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//NLSI Reflections. . . this wikispace is intended to collect your thoughts over the next few weeks as you use and reflect on your experiences of the past 2 days. This wikispace is not locked, so please go in and add your reflections after each queston that you would like to respond to. You do not need to respond to every question, only the ones that interest you.//


 * Reflections for Tuesday (7/24)**

1) Opening Session: //**A Web of Connections: Using Blogs, Wikis, RSS and Other Cool Tools to Connect and Learn =>** Please comment on Will's opening remarks. Do they resonate with you? Where do you agree and where do you disagree?// The opening remarks resonated with me. The opening remarks laid the groundwork for the why - of why we should use the new communication tools. Very powerful. Will's presentation presented the disconnect between the kids' comfort levels and many adults' comfort levels using new tools. Our kids live and breathe technology. To keep kids from technology is neglect.

What Will said in his opening remarks is still ringing in my head! I thought what he had to say was quite powerful, it truly made me think of how I do things in my classroom. Instead of saying how can I use this with kids I am now trying to look at technology and thinking "what problem can this solve for me?" I think modeling the technology makes much more sense than just presenting it for the sake of presenting it (which I must say I have done on several occasions). ~Pam Carr

2) Hands-on Session 1: **//Introduction to Blogging & Integration Strategies =>//** How do you envision using blogs for either professional growth or activities with students in your schoool? What do you think will be the benefits and the challenges?

Since our time together I have started really getting into blogging. I am reading Will's blog, David Warlick's Blog and Teach42. By reading and commenting on these three blogs I have already made connections with other people who read and comment on these blogs too. They have come to visit my blog and I have visited theirs. I am really excited about my new community and look forward to learning more about it in the coming months. I found the blogs that I read on Will's blog. He has a list of blogs he likes on his page, it is hard to believe I learned so much about things in just two days at NLSI...so incredible! Also, last year I started a technology newsletter that I put out each quarter...I am toying with the idea of creating a blog to replace that...in hopes of getting some of the staff to start blogging too. I'll keep you all posted.~Pam Carr

3) Hands-on Session 2: **//RSS, Social Bookmarking & Wikis =>//** How do you envision using RSS feeds, social bookmarking, or wikis for either professional growth or activities with students in your schoool? What do you think will be the benefits and the challenges?

Cyndi's Wiki Experience: Other than accessing the NEISTE wiki intermittently, this was my first real experience at using a wiki for a collaborative task with real time lines, expectations, and collaborators. My thoughts so far. . . Pros. . . Cons. . . Summary - for me the pros of this type of environment out weigh the cons, but will need to rethink "on the road" processes and strategies.
 * I loved being to get feedback from colleagues - I am addicted to the collaborative process, knowing that whatever I create can ALWAYS be made better with via the input of others.
 * The wikispace environment was very easy to use, save, and even recover when someone accidentally deleted my entire PD article. I am not married to this particular service, as I am sure there are others equally as simple and intuitive. The operative word being SIMPLE!
 * It was nice not having to worry about sending attachments via email.
 * Having all the files one place for review and the list of assignments on the "home page" was a great reminder for me as to what I had accomplished and what I had left.
 * Biggest downside for me was not being able to work on the file in the Wiki space when I had no internet connection - specifically for 6 hours in the Philly airport yesterday. I began the file on my laptop in the car on Saturday heading to Kittery to visit with friend's, then copy and pasted the file onto the wikispace, made some revisions online, but did not get time to complete, then headed to NJ with my laptop yesterday. I could not finish the file while stuck at the airport, as I did not have access to the web, nor did I remember to bring the most recent copy of the file on my laptop.
 * Realize this is a logistical issue that would exist with any web-based strategy, but wanted to bring it to the table as others may have experienced the same now or will so in the future.

Right now I need to use these things personally for a bit longer before I use it with kids. But I have been brainstorming some ideas of how wikis could solve some staff development, administrative and other school related problems in my district. Maybe I will start on a department basis and then try to expand out from there.

4) Group Discussion/Sharing //**=>**// Did you find this informal time for discussion and sharing productive and informative? In the future, should we do more, less, or about the same?


 * Reflections on Wednesday (7/25)**

5) Opening Session: **//Web 2.0 Ethics and Safety =>//** Mull //Please comment on Brian's opening remarks. Do they resonate with you? Will this information help you in your district/school/organization? How might you use this?//

6) Hands-on Session 3: **//Student and Teacher Voices: Podcasting Basics =>//** How do you envision using podcasts for either professional growth or activities with students in your schoool? What do you think will be the benefits and the challenges?

7) Hands-on Session 4: **//Putting It All Together: Projects in Practice - Guided Project Development =>//** Did you have the support and guidance you needed to make this time productive for you? How could we have made this experience better for you?

8) Project Sharing, Evaluations, and Closing Activities **//=>//** Did you find this informal time for discussion and sharing productive and informative? In the future, should we do more, less, or about the same?


 * Add any comment or thoughts regarding a follow-up in the Summer of 2008?

I would love to follow up with this next summer. I think some time to process and practice and then come back for more information would be very useful. ~Pam Carr

I am in the process of putting together a condensed version of the workshop for Tuesday 8/28. It will be part of our opening teacher workshops. I found the information at the workshop to be very useful. It helped me put a lot of things into perspective. If anyone is interested, they can see what I did at the workshop and what I have done since at del.icio.us/filmrd - Rick Davidson Kingswood Regional Middle School.**