Delicious, Wikis, Blogs! Oh My!

Classes are getting bigger every day! Today we met in Media Center - Lab B.

This was the class for which Jerry Reath had been waiting because he is really chomping at the bit to use blogs in his classroom. He said that he intends to use it to encourage discussion about current events. You could see him working out just how blogs would work and how he would administer the process. He had questions and concerns about kids' "colloquialisms".

We have a Computer Acceptable Use Policy published in the Student Handbook that can and has been enforced, so it just needs to be addressed during the introduction of the technology, monitored and enforced by the teacher. I mentioned that technology is front-end loaded work for the teacher but it pays off in the end.

We discussed the overuse of technology in classrooms and the students' "been there - done that" attitude but kids are really comfortable with the process. We just need to apply it creatively.

Kelly Rupp was in the process of linking her blog and wiki to her Moodle account. We have access to Moodle and I will be getting accounts for any teacher who is interested in the process. You will be able to link your Moodle account from your staff web page. KOOL!

Threse left today on technology overload as has everyone, but the afternoon was really quiet. We met one of the new English Teachers, Kim Pavlick, who has just moved to the area and is still unpacking. She will be part of the Man/Tran Academy and is located in room 3116 next to Kris Karpulk. Jeremy Smith joined us as well and he and Kelly, his co-teacher, worked on their Moodle account some more. When everyone left, it was very quiet in the Media Center overall. Gosh! I so like noise!

I'm going to get some SD cards for the cameras that we will use on Monday. This will avoid the communications problems that we experienced on Thursday night. Like I said before, sometimes you need to be able to dance in the classroom!