Thing #2 - Google Docs.

Google Docs has the potential to become one of my most beneficial tools in education.  I chose the lesson plan below to demonstrate this.  Two other teachers and myself have to collaborate on a math lesson.  We have been saving it and forwarding it by email for over two weeks.  Each one of us had to wait for the other to edit and email the new, saved document.  Google docs will now allow us immediate access to the current document, and therefore save us valuable time.
  Another aspect of Google Docs that will help my productivity is that I can now create and access my lesson plans on-line.  Unless I remember to save my files on my flash drive, currently I cannot work on, or revise them, at home. 

Thing #1 - Delcious

  http://www.delicious.com/mcquillan1

Delicious is an on-line bookmarking program that allows me to access my bookmarked web sites from any computer where internet is available.  Many times I have been at home researching for my class and found valuable web sites that I wanted to remember.  I would copy and paste them in an email and then send them to my school email.  Once back at school, I would save them on my school computer.  Delicious will help my productivity as I will no longer need to that.  I will be able to save and tag a web site, and then access it whenever, and wherever, I am on the internet.
  Another aspect of Delicious that will help with efficiency is that I will no longer have to find the sites after losing them when my computer at school is re-formatted each summer,  my home computer crashes, or I buy a new one.  All sites will be bookmarked on the internet and readily available.

Thing 1# - Shortcuts

  In this word document I used the following shorcuts:
First I used Copy C to copy the "Math", "Learning Targets", and "Materials".  Then I used Control V to paste them into each day.  Thirdly, I used Shift Tab to move my bullets.  I also played around with several other shortcuts such as Shift F3 to Uppercase some words, F7 for spell check, and F12 to Save.

  Using the shortcuts will help my productivity as it allows me to format my document using the keyboard.  It takes much less time and increases productivity if you aren't always reaching for the mouse. 

Blogging

  When I first thought about what makes a good blog, I thought it would change depending on what the author was trying to get across: travels, life-long journeys, education, opinions, book reviews, etc.  However, as I read several blogs in various subjects areas, I realized I was looking for the same qualities in all of them.
A good blog has a title that will catch your reader’s attention and make them want to read the blog.  It is also engaging in that it is not too wordy and keeps the reader's attention.  A third aspect of a good blog is that it makes a reader want to come back each time it is posted.  What it has to say should be interesting and laid out well so the readers will return. I also think that the layout should not be congested or have so much advertisement that it deters from what the author is saying.  The last aspect of a good blog, in my opinion, is that it allows for feedback from its readers.  A comment section is very important so the reader feels a connection and ability to respond to what the author is saying.

  Blogs could be used in many ways in the classroom.  Students could use blogs to comment on books read, student writings, math concepts, portfolios, research sharing, and a way of helping younger students to name few ways.  Blogs would also be a great way to formatively assess students in different subject areas.  Another use of blogs in the school would be teacher/parent communication.  Daily or weekly postings by the teacher would inform parents of happenings and anecdotes from the classroom.

  Blogs are definitely an easier way for people to self-publish.   I have a nephew who blogs movie reviews.  He is great at it, but at his age he would probably never have an audience if it weren’t for blogs.  Whether it is book reviews, personal opinions on subject matters, or a budding author, blogging provides an audience that wasn’t once available. 

What Have I Done?

Today was our first day of  "21 Things" and I ask myself, "What Have I Done?"  Although  I am excited for the class as I love learning new things in technology, I wonder if I will be able to accomplish all the tasks required.  Our instructor is amazing.  He adds humor to his instruction, lets us play around while he is talking, AND he might read this, so I'm trying to get on his good side early.
I hope to take many new ideas away from this class.  Specifically, Wiki's, Moodle, and Blogging.  So, let the good times begin.