Trial and Error

Last week, I thought for my class, let's change it up and take our weekly selection test on the computer!  I had learned how to use google docs and had done a small 3 question practice test on Groundhog Day, which worked great!  I wanted to create motivation and interest by using computers, because I know my students love technology.

So I took the time to type in the questions into google docs and test it out.  I even spent an hour trying to upload a graphic image.  I also found out how to score the multiple choice section automatically.  On Friday, the kids were all excited to use the computers to take the test.  When my quick finishers got to the end of the test, the submit button was un-clickable!  I made sure they had answered all the questions and still they were unable to click submit.  The rest of the class was starting to finish as well, and they couldn't click either!  Needless to say, my experiment went awry. I still don't know why the submit button wasn't working.  I tried to search it out on google docs help sight, and I couldn't find the answer.

I won't stop trying to use tech, but I'll do further testing next time!

On a positive note, I upgraded my class edublog to pro!  I wanted to upload some video's of my reader's theater that my kids were doing last week, and it wouldn't let me otherwise.  I love it.  I'm getting very techie!

Thanks to my PLN, I also learned about hootsuite where I could load in my twitter account and facebook account so I wouldn't have to open up 4 programs every time I'm on the computer.  That PLN... so helpful!

Inspiration

I have spent all my free time this weekend on Twitter, clicking the links and learning something new each time.  I have joined 3 ning sites, and found an inspirational video about technology in education.



I want to be able to share all my information that I've learned with my teacher friends at school.  I want to show them the resources that they can access through twitter, diigo, and Classroom 2.0.  Who was the first one on their campus to introduce PLNs to the faculty and how was it recieved?  I need ideas!

Ways I'm extending my PLN

I'm still new at this, but I'm growing my PLN with Twitter, blogs, and wiki pages.  I have a few favorites and I'll add more as I go. 

Wiki Page I have signed up on:
http://twitter4teachers.pbworks.com/

Education blogs I follow:
Larry Ferlazzo's Website of the day...
Free Technology for Teachers
The Pursuit of Technology Integration Happiness
I'm loving that last blog.  His 100th post I wish I had written, because I feel the same way, here it is:
100th Post -The growth of my PLN

My first reflection

I'm obsessed. My friends all think I'm obsessed too. I want to learn everything I can about how to use technology in the classroom today ~ and then use it today. I'm hoping that I'm not doing too many new things with the kids now. Each day I come into the classroom and say, "Hey kids, look what we can do on the computer!"

But it's got to be good, right? They are interested, and say how cool the activities are.

Today I introduced Kidsblog. Where the class can comment on my posts and make their own posts for the class to read. I like that it's private for the classroom, yet it was simple to set up. It was cool to see the excitement when I told the kids that they could create their own blog post. My girls said "Really??" Later, I saw posts about dolphins and horses. They are writing and spelling and I'm pretty impressed with what I saw.

Well, I'll be reflecting on my new found knowledge, and looking for others who share my obsession with this (new to me) technology network of ideas that I have found with blogging and reading blogs.