1. I registered for Learnport this summer when I took an on line class, Teaching Smarter w/SmartBoards. I like the what Learnport offers by being able to take classes on line for credit. The class was very useful and beneficial. New information and assignments were posted on Wednesdays and Fridays. I was able to complete the class without the stress of the school year and I even was able to complete some of the tasks while I was on vacation away from home.
2. I signed up for Twitter:
I have been wanting to sign up for sometime now, however, I don't currently have a Smartphone. I am researching phones and can't decide between an IPhone or an Android phone from Sprint. I know that there are many ways that I could use Twitter at school and I know at least a few of my students also have Twitter accounts. I read last year how the middle school in Comstock Park was using Twitter as their homework hotline. We currently have a homework hotline and we send out a "blast" on Thursdays to our parents, but only currently for the 7th grade parents. I think that I would like to be able to use Twitter to send out an "immediate" notice of an assignment, meaning, right when an assignment is assigned, versus waiting until the end of the day or Thursday to send out a "blast". Although I am also hesitant of TMI, and afraid that all of this instant information and access might be more harm than good in the long run, because I am concerned that it takes too much of the responsibility away from the student. The assignment notebook is almost obsolete. I also know that I can use Twitter to stay connected or to get connected to Professional Learning Networks. I know that I just need to start getting my feet wet and get more immersed with social networking. I am not on Facebook, and I think I am the only one in my family and one of the few remaining not on Facebook, and I am not sure that I am really interested in joining. I know there can be good uses for Facebook, but I think I would rather experiment w/Twitter.
3. I also joined MACUL Space and I registered for MACUL as well. I have been interested in joining and I would like to go to the conference in the spring, however, I think that the conference falls at the same time as our spring conferences at school. At least one other teacher in our building is a MACUL member and she spoke very highly of the conference last year. Adding more "tools" to the toolbox and increasing my professional learning network cannot be a bad thing to stay informed.
4. I joined MACUL, $40 membership fee, and I also looked at TWICE. I thought the TWICE sight said it was free for a single membership and $200 for a site or school. I am not sure if the free membership allows the member the benefit of actually being able to participate in a "two way" conference. I have looked into having a "guest" teacher in science through another online sight that I found, and I think by using Skype, I could accomplish some of the same goals that TWICE offers. MACUL on the other hand seems to offer much more benefits and useful classroom resources and a wider range of resources. I am honestly not sure what unique skills that I could offer or contribute, since I always more amazed by what others are doing than myself.
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