Beach bum!

I headed out to Myrtle this week for fun, sun, and tennis with the family.  In this virtual world, you don't get (nor do you really want) a break from teaching and learning.  I was able to catch up with the blogs I follow using my Google Reader app and my Android phone.  I used the wireless internet to complete and submit a reflection to my online EdS course.  I even cracked open Water for Elephants using the Barnes and Noble Nook Android app for my phone.  In fact, I drafted this blog post using the Blogger app on my phone.  What an amazing time that we live in!

Want to stay productive (or not so much...)?  Here are ten FREE apps to take to the beach with you:

1. Google Reader -collects your RSS feeds to your phone
2. Google Docs -mobile apps let's you read and edit documents.  Using Word?  You can easily upload your document to Google Docs and use your phone to edit and share.
3. Blogger -allows you to compose and edit your Blogger posts.
4. Hootsuite -collects all your social media to one interface.  I can read and post to multiple Twitter and Facebook accounts from one place.
5. Pandora -stream digital radio and music to your phone for free
6. The Weather Channel -check the weather and forecast anytime, anywhere
7. Nook -read your e-books on your phone
8. Google Voice -have voicemail sent as text to your phone.  Then listen or text replies.  Can even forward calls from any nimber to your cell or Google Voicemail.  Did I mentions it's free?
9. Google Maps -use the places feature to find top rated local restaurants and other activities.  Read user ratings to find the best of the beach!  We used this app to find Dagwood's Deli in downtown Myrtle.  What a find!
10. Wordle -spelling and reading game that the entire family can play together at the pool, in the restaurant or in the car.  Great way to build vocabulary.  Comes in international versions in other languages.

Way to Think

@Professional Development

During the summer PLS for Georgia Virtual School, the key note speaker, Byron Garrett, spoke about how we needed to change schools.  I asked him, pointedly, what his vision of the ideal classroom is.  He said that he would need to think about it.

I'm amazed at how quickly reformers will jump to criticize, but no one puts forth any suggestions or vision.  I found an interesting presentation by Sir Ken Robinson via twitter on divergent thinking.  I want to further investigate this line of reform.

It's difficult to imagine what this new paradigm is.  How do teachers who were educated in the old, industrial age format teach with these new tools and methods?   

I've heard a lot about project based teaching and learning.  I have spent some time reading about designing project based lessons.  I'm even attending a workshop on project based education at Discovery.com.  

I don't really detect anything revolutionary about this line of instruction.  I see the value in simulating "real world" situations, but I think many educators are missing an opportunity to teach higher order thinking.  Integrating Bloom's Digital Taxonomy into these lessons may more fully align with Sir Ken Robinson's vision of a new educational system.  It's not just WHAT we do in our classrooms; it's HOW we teach in our classrooms that will lead to real change.

@Learning

In my Atomic Learning class at Valdosta State University, I finished the Atomic Learning workshop on using Blogger.  As reflected in the changes to my blog.  I learned a lot about Google's blogger tools.  Here's my reflection:

Reflection on Blogging Workshop

One of my uses for this blog is to reflect on what I am learning and store ideas for future reference.  I found a Prezi that presents some reflective questions based on Bloom's Revised Taxonomy that I will use.  See:

The Reflective School by Peter Pappas on Prezi

Next, I'm learning how to use Adobe Connect.  Adobe Connect is a meeting software that the Georgia Virtual School will be using in the Spring of 2012.  In the past, I've used Elluminate to conduct live, on-line lessons with my students.  Adobe Connect is superior to Elluminate in that it offers tools that are slightly easier to use and the pod interface gives users more choice in how they interact with the meeting content.  For example, students can participate in the chat or watch a video.  It's their choice, depending which pods the host or presenter has offered.  As far as the white board presentation pod is concerned, I don't see much of a difference between the two products.  I understand that there may be some advantages to how Adobe Connect meetings are recorded and stored, but I haven't finished the training just yet.  Look for more updates next week.

@Home

We've almost finished the blessed playground project.  We put on the clubhouse roof and mounted the swing beam.  We've even hung the swings.  Davin and I ran into a little trouble with the glider.  The metal brackets for the glider have one whole in the bottom of the bracket.  We need to insert the hook and screw on the bolt INSIDE the bracket.  We've not had any luck so far, but I found a pointed nose (terminology?) wrench that I think will hold the bolt in place so that we can tighten it.  We also need to place the pole for the slide, dig a whole, and cement in the pole.  I'm beyond nervous about the cement.  I've never worked with it before.

@Athletics

I'm feeling like a "fatty, fatty, bumble-atty."  All of my workouts have been limited to tennis.  I have started a singles league.  I lost my first match 1-6, 6-4, 6-10.  I played well but am having a lot of trouble seeing the ball at the net.  I don't know if this is a matter of focus or some physical limitation.  I'm really going to focus on watching the ball leave my opponents racket and hit the strings (hopefully) of mine.

I'm desperately trying to "dig deep" and find some inspiration to get my bottom out of bed early enough to beat the heat and get in a run.  Mornings are just tough for me.  I'm not much use until I get some java in my system.  I've set my night stand app to sound the bird singing alarm at 6:30 am, but so far, all I've done is hit snooze.  I need some motivation.

Everything old is new again!

@Learning
You may notice the new, retro look-and-feel for my blog. I'm taking a workshop on using Blogger in my Atomic Learning class. I'm learning to use the more advanced features of the web 2.0 tool. I found some amazing, free backgrounds at the Cutest Blog on the Block.  There are so many great backgrounds that I may have to change things up more often.

I also added my twitter feeds from Abbagej and MadamAbigail.  My feeds have been much easier to use and follow since I started using Hootsuite, a free web tool to manage social networking.

@Athletics

Annakin

Davin and I have progressed from denial to resignation.  Yes, we are going to run the inaugural Savannah Rock and Roll Marathon on November 5.  Davin has started running some short distances and I have started walking again.

Madie

Madie, our Australian Shepperd, earned me some harsh words in our last visit to the vet.  She's about 10 pounds over weight.  I've started walking Annakin two miles and Madie one mile this week.  Next week, I hope to start running with Annakin and walking off the lactic acid with Madie.  Baby steps!

My USTA 3.5 women's team is hanging in the middle of the pack.  We lost one of our best players to twins (women!), but we've all stepped up our game.  My goals is to qualify for playoffs (bonus rounds!).

Our mixed ALTA team at B5 is doing really well.  We are undefeated so far and playing the last place team this Saturday.  We're tied for second and looking good for our move to first place next week.  Maybe I'll get another ALTA bag tag, finally.

@Home

I've gotten myself into all sorts of trouble.  My thought was that I would get Trey a great jungle gym so that I could sit in the shade and do work while he wore himself out all summer long.  There have been a few quirks in the plan:

1. It took FOREVER for the darn thing to be delivered.
2. I thought that I'd hire someone to build the thing.  Yea...well...the estimate came in at $1,000.  That's more than the playground cost.
3. I'm now inventorying all the parts so that I can put the swing set together with help from Davin and our neighbor, an engineer.  It took an hour yesterday to take stock on box one of four.  Seriously?

The bottom line:  Wish me luck!

Summer learning, had me a blast!

Summer is hot and so is my personal growth. Corny I know, but accurate. I am having an amazing summer of learning. Check out some of the things I've been doing.

@Professional
June 16 and 17th, I attended the Georgia Virtual School Summer 2011 Professional Learning Symposium. I learned to use some great tools and about some great practices. Check out my live binder of sites and tools:
http://livebinders.com/play/present?id=123636

I also presented on using Screenr in the virtual classroom to leave feedback and personalize communication with students.

Using screenr in the virtual classroom

View more presentations from Abigail Jackson

@Learning
I started my first class at Valdosta for my EdS in Instructional Technology. I'm taking a course entitle "Atomic Learning". Essentially, I get to pick three software packages or online services that I will study and learn to use. For my first lesson, I selected GarageBand which is a phenomenally easy to use product. Read my reflection for more information.

AAJ Workshop 1 Reflection

I do plan to complete another lesson which is not required. Because GarageBand is a MAC specific product, and I have PC, I will need to learn to use Audacity to make pod casts. I'm also exploring using my I-pad to produce pod casts for use my classroom.


@Home
We finished our back patio. It is beautiful. I hung my hammock swing that I have stored since Davin John got married in Mexico, six years ago. It is so worth it!

Trey's new playground (http://www.target.com/Adventure-Playsets-Patriot-Wooden-Swing/dp/B003XECGQG/ref=huc_ic_2_pn) arrived yesterday. We'll be hiring someone to assemble it, because I want to stay married. Trey and I are both so excited and are planning a "break in the playground" soiree!

I also finished working on the front porch. I bought some really pretty wicker furniture for the front porch, two fabulous 4 foot high urns, and an outdoor rug. It's lovely. I feel like I am in the islands.

For father's day, I bought two wireless speakers. I plan to make a marvelous diner for my family, sit on my patio, and listen to my favorite music.

@Athletics
My women's 3.0 USTA team finished 2nd in the state championship last month. It was an awesome weekend with good friends and amazing tennis.

We have started the summer 3.5 season. We lost our first match 2-3, but our opponents lost the following week and we took five lines. We are now in second place in the division. We are still in it and I am looking for another fence sign!

Spring forward

The days are getting longer and brighter.   This Spring Break has been a nice taste of the summer to come.  Longer days mean more opportunities to make things happen.   I’ve got big plans!

@Professional

I’ve been using a contact management web tool , www.verticalresponse.com, to contact parents, students and facilitators via e-mail.  Amongst its many great features, I particularly like the data on how many recipients not only opened the e-mail, but how many clicked on any of the embedded links.  On average, only 4 out of 40 students are even opening up the e-mail.  I would venture that this might have some correlation to the dismal grades this semester.

In my most recent e-mail, I used live binder (www.livebinders.com) to create a collection of websites as a resource for improving French students’ pronunciation.  I provided details about how to use each site to listen to native speakers.  To make things even easier and convenient, I create a QR.  Students can take a picture of the QR with their phones.  The phones will automatically take them to the livebinder (http://livebinders.com/play/present?id=88228) of pronunciation resources.  They can then book mark the folder or send the URL to their e-mail address for later use.

Within the course itself, I used Google maps to help student make a virtual, street view of Notre Dame.  As differentiation for the “My Visit to Paris Unit”, I invited student to tour Notre Dame using Google maps and poised several questions.  Student can choose from three of the five following questions and post their thoughts in our discussion forum.   I tried to create thought provoking, higher order questions and discussions.

1. What three facts can you compile about the church just from your Google map tour?
2. How would you change the design of this historic church?
3. What judgments would you make about how and when this church was built?
4. How would you prioritize your tour of the church?  What would you look at and why?
5. How would you evaluate the construction of this church from an artistic and architectural point of view?

On Tuesday 4/14, I attended a Google sponsored webinar on using Google maps for education purposes.  They demonstrated how to create personal maps and to customize those maps.  You can add points to the map and insert new descriptions, video, pictures, and maybe even audio.  You can also create a virtual, street level walk.  I was thinking of using this as an option and sample for the student's Paris blog project in Chapter 9 of my French 2 class at GAVS.

@Home

I am enjoying time with Trey.  I am planning a back yard make over with patio, fire pit and play area for Trey.  He needs to be able to go out back and play in the sunshine on slides and swings.

We are expecting dad in town this weekend.  We are going to Braves-Phillies game.  I love visits with Dad to renew bonds, but am sure to be the butt of much teasing.

I am going in for minor outpatient surgery in a few weeks so trying to make lots of freezer meals for the boys.  While I love the warm weather, most of my freezer meals are cold weather food.  I hope that we get one more cold blast.

@Athletics

I am playing way too much tennis.  I should make other things, like housework, a priority.  However, I get outside and burn some calories.  I am definitely in good shape and loving it.

Ground strokes are coming along nicely.  I am getting more pace, spin, and depth on both forehand and backhand.  First serve is going long a lot.  My second serve is a disaster.  No one wants to play doubles with me because they are getting pegged at the net. I am working on the kick serve for the second.  I hope it come along a little more quickly.

Davin and I are talking about doing the rock and roll marathon in Savannah on November 5.  That means I’m going to have to start running again.  It’s been almost a year since I was following a regular training plan.  Think I can get Trey to ride his bike on the greenway while I run on most mornings this summer.  We’ll need to get into a good pattern.  I am going to be sore.