BLOG+PROMPTS++--++Things+to+think+on



Blog #1 Week of February 14-20 Respond by Saturday (20th) - Midnight
 * After being sent on a quest to find out a bit about the tools that you may likely encounter in a 21st Century classroom, what are some of the thoughts, feelings, apprehensions, or concerns you may have at this point? Which one of the tools seems most overwhelming or unrelated to a classroom setting? Why do you think so? Which one of the tools seems most intriguing to you and at this point, how can you imagine using it in your own teaching? **

Blog #2 Weeks of February 21-March 6 Respond by Tuesday (9th) - Midnight
 * So, we have been introduced to three very powerful but potentially overwhelming technology tools. We not only created own, personalized "spaces" but then had the opportunity to take at one anothers' creations. What I would like you to consider for this blog is which resources and instructional strategies helped you to gain a better understanding of the tools and their role in this class? In addition, please consider why you believe it was most effective? What does this tell you about the challenges of teaching your own students to use these tools, in a classroom setting? **

Blog #3 Week of March 8-March 13 Respond by Saturday (13th) - Midnight ** After using these tools for a little longer and applying what we discussed in class, how do you think these tools relate to the concept of a 21st Century classroom, so far? What types of instructional applications do you think you might consider, for your own teaching? Please give an example or two. **

Blog #4 Week of March 22-March 27 Respond by Saturday (27th) - Midnight ** Having been introduced to several open source, online applications for presentation, collaboration, and publication, and having an opportunity to research and explore them further, which one(s) do you think you will be using to complete your group assignment for this class? What made this tool(s) more appealing to you? Was there anything about the other options that stood out to you? As of now, what are your general plans for using your technology tool? Did you prefer to make your decision about these various options to try them out in more exploratory manner? Why or why not? **

Blog #5 Week of March 28 -April 4 Respond by Saturday (4th) - Midnight ** At the beginning of this technology "adventure" you were asked to go in search of basic information concerning some critical terminology. The list included concepts such as "the 21st century classroom," Web 2.0, RSS Feeds, Blogs, Wikis, and Open Source applications. After many weeks of exploring, learning, fighting with (in some cases:), and applying technologies that are relevant to these concepts, please consider the following: Which of concepts seems most urgent to learn about, despite the challenges you encountered? Which application(s) in a real-world classroom can you imagine or foresee using? Do you feel you have a more informed perspective of the expectations you face, when meeting the ever-growing technology standards being imposed on public education? In retrospect, do you feel that your initial responses to our first survey will vary a great deal or remain relatively the same? What do you feel is the best information you are taking away from this experience with new tools and technology? Did you learn anything about yourself as a "learner"? If so, what? **