Thing # 4

Discovering Blogging

One of the things I noticed about the genre of blog writing is that there are many different types of blogs, and many different kinds of blog posts. Bloggers can incorporate many different types of posts into their writing, or limit themselves to just one type. I think that is a matter of preferences and choices.

I think that blog reading and writing are different form other types of reading and writing because of the interactive format of blogs. Both readers and writers can interact with others in the topics they are interested by leaving comments and exposing their thoughts.

Commenting contributes to the writing and meaning-making because it adds a new perspective or point of view to the discussion of the topic. It can also be a mean by which bloggers get more information about a topic they like.

It is more than evident that blogging facilitate learning, because you do not only read and gather information about an specific subject, but by contributing and commenting in others blogs you are prone to reflect on what you are reading and meaningfully express your thoughts about the topic that has been presented to you.

In response to the exploratory reading, there were a couple of blogs that I found very interesting. In one of them, Dan Mayer explains his point of view about math homework making me wonder if as teachers we take some time to think about the purpose of homework or we just throw it at their students randomly and with no reason whatsoever. In the other blog, Dr. Joyce Valenza warns us about how to avoid a mediocre PowerPoint presentation, making me aware of the importance of delivering information in an engaging format.

Thing # 2, Thing # 3

What might Web 2.0 look like in school?

I think that Web 2.0 might change my professional practice in 180 degrees. Being able to use all these new tools I am learning in the 23 Things will let me be more proficient in the use of technology, as well as a mentor for other teachers in my campus, who at the same time, will be able to integrate technology in their classrooms and therefore engage today's digital learners.

I love the idea of everybody interested in the education of our students to be involved through these means. A bunch of possibilities pop in my mind, as I picture not only horizontal alignment but also vertical alignment among teachers in my campus. I picture every teacher in my campus as a facilitator of engagement and success for our digital learners.

Thing # 1, Thing # 3

7 ½ Habits of Effective Lifelong Learners

I truly believe that none of the 7½ habits of Effective Lifelong Learners may be challenging for me to employ as part of my Learning 2.0 - 23 Things experience. I have always considered myself as a Lifelong Learner, and even though I had not stopped and thought about my habits as a learner, I would identify the 7 ½ Habits of Effective Lifelong Learners as mine.

I guess that the habits that will be easiest for me as a lifelong learner are:
- Beginning with the end in mind.
- Accepting responsibility for my own learning.
- Having confidence in myself as a competent, effective learner.

More over, the habit that I think will be the most important for me as I work through this course is having confidence in myself as a competent, effective learner, because if I am able to do so, all the other habits will just fall into place by their own weight.