Getting Things Done

I LOVE "To Do" lists. So when I found out this was about to-do lists, I was elated! The "Getting Things Done" workflow process includes 5 steps: collect, process, organize, review and do.

I have a list for things to get done at school, a list for things to get done for MSU, a list of things to get done around the house and a list of errands. I love to do lists and I am constantly making them and updating them. I usually stick to a pencil-paper method. Occasionally I will use my iphone notepad or the stickies application on my computer to help organize me- but I mainly stick to pencil and paper. So as I read about Getting Things Done and started the process, I realized that, I do this a lot. But for this assignment, I really sat down to think about all my tasks.

As I thought of tasks to put in my "inbox" to help clear my mind, I found myself constantly thinking of things that I can do this moment to things I would like to do this summer. It was a bit overwhelming writing everything down, but once I got it all down, I felt a bit relieved. As I moved on to the process stage, I was able to filter my tasks into those that needed be to done right away to those that can be put off until a later date. It was actually the organization part where I started to feel overwhelmed again. I slowly broke my list down into when my task needed to be accomplished. Then, I separated my tasks into Liberty, MSU, and Home. I also noted which tasks I can complete on my own and which ones I will need the assistance of my husband.

I review my lists daily making sure that I have accomplished what needed to be accomplished and check off any tasks I may have completed ahead of time (usually very unlikely). I also take that time to look at the tasks for the upcoming day. One of my favorite parts of the "do" step is a sense of accomplishment and getting to cross something off the list. I look forward to my continue use of this process. And while I really like the idea of a software program to help me do this, I have this odd obsession with writing things down.

Social Networking

I have to admit, my mother would make fun of me for the fact that she is on Twitter and I had NO clue how it even worked. My brother, an entrepreneur, is always asking me to sign up for the latest social networking thing, and of course I do, to make him happy. But I have never really thought much of them, until now. This class has opened my eyes to so many resources that I joined and became a part of but never used.

Social Networking is such a neat tool. It can be used for almost everything and anything. It can be used to build a business, make friends, show off talent, or share opinions. Social networking is not only for adults and teens it is also for kids! As an elementary school teacher, I found this amazing. I really enjoyed the article "Social Networking Goes to School" by Michelle R. Davis. In the article she commented on how children are using webkinz and interacting with other children, that it only "makes sense to engage them this way". I completely agree. However, nothing is ever that easy. To begin with, many children in low socio-economic areas do not have access to computers and the internet. Another hurdle to jump, which Michelle mentions in the article, is that many schools ban websites such as facebook, twitter, and other social networking sites. I see both the pros and cons of both sides. Which is another reason I have come to love blogs. Blogs can be safe, easy and effective. They can also give you "nearly real-time" answers and allow you to interact with others. I believe that a school or classroom could have a facebook page to allow parents and students alike to comment and share ideas and opinions. There are just so many options, such as edmodo, that are out there, but I have yet to research or even come across.

Social Networking is an integral part of my life. I would like to say that it isn't, but i would be lying. I moved from Michigan to Tennessee and I keep in contact with many people on Facebook. I think it is a wonderful tool to keep in contact with your friends and family. I no longer document every second of my life (as i did when I was in high school when FB originated) but I do like to make some comments as well as comment on the lives of others. As a professional, I believe there are other sites to join. I liked LinkedIn as a site for professionals sharing and collaborating. I could also see myself using Ning in the future. I am a creature of habit and when i find something i like and know how to use, it is difficult for me to venture off to the unknown.

My Personal Learning Network- Glogster

Glogster- what a neat website. I cannot wait to share this site with my colleagues. Regardless of the topic, this site allows you to create a virtual poster. You can do so much with this site- such as creating a culminating activity in which the students must create a poster based on the information that was learned. I can't wait to share my new found technology!

RSS What??

Here is a snapshot of my RSS choice feeds page.   I started off not even understanding what RSS stood for let alone what it was and how it worked.  However, thirty minutes later, I was out of control finding tons of websites that I wanted to add to my feeds.  I was sorting my feeds, creating tabs and finally grasping what RSS is all about.  I have to say, I love it!


After finding many relevant teaching sites and technology integration sites, I began to look for blogs.  I searched for a blog that interested me and that I would enjoy following and reading.  I finally came across: Langwitches Blog: The Magic of Learning.  I was excited to get started reading and commenting.  


It was actually the first post that caught my attention.  It was titled, "Unpack, Upgrade and Bring your Lesson into the 21st Century".  The posts comments on how it is not always necessary to use the "latest tech tool" but rather making sure that technology is correctly incorporated and fits into the unit rather than the unit fitting into the technology.  The site also provided wonderful resources to help a teacher get organized on the various media that can be used in the unit.  Click here to check out the templates. I made sure to thank them for sharing these files in my comment.  It makes it a lot easier to understand and follow through with a visual! 


Once I understood how the RSS feeds worked, I tracked the websites regularly.  I really enjoyed seeing all the new updates in one window as opposed to traveling to all the websites individually.  It was nice to see the updates and choose which post or article to read.  The Technology Made Simple site, it talked about voicethread.  It was great to see voicethread done with older students in a totally different context than what I had learned.  I came across such great ideas to build on top of the ones I already have.  


As I followed my feeds over the course of several days, I noticed that many of the blogs and websites were not updated daily.  There were days if not weeks in between posts.  However, even though there may have not been new posts, at times there were new comments.  Certain websites like the NPR: Education are updated almost daily.  Once again, I enjoy that i can see the topics and decide whether or not I want to visit the website and read the article.  (Yes, I judge a book by it's cover and an article by it's title.) 


The more I used my RSS page, the more I liked it.  The plethora of information from the various sites leaves me with endless reading and learning.  But this site can also be used for entertainment, such as keeping up with the latest gossip, news, and weather (and even my horoscope).  I can definitely see myself using this page well after this class is over.  Thank you for introducing me to RSS! 

Education World ® Technology Center: Technology Integration Made Easy

Education World ® Technology Center: Technology Integration Made Easy
"Included nearly 20 activities with 50 websites"
Check out this link! It gives some great ideas for integrating technology in the classroom.  Most are simple ideas which makes them great for those just beginning the integration.  Also, for the more advanced, it lists some wonderful websites to enhance your teaching or even to put in centers to allow students to explore.

Blogs vs Traditional Webpages

Prior to this assignment, I was not into blogging and all that it entailed.  I believed that traditional web pages were the way to get information on the Internet.  I considered them to contain “accurate” information while blogs are based on opinions.  However, I was pleasantly surprised to learn otherwise. 

One unique feature of a blog is that it allows people to communicate and share thoughts and ideas.  Blogs are not always opinions, many blogs also include research based facts and information such as a blog about cooking or a blog on autism.  The unique feature of being about to comment and carry on a conversation is what really set blogs apart.  Also, blogs give off a more personal feel to them, which I believe helps the flow of communication. 

Similar to a blog, traditional webpages contain information, factual or not, they contain some sort of information.  Traditional webpages do not usually lend themselves to communicating with their readers.  However, as I traveled from msnbc.com to espn.com to dsw.com, I realized that I am able share my comments, thoughts and ideas.  But it was not always like this.  It seems more traditional webpages have been conforming and opening up their site to communication.  However, there are still some webpages, such as msu.edu, that have the traditional feel of strictly information without others thoughts and opinions.