Welcome

My Class Experience

2009-03-23T18:35:00.001-07:00

This was a good start in understanding what tools exist on the web. I've just scratched the surface!

I'm not sure how much of this I'll use with my students, as I have a more administrative role as a teacher. But I can definitely see myself teaching other staff how to use these gadgets.

I COULD see myself creating a personal website that's information based - that would be cool. It would be even cooler if I had businesses that wanted to advertise and then someone would buy my website and I would never have to work again.

Anyway, a lot (something) to think about.

My website

2009-03-23T18:06:00.000-07:00

Today was enjoyable. All day, I stressed about what was due, if I did it right, why my document disappeared, etc.
Then I came to class.

The teacher, as usual, put me at ease. She (they) helped me retrieve my document, reassured me that what I created would yield some sort of credit and that we would work in small groups and present. Small groups, YES!

In my small group, I learned how to navigate the navigator! Before, this was a problem for me because I was making it too complicated. My group taught me how to master this. Yeah!

You can visit my website at: http://sites.google.com/site/deadwoodhighschool/

Keep in mind: it's under construction.

Late.

Social Networking

2009-03-23T15:06:00.000-07:00

I hate to be a real downer, but how far is all this technology stuff going to go?

I mean twitter, what is that? And couldn't they give it another name? Is it some other type of texting or instant messaging - communication between people who would otherwise never communicate?

Blogging, do people really care what I think? Is this the premise of blogging? Because some blogs were just that and I wasn't interested. Others were informational and I was interested. If blogs are filled with resources versus rants, then they have some merit. If they're just the author's thoughts, then nobody cares.

Facebook - enough said.

Myspace - unless you're an artist or have some music to share, email your pictures to your friends and family and call the people you love.

Cell phones - I thought video games were the beginning of the end, but I was wrong.

I know I sound cynical. Am I alone? Does anyone else feel this way?

Just some of my thoughts.

Playing Outside

2009-03-09T13:03:00.000-07:00

It was cool to see so many people out on Saturday. I think everyone really appreciated the warm weather and sun after so many days of back to back rain.

Seeing people running, biking, gardening or just playing ball, reminded me of the stories I've heard about the first warm day of Spring in the midwest.
The word is: everyone is outside.

I've been to Wisconsin and experienced some horrific temperatures, but only for a short time. The winter of 1983 was quite memorable; it was our wedding reception on the southside of Milwaukee and the temperature was 27 degress below zero WITHOUT the wind chill (wind chill is a critical piece of weather status). I remember layers of clothing, frozen locks and dead batteries. Anyway, great reception, but cold as h&*%.

Okay, back to California. I know, hardly a fair comparison.

Looking forward to Spring, the sun filled days and more reasons to be playing outside.

Voice

2009-02-23T18:34:00.001-08:00

cool stuff

2009-02-23T18:03:00.001-08:00

2009-02-23T17:25:00.001-08:00

2009-02-23T17:20:00.000-08:00

WTH

2009-02-22T11:39:00.000-08:00

What's up with the reviews of Revolutionary Road and Rachel Getting Married. They either have the movies mixed up or the people reviewing these films don't have much of a "real" life.

I thought the premise/story line of RR was interesting, maybe even plausible, but the movie itself - the acting, dialogue and chemistry of the actors was very artificial, so hollywood and pretty much annoying. And I like Winslet and DiCaprio. Okay, I really like DiCaprio and he was not annoying.

I dragged myself to the movies after four days of raining with no background information about Rachel Getting Married. I was amazed and very moved by this story.

I think the roles of this dysfunctional family were depicted very well; they really nailed the family dynamics of major sibling rivalry and addiction. Yes there was some hyperbolic acting and drawn out wedding scenes but very few flaws in this movie.

Just my humble opinion.

Greetings

2009-02-10T14:06:00.000-08:00

This is a blog, my blog.

I've learned so many things today. I am sitting next to young and helpful people, so that's been nice. This is a big class.

I'm looking forward to going home and playing with all these tools I've been introduced to.

More later.