is okay to do that. I will find a blog, add it to my list and then WOW! the things that might come up some day that you never thought would!
The one thing I really like about using/having a PLN is using it in the way you would a sharing session at a class. This summer I had the opportunity to do two awesome institutes in our county. The best part is always the sharing that you do with other teachers! I always feel sorry for the instructors because all the participants get off on tangents and there go the plans out the window!
Imagine having the opportunity to log on and find some ideas from people who have the same thoughts, problems, issues that you do. GREAT.
My problem? As always is time. I would love to use Twitter, but with it being blocked in our county, that means going home, (which is always late for me), logging on at home and then getting wrapped up on the computer - hey this can be my new diet plan!!!!!
I'm going to try!
What a journey this has been.

Video Sharing and Digital Storytelling

I enjoyed searching You Tube and Teacher Tube for different and fun things to look at, but found that you really, really, really need to be specific about what you search for or you will be looking at things you really don't want to.
This just makes me question - Why would someone post that?
I did find some fun videos to share with my fellow kindergarten teachers during pre planning this week - not that we will have time to look at them!
Digital Story telling could be great. What I would like to do with that is post one story a week - or more probably one story a month on my web site or blog and read a story to my children who could watch it at home - maybe it would be a favorite story we had read that week!
Now, do you want to see something funny? When my niece and her baby and husband lived in Atlanta, they were staying with us, I was up early with the baby and letting her sleep. Her husband came out while I was reading to him and videotaped us. I am very rough in this EARLY MORNING picture, so if you look be kind - remember I am old!
Anyway it is on You Tube - search for momoffinn and then on page 2 of their videos, there is Aunt Margaret reading! This would be what I would like to do - but after having a make over before going on screen!

Google Docs

Thank the good Lord, that this was a fairly easy assignment. I'm in class this week and am exhausted!
I like this, I really do. I said that I may try it to help get some supplies for when I do cooking with my class each Friday. Of course, as I think about this the same problem could occur where the same families help me out and that is not always fair. But, I would like to give it a try.
Google Reader has been fun. I deleted one sight because it was not what I expected and want to find some more food sites.
I have two dedicated to kindergarten and I really enjoy those. Through blogs I found a few more web sites that I have enjoyed.
Oh, you can get addicted to this internet!!!

Social Bookmarking

Okay, I truly do like this idea, but once again it was alot harder then I thought it would be. Kathy, you must think I am a total ditz!
I got the delicious account, I feel it will be a great and very useful tool and can't wait to add more to it but I have homework tonight!!!!

My delicious account is
delicious.com/mobbyrne

Not much there now at all - I just wanted to make sure I did not go crazy. I will add more sites to it soon.

Creating a podcast!

WOW!
Well, it took what feels like everyone I know, but really only the help of my daughter, Mary and my dear friend, Barb to help me get this thing on!
My first problem, having enough time to record the story I wanted to read. Barb helped me figure that out and then I could record the entire story. My sweet Mary helped me get it onto the podbean site because some of the wording was just not there!
Oh my, what an experience!

Podcasting

Listening to some podcasts makes me think about the old days of radio - what it must have been like to sit and just listen. I admit I can find myself drifting a little bit if I do not have a visual in front of me.
I listened to some fun, different podcasts. The ones recommended by Kathy - our Media Goddess - and some I found on Google.
One of my favorite sites is www.podbean.com/podcasts.
This had all kinds of podcasts to listen to.

If I use this medium in my web page next school year, the one thing I feel I need to do is keep it short. My goal is always to get parents and family members to come on the website and read it, so a shorter podcast may get better results for me. I'm interested in doing some "readers theatre" with my kindergarten students next year, and this will probably be the place to start. Before they get comfortable "reading" we will probably just do some acting out of a story they know well.

I'm excited, one more thing to try - I need more hours in the day!!!!