Dropbox

    Okay, after a lengthy hiatus, I have finally returned to the tasks (thank you for being over, AP Exam!). I just set up my account with Dropbox, and unfortunately, I wish I had done it at home first; I have a feeling it would have been easier, and I would have the emails for friends I would invite to join--I assume everyone here, or at least those who would be interested, know about it through this BBI work.
    Anyway, it was not difficult to set it up on this computer, but it is an ancient machine, and it took much longer than I expected. Once it had loaded on the computer, it was quite simple to transfer files to the folder, though I must say that it was a bit disconcerting when the folders disappeared from my documents folder--I like knowing where my files are. However, the new folder is even easier to find, and it shows up under my folders when I open a Word document, so all is good. I just have a few questions about adding files from home, which I plan to do later today. Will Dropbox merge folders and files with the same titles? Most of the files I would add from home are the same as the ones here, so I'm not sure that I would need to add many. I am just curious what will happen when I accidentally add a file that is already in Dropbox. I guess I will find out.
    This seems like it will be a handy tool to have at my disposal, even though I doubt I will use it as often as others (I don't use any mobile devices). On the other hand, it will be nice not having to use my flash drive, and if I do need something while out of town, I'm sure I could locate a computer if I had to. Overall, I look forward to trying it out more next year.

Google Site

    Well, this is a bit out of order, as I have not had the chance to check out all the options with Google docs, but I already have a site. For those without a site yet, it is WELL worth creating and using. I created one last year as part of my Professional Certification process, and I have used it extensively ever since. It is quite simple to create, and the benefits have been excellent.
    Primarily, I use a calendar and list of major assignments for each class. If  students lose their reading schedules, they can find the day-by-day break-down on my calendar or a copy of the paper schedule I handed out. The same goes for any essay assignment, sample paragraph/introduction for an essay, or list of vocabulary. I have these organized by title of the text, and the students have found it easy to use. I would love to move entirely away from handing out paper copies of these documents, but I still have students without computer access at home, so I am trying to strike a balance (only hand out paper copies of some assignments to students without home access). This equity issue also has hindered me from posting all the daily work on the site, but I do hope to move more toward that in the near future.
    In fact, that is probably the only disadvantage to the site: equal access. It has been great to see students utilizing the site while working on essays in a computer lab--I often see them checking the assignment on screen to make sure they are staying on prompt and covering the requirements--but I can't think of an efficient way for students to get the work they missed from an absence if they have to check my webpage; I keep a written log in my room, and they can check that when they return. While it would be great to have it on the site, as well, so they could check it before they return, I just don't have much confidence that it would be worth the time. These are often students without home access or who don't check what they missed when they return anyway, so I feel like it would be one more thing that takes up my already limited time without a huge benefit for students. Anyway, I would love to hear some thoughts about that. Otherwise, the site has had an extremely positive impact on my instruction.  

Edmodo

    I am excited to use Edmodo, even though I have not figured out exactly how I am going to use it. I know I will utilize elements for class discussions, and I am fairly certain that I also will use it to lighten my load with student notebooks for their daily work--I am really sick of dragging home shopping bags full of notebooks every weekend. As of now, I am leaning toward having students post one or two of their notebook responses each week in a discussion forum; they will be expected to post and respond to other posts. This will leave them a bit more freedom on what responses they have graded, and they will be able to see--and comment on--responses from some students who do not often share in class. Hopefully, this will bring those shy students more into the community of the class.
    I know there will be other applications as I become more familiar with the site, but my initial goal is to alleviate that load of notebooks. (I will still have students respond in notebooks; I just don't want to drag them home and grade everything they have written anymore. It is often enjoyable, but it is extremely time-consuming.) If anyone else has suggestions along these lines, please feel free to throw them my way. And Sam, I know you have some ideas; I would love to talk about them sometime in the near future.

Reflection on Customizing

    I rather enjoyed customizing my blog--and there will be more changes in the near future--but I did struggle with a few things. I found two gadgets that I wanted to add (instead of the fish), but I could not figure out how. Essentially, there was only an option to add it to my Google homepage, not blog. My experience with this sort of technology is not extensive, but I do have a Google Site, so much of it appears to be similar to changing my site. However, I have never added gadgets to my site, so this one eluded me. On the other hand, adding the "fish" gadget was simple, so maybe there is not a way to add those others to my blog. Sam, we'll talk soon.
    My technological confidence has been growing recently, though it was never as low as people think. (For some reason, because I CHOOSE not to have a cell phone, people assume I am a technological troglodite--thank you, Chris Michel, for that great term.) I am generally comfortable with computers, and this comfort is continuing to grow. In fact, I greatly look forward to creating an Edmodo account, as I think that will be extremely useful in my classes. As for the blog, other than posting assignments, work students miss if they are absent, or general announcements, it does not seem as useful for classes. Again, Sam, we'll talk.

2009 Graduation Speech

I struggled a bit in figuring out what video to post. After rejecting several clips from The Simpsons, Corner Gas, and Seinfeld, I decided on something different. While this feels a bit like "self-promotion," I do not want it to be that. It just seems like this video covers much of what I believe about education, so it seemed appropriate for this blog.

Inaugural Post

    My first thought after watching Thomas's video was, "Wow, what was I doing when I was twelve?" Sadly, it was nothing nearly as productive as that. However, his statement about students knowing more about technology than their teachers rings painfully true to many teachers, and I am looking forward to drawing within striking distance of my students' current knowledge and understanding.
    Perhaps what excites me most about integrating more technology into my instruction is more related to waste than "getting up to speed" with my students. Every time I run off several hundred copies, a small part of me (and a small forest) dies. I really want to move, as much as possible, toward a paperless classroom. While it might not be possible to go completely paperless due to some classes--AP exam preparation and such--I want to come as close as possible. This also will bring me more in line with the knowledge I will need to use newer technologies and easily adapt to the even newer ones constantly being created.
    All of these considerations come back to one ultimate goal: helping students to be successful. I find it difficult to imagine how one can teach a student valuable information--and ways to acquire new information--when the student knows more about the subject than the teacher. By increasing my understanding and use of technology in my classroom, I hope to become a much more effective educator.