Course Reflection

My blog is now complete ... here's the link http://chilliprawn.blogspot.com/
I'd like to thank my colleague, fabulous Fran, for beginning the Web2.0 Course with me and "following" my progress during the blog.  Fran's support was invaluable.  Here is Fran's link - I was her 'follower' and commented on most blog entries...
http://fran-an.blogspot.com/
Thanks also go to another colleague, Camille, the ICT guru and a terrific lady who was very supportive.

I very much enjoyed this challenge and learnt so many things about the digital world.  I hope to use the new skills and knowledge to assist the students wherever I am able.

In my Web2.0 Course Reflection I'd like to acknowledge the video explaining "eLearning with the iLearn model" ... this information assisted my appreciation of the content in the course and discover how to focus on an engaging learning environment which is essential for creating student knowledge.  The challenges facing educators include good learning and teaching embedded with Catholic values.  Essentially, people matter first with the computers and the technology being the tools that may enable us to achieve our goals.  Professional development and modelling being a learner are two things we can do to create and sustain change in our school.  We can assist the students to learn and develop the iLearn skills so they may apply these skills when accessing Web2.0 tools.  Skills such as those in Blooms diagram...



I am very glad this opportunity was afforded to me.  Thanks to the co-ordinators.
Now it's time to celebrate learning, achievement, diversity, independence, collaboration ... giving it everything you can in an inclusive educational environment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9_n8jakvWU&feature=related

Module 9

Scootle ... this is an exhaustive site - soo many things to do and learn.  Very exciting. chilliprawn just logged in to Scootle, + created and shared a learning path using their UserGuide!  this was not easy ... chilliprawn is no expert (yet) but had a crack at it and achieved a result.  will definitely need to spend more time on Scootle.
Second life ... a bit out there ?? 
Social Networking ... ok for adults, and maybe older teenagers but chilliprawn is very wary of the dangers present for unsupervised youngsters.  Certainly wouldn't recommend it for primary aged children at all.  There are much healthier & fun ways to 'network' with your mates at that age!  Twitter - hmmm, the name says it all!!  sorry... but chilliprawn has absolutley no interest in nor enough time to worry about six second updates on peoples' lives!

Module 8

chilliprawn is now a Google reader ... this is a great tool.  chilliprawn may dog Delicious and go for more Google reading I think. 
Sarah is an old family friend ... check out this lovely, gorgeous woman's blog.  Her fabulous mother & mine grew up together in Brissie!
http://www.sarahfosterstyleandlife.blogspot.com/

Module 10 wiki ... wacky ... do!

giddy-up - chilliprawn has been accelerated to the last module ... wikis!

you see, I saw Fran-An's sensational wiki on her blog and felt inspired to jump on board & create a wiki too. 

Wikispaces explains that "All you need is a place for yourself, your classroom, your project. Create an account on wikispaces.com and get the wiki that's right for you" ... Teachers and students can create a free classroom wiki! Edit, write and save - it's that simple.

here's my attempt at wiki

http://www.chilliprawn.wikispaces.com/

chilli needs a break ... back soon

The Rocks Coffee Festival

Ok, chilliprawn is back on line - ceased being a tech head for a few hours but bounced back this arvo to load a new page on the wiki ... "Sydney is fun"  -  yes it is!  and so is WIKI !!!

Module 7




hello neighbour

chilliprawn has just ventured into the world of "delicious".  It's interesting so far ... have created account http://www.delicious.com/chilliprawn/ , no surprises there!  chilli has been busy adding buttons to the toolbar, exporting & importing bookmarks then tagging them.  Remember to **Cut & Paste** the url address ... soooo important! 


to be continued~~~~~

the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo warming up before the show...nice line boys

Module 6

Glogster - too much fun!! check this out and have your speakers up 'cause it's a Glogparty ...
http://chilliprawn.glogster.com/glog-champs/

Bubbles = one of my favourite drinks to celebrate special occasions.  More on that later...

bubbl.us = one of my favourite brainstorming and mind-mapping tools.  However, the editing & sharing options were broken on bubbl.us today.  

Therefore, I have saved my mind map as a jpeg image ...

dear rain ...



Flipper - he's so cool



did you ruin today, Sunday, and start on purpose to lure chilliprawn back to web 2.0 and it's mind numbing modules??

 yessss ... you did!

ok, module 6 - get ready, going to be all over you very shortly!  and to get me in the mood a little song ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZ6GzmrGHOY

Module 5

Personal

On                          
Demand

Awesome.  Love it.  Podcasts - it's official ... I'm hooked.  Never miss a thing anymore - downloading and subscribing to podcasts is the answer!  I have successfully downloaded ABC Radio's Richard Fidler 'Conversations' through iTunes on my pc.  This was an excellent introduction to podcasts.  I have also learnt how to access podcasts on my iPhone.  My son is currently creating a vodcast for a high school HSIE assignment - I can't wait to see the finished product.  Number 1 son may soon prove to be my greatest podcasting asset now!
http://abc.net.au/radio/

so happy, another module completed, time for a little song...  this is for all the trendy hip oldies out there - click on this link and start singing ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfuBREMXxts

and this is for "Fran". we are, indeed, up, up & away with some serious blogging ....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwNCxjxSqrE

enough is enough - dry your tears princess chilliprawn ...

That's right ... it's time to get on with Module 5.
Term 4 is here and Week 1 was a tad busy - I know - so was everyone's! 
However, chilliprawn needs to push through the excitement of the past week's swimming lessons, social stories, lectures at Mt Druitt and the dreaded assignments and just get on with it.

Is chilliprawn's mandatory Week 1 headache and sore throat going to impede the intention of tackling Module 5? It better be fantabulous because today is Sunday !! all day !! it's the day of rest !!  Coffee first.

ok, am officially lonely ... in need of reactions ... h e l p

I thought the idea of 'blogging' in cyber space was to encounter a two way process.  Sad as it is, I'm already feeling very lonely in this big cavernous non-touchy/feely technological digital environment .... get over it you say?  don't be so self centered?  what a sook!!  Today is module5 day, but a pinot gris at the sailing club a little later is looking more attractive right now!!  Real people - yessss. 
what's a chilliprawn gotta do to get a comment or a reaction around here .... hmmm ?  As they say - "where's the love?"

Module 4

Oh dear - not another ID ... Yahoo this time !!  Ok, so I now have nearly every imagineable email account in existence.  Not sure I'm comfortable with creating all these accounts and sharing my ''oh so personal details'' but if it gets me through this course then so be it! 

Now over to the real issue at hand - Flickr ... mmm, I feel I'm having too much fun.  I created a share folder of "Euro Sights" by uploading my own photos.   to view my efforts please go to http://www.flickr.com.photos/chilliprawn/

It was stimulating and I was entertained at the same time. This was excellent fun. 
Thanks Flickr ! 

More excitement in the classroom for all students.  I believe there could be many benefits using Flickr at all levels, especially for creative and open-minded students.  Another tool to showcase ways to create imaginative learning spaces & share information.

Module 3

It's the holidays & chilliprawn is still pushing on with web2.0 - am I spending too much of my 'chillaxing' time on a computer?? - yesss!  I guess it's a matter of 'keeping up' ... I need to know this stuff.  Google Docs ... too much fun! This will be an awesome classroom tool - imagine the great ideas and collaboration between teachers & high school students plus their peers during the creation of an on-line workspace.  The sharing element is exciting and progressive.  I created a Google Docs presentation called "my _front_ yard" docs.google.com and shared it with my course buddy ... hope she likes it (awaiting judgement).
Learning these applications will be useful if colleagues wish to collaborate their information and ideas to produce a document etc.  However, it will not apply to my work with students in my primary school - I believe they are not old enough to have a Google Account.

Module 2

Watch out world - am making huge digital footprints !  Today I learnt how to navigate my way around the Blogging world ... fine tune my site & entries, become a follower and enjoy the new experience - it's fun (when it's working and being nice to me of course!!).  I can see how a classroom full of enquiring minds with lots to say and share would love this experience.  Every now & then little glitches arrive to frustrate me but nevertheless this blogging/posting keeps me engaged & I'll stay on until I'm satisfied it's all working.  I seem to be checking & re-checking my settings alot!  Yes, I know the computer is smarter than me so get used to it you say !  Loading a picture on my following site is becoming a challenge - a 'must get right thing'.  Am heading there now to perfect - hopefully! What will Module 3 excite me with ... can't wait to discover more of my talents !! (stop laughing)

Module 1

Intro: "about me" - Catherine ... Firstly, I'm not a teacher but a School Support Officer Classroom Assistant (modern way of saying a Teacher's Aide) within a vibrant community in Sydney's delightful Inner West.  It's great to be a part of this learning and blogging experience, especially embarking into unknown territory.  It's even better to know that I may be able to translate some of this newly acquired knowledge to my skills base in order to improve my contribution to the school.  Thus far this seems to be a fun way to add to my professional development ... 'mucking around' on the computer and connecting with the world.  However, I will endeavour to persevere, as per the encouragement from hierachy, with complete professionalism.  One thing that is obvious to me in my first year in this job is the love of the Internet by the students in their educational environment ... they can't get enough of it!  And they're so adept, confident and creative - even at the younger age levels.  Google's multi-layered character is amazing.  Discovering there's more to Google than the search engine was enlightening.  I hope to continue to remain in that state as I work through this course.  I appreciate this opportunity.