pdZone

OK, over the past three years I have taken several courses. In that time, many of the edspeak buzzwords have been used (by myself as well as by others). I had to chuckle though when I read Joe Williams’ list of educational jargon and his suggestion of a corresponding beverage-related activity integrating these terms.

Some interesting thoughts on what teaching/learning is all about.

Here is a great idea for a little attention-getter to try to encourage reading for boys.

I am taking Edublogs for a test drive. Sure, it’s bleeding edge and there are some bugs to be sorted out, but it is still pretty smooth blogging. It’s through tools like this one (I began by using SchoolBlogs a couple of years ago) that teachers can gain experience in personal publishing and, ultimately, use it as a tool to enhance student learning.

Blogging – A year ago I couldn’t stand the word. It seemed rather pretentious and sort of faux-trendy – an attempt to take something unique and quirky and turn it into something hip and happenin’. I now look at blogging (yes, I can now bring myself to speak the word) as an opportunity for self-discovery. I recognize that the problem wasn’t with “blogging” being pretentious. Rather, there was some degree of geek-snobbery on my part. Live and learn…

I have used blog space for some rich personal PD. I have also used blog software for various tasks, including for a school web site and for an electronic portfolio for a course I took this past winter. I have been trying to get other teachers interested in blogging for the past year or so, with limited success. It is my hope that I can point them to Edublogs to get them started.

Thanks, Edublogs!

This is the first time I have seen this little item from Stephen Downes. Pretty slick!

I love this idea from Tim Lauer. While web communication is so simple (we use MT as well), the issue of Internet access is a problem for many of our families too. By culling items from the school blog and printing them in a hard-copy newsletter format, it may be possible to have it both ways. Now, if I can just get staff to start to post.