Web 3.0

Just when I thought I was finally catching on to the term Web2.0 - along comes Web3.0! Now, I'm a bit leary about jumping on the bandwagon with this one - for fear that Web4.0 is just around the corner - but I am willing to give it a try. I did some searching - in hopes of better understanding the concept - and came up with a video that left things clear as mud for me. The lingo seemed a bit complex for this beginner, but here it is in case you wish to give it a try . . .

Web 3.0 explained with a stamp (pt II: techniques)

View more presentations from Freek Bijl.

So, what does all this mean?

Well, from my understanding - Web2.0 allows the user to network, share, publish, participate and interact with others via numerous web-based tools and applications. Web3.0 (Web 3.0 = (4C + P + VS), on the other hand, is another term for a group of applications that will provide the user with more personalized information. Rather than the user searching out the product or information - the information can search out the user - kinda scary!

For those of you who know more about Web3.0 - am I on the right track?

Here is a video that help explain The Semantic Web. It is a bit long but it does provide a pretty good explanation . . .

Bridging the Gap

A wonderful thing happened this past week -- I had the opportunity to put a face to a name!

I attended part two of Dr. Mohammed's talk about PLCs in North Battleford and although I took much from his insights and interesting experiences, I took much more from the opportunity to meet people from the LaRonge cohort in person. I was pleasantly surprised when two handsome men approached me and introduced themselves as my classmates. I took a quick glance at their name tags and although I didn't immediately recognize them, I did manage to figure out that they were indeed the masterminds - Stephen and Guy! We made some small talk before they pulled me over to meet Ronelda and Jackie - which was another unexpected surprise. They continued to point out others at the conference who were from the 'north' and this feeling of total - I don't know - easiness washed over me. It sounds pretty corny, but, being the old-fashioned girl I am, I really enjoyed meeting these people 'in the flesh' to make them seem more 'real'. Although I did respond to their blogs in the past . . . I have asked Stephen for assistance on numerous occasions and received tons of support and encouragement from him recently . . . I still felt odd about 'chatting' with strangers during class. I feel more like I know them now and we'll see - maybe there will be a bit more interaction during the next Elluminate session.

I guess what I'm getting at is . . . yes, relationships can be built on line . . . but in my world, the F2F far outweighs this online presence. I understand the benefits of online connections - and the vast capabilities and possibilities - but I still enjoy making true contacts!

It was nice meeting you !!

Right On Track!

I've come so far is this short time that we've been gathering for this class. I think back to the first day when, to be perfectly honest, you scared the living daylights out of me with your big talk and mighty vocabulary! I feel like I've grown quite a bit since those days and I know my knowledge level has certainly increased as to what the world has to offer - technologically speaking! Don't get me wrong - it is only the tip of the iceberg that I have uncovered . . . but . . . a whole new world has opened up to me and now - my progress is in my hands! What I decide to do with this new information is up to me - will I quit the moment this class is finished - or will I venture out on my own and continue challenging myself?

My old, feeble mind never could have imagined all the possibilities available online. Ever so slowly, I find myself revealing more and more of myself to others and establishing online relationships and even more importantly - sharing! I greatly admire those, who upon finding new applications and tools, immediately share with others as opposed to guarding the new information as to elevate their individual 'smarts' status. I see the importance of helping one another. Frankly, I have enjoyed this open, giving and encouraging experience and am in disbelief at how guarded and individual I once was. I believe social networking IS here to stay and that the benefits ARE plentiful and that it is up to each one of us to ensure that we are supportive to those who reach out for help. Thanks for all the help many of you have given me though this experience!

Wow! Upon proofreading - I realize how sappy this sounds - but nonetheless - it is the truth!

Playing

Since tonight's class was all about our learning thus far in class, I thought I'd take some time to experiment with a few of the tools/applications discussed during the course. I'd like to share some of my experiments with you - in the hope that you may find a purpose for their use.


This photo was from The Hero Factory and I'm quite sure students would love to play with all the choices. Yep . . . the hero is supposed to be me - can you see the resemblance?








Here is yet another attempt at creating myself - in the likeliness of Homer Simpson - using ToonDoo. My personal opinion - wow - it takes a looong time to figure it out! I didn't find it overly user friendly - as a matter of fact - it frustrated me. Sad to admit - but I think I'll have to get an elementary kid to explain it to me! I hope you have better luck than me!

Now this was easy to use and fun! Switchzoo has a number of activities that would hold younger people's interest. I plan on using this when I teach a French unit on animals with the Grade 5s. There are even some pretty cool games that had me thinking!

Wordle is amazing! You can do so many neat projects with it! I highly recommend you trying it with your students - or even for yourself!

"We Have To Change . . . We Cannot Stand Still Any Longer"

Will Richardson's comment about change really resonated with me. I must face facts - I am not living in a stagnant society! It is rapidly changing, and if I don't keep up, I will find myself in, dare I say, great danger! I am problably one of the few people left doing my banking by phone . . . I have never used Ebay . . . I don't download my pictures from my digital camera myself . . . I have no idea what students are talking about when they tell me about the new gadgets they get for Christmas . . . I don't know how to set the alarm in my own home . . . I am completely out of touch with modern society!!

As a teacher, I am expected to 'model' and encourage the use of technology -- when I don't have a clue what I am doing! I am to engage students digitally, encourage global participation/interaction and create links to social networks. I am to update my personal skills and share my experiences with others. I am to grow from my mistakes and 'never stop learning'. As Angela stated, "teachers must be learners, actively adapting, adjusting and evolving." The traditional form of education is no longer adequate. I must prepare kids for the future they will realistically live in - which is not at all the future I envisioned us to be in!

I do, however, see myself moving in the right direction. Through this class, I see myself experimenting and enjoying learning. I feel the energy and confidence growing. I am at the point where I WANT to learn! I am willing to try new things in class and I know that my students will be supportive - I do, however, worry about parent perception - do they see the importance in technology? Are they supportive and do they model the use of technology in their home? Are they 'old school' in their views of education, and want their children to be sitting in rows at desks working page to page in textbooks? Where do they stand?

500 Million Dollars

As unbelievable as it may sound, perhaps now IS the time to jump on the bandwagon and start twittering. Apparantly, Facebook offered to purchase the search engine for $500,000,000.00 - now that's a lot of zeros!!! Check out this video that Donna located (and I found while stalking, oops, I mean lurking, on my yammer account).

Multitasking

The ability to effectively engage in numerous tasks at one time - something I thought I was totally incapable of - happened during Tuesday night's class!

I've always been the type to finish one project before moving on to the next - it gave me a sense of accomplishment or maybe pride is the word I am looking for - proud that I successfully completed a thought! I tend to get flustered when confronted with too many options or tasks at once. I did discover, however, during this week's session, that I can carry on more than one task at a time and be quite successful at it! I think about the students in my class and me, standing at the front -waiting for total eye contact before delivering my lesson. Maybe my class is paying attention, but in their own way -while doing something else! Dare I say, they are multitasking!

I found myself asking students lots of questions this week at school. I asked them about what I had just said or about what was going on on the other side of the room - and surprisingly - they had a pretty good grasp of all the actions taking place - and here I thought it was always just the teacher with eyes in the back of her head. I noticed this too in the computer lab at noon - students would be talking with their friends, working on the computer, and scribbling something down - all while music was blasting from their earbuds! Technology has enabled me to carry on multiple tasks. I do research, listen to my class, comment on blogs, write my own blog, follow the conversation in the chat room, and converse with my fiance. . . while still watching a batch of cookies in the oven! Technology has somewhat allowed me to do this . . . but sometimes I wonder if it is too much! Are all these jobs completed as efficiently?