Did you ever want to get something done so badly, that you rushed through it? Or get so caught up in what you were doing, that you forgot what it is that you started out to do? That is exactly what happened to me with Assignment Number 2.
I was reading Leeners postings and realized that in my excitment on learning how to hyperlink, I linked everything BUT blogs. I also forgot to comment on how hyperlinks can enhance or distract from a reading. Like many of my fellow travellers, I tend to read the entire posting and then go back to check out the links. But, I recognize the advantage of hyperlinks for our students and people new to a subject area. Providing definitions is a great way to enhance understanding. A link to a video may bring the reader's background knowledge up to where it needs to be - so that he or she has a point of reference to build on. As for distracting from the learning, hyperlinks, if not chosen carefully, can take the reader off on a tangent and far from the intended learning goals. (I've learned that!) But they sure can be fun!
As for my writing with hyperlinks, it is something that I will have to continue to work on. I spend a lot of time searching for something that will further understanding, which I suppose can be a good thing; because it sure is furthering my understanding!
Monday, February 15, 2010
Is a picture really worth a thousand words?
Check out my album on picasa . What do these pictures tell you about me? Do they suggest that I don't want unveil my real identity? Or do they suggest that I haven't yet taken the time to check out the copyright restrictions on these images? Yes to both! The fact that there are not yet pictures from the picasa site might suggest that I have had difficulty loading images. While I am waiting for the downloading / retrieving to happen, I am blogging!
What do I think of Picasa? I think that I might explore using it, as a real person. I have tons of holiday pictures that I have not gotten around to sorting and sharing. I just might post them to this site and amaze my friends with my newfound expertise. More importantly, I will amaze my spouse and children!
But the thought of pictures and the saying that they are worth a thousand words, made me think of my students and how I communicate with them. I began this post with the question "what do these pictures say about me?" Maybe, I should have asked, "What do they not say about me?"
When we write to our students, what do our words say? Does Good Job! really mean that or does it mean "I have nothing else to say?" The cute little picture of a smiley face :) - what does it mean?
All of this rambling is a round about way of getting to the issue of "voice" and writing with voice. How do we incorporate voice into our writing? Does it come naturally or is it something we have to work at it? Our tour guides on this journey write with voice. Does it help that I know both of the guides personally? Is it that personal connection that makes it seem like they are right there speaking to me? Is it the personal connection that makes it possible for me to discern the writer? If that is what it takes, how do authors do it? How do newspaper columists do it? How do distance education teachers do it? Is voice important in written communication? I think so.
What about you, my readers. What are your thoughts and opinions on voice? Can you hear my voice? What is it saying? What is it not saying? Is what I have to say, better said with pictures?
All seriousness aside, listen to my voice?
What do I think of Picasa? I think that I might explore using it, as a real person. I have tons of holiday pictures that I have not gotten around to sorting and sharing. I just might post them to this site and amaze my friends with my newfound expertise. More importantly, I will amaze my spouse and children!
But the thought of pictures and the saying that they are worth a thousand words, made me think of my students and how I communicate with them. I began this post with the question "what do these pictures say about me?" Maybe, I should have asked, "What do they not say about me?"
When we write to our students, what do our words say? Does Good Job! really mean that or does it mean "I have nothing else to say?" The cute little picture of a smiley face :) - what does it mean?
All of this rambling is a round about way of getting to the issue of "voice" and writing with voice. How do we incorporate voice into our writing? Does it come naturally or is it something we have to work at it? Our tour guides on this journey write with voice. Does it help that I know both of the guides personally? Is it that personal connection that makes it seem like they are right there speaking to me? Is it the personal connection that makes it possible for me to discern the writer? If that is what it takes, how do authors do it? How do newspaper columists do it? How do distance education teachers do it? Is voice important in written communication? I think so.
What about you, my readers. What are your thoughts and opinions on voice? Can you hear my voice? What is it saying? What is it not saying? Is what I have to say, better said with pictures?
All seriousness aside, listen to my voice?
It's all in how you look at it!
Perspective is a funny thing. I can look at the assignments, readings and exercises we are asked to do as necessary evils, a means to an end or something that I must do if I want a chance at winning a new laptop (I am assuming that it is new, but with my luck it might be one returned because it wasn't working properly). OR ... I can look at the assignments, readings and exercises as a way to familarize myself with the many resources and tools available to me as an educator. I can look at Travels in E-ducation as a course, or as a journey. I can take the instructions literally, or I can take them metaphorically. I guess it depends on how I want to look at it; my perspective.
What is my perspective? If you have been following my blog (I appologize that there hasn't been much to follow to date), you are right to assume that I am not taking all of the instructions literally. Like many of my fellow travellers, I see Travels in E-ducation is an educational journey. Through this blog, I will often report on personal growth and "ah - ah" moments. It will include random bits of self-reflection, questions and things that I have learned along the way.
So why the comic character? Why choose Cookie Monster as my identity? Why the title "Cookie Monster Bits?"
Once again, it's all about perception and background knowledge. Think back to my first posting and the title of my blog. Did you think of the Sesame Street blue monster that loves cookies? Did you ask yourself the question "What mature educator would choose such an immature comic character?" Is this person serious? Or did you look beyond the obvious and think of "cookies"?
It's all in how you look at it!
What is my perspective? If you have been following my blog (I appologize that there hasn't been much to follow to date), you are right to assume that I am not taking all of the instructions literally. Like many of my fellow travellers, I see Travels in E-ducation is an educational journey. Through this blog, I will often report on personal growth and "ah - ah" moments. It will include random bits of self-reflection, questions and things that I have learned along the way.
So why the comic character? Why choose Cookie Monster as my identity? Why the title "Cookie Monster Bits?"
Once again, it's all about perception and background knowledge. Think back to my first posting and the title of my blog. Did you think of the Sesame Street blue monster that loves cookies? Did you ask yourself the question "What mature educator would choose such an immature comic character?" Is this person serious? Or did you look beyond the obvious and think of "cookies"?
It's all in how you look at it!
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Cookie Monster Bites the Bullet
Today is the day that I, Cookie Monster, bit the bullet, got off my procrastinating butt and began the journey into the nether regions of eLearning. I wish I could say that I have planned every detail of this journey, but I can't! It seemed like a good idea at the time of signing on, but like every other life altering decision that I have ever made, I had second thoughts. What if I don't succeed? What if I just can't handle the work load? What if everyone else is so much better? What if ....
No matter. The decision is made, I've made it through security, and I am about to board. I am not a quiter so ... I am in this for the long haul!
Will this be my dream destination? It will be if it involves personal growth, personal satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment. I think it will, since this trip promised all of those things - otherwise why would I have committed myself to uncertainty, self-doubt and possible ridicule. This will be my dream trip, at least for the moment.
No matter. The decision is made, I've made it through security, and I am about to board. I am not a quiter so ... I am in this for the long haul!
Will this be my dream destination? It will be if it involves personal growth, personal satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment. I think it will, since this trip promised all of those things - otherwise why would I have committed myself to uncertainty, self-doubt and possible ridicule. This will be my dream trip, at least for the moment.
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