My Thoughts Exactly | Technology in Education...Now What?

'My thoughts exactly'

Reading Blogs isn’t just for Education Anymore!

I began reading blogs to find out more about technology and how it works with education. As I subscribed to many different types of blogs, I found that there were others out there that I wanted to read. I didn’t actually know the people that were writing them, but who doesn’t want to know about cooking, celebrity gossip, and other fun stuff!!??

In the past year, I have found that people I know outside the education field are blogging too! Now I know that people have been blogging about tv, scrapbooking, babies, etc for a long time but I didn’t know them.

I wanted to share some of the categories/topics/people that I know that are blogging. My aggregator has so many categories now that I can hardly keep up with it!
Babies:
http://auntcarolinesbabies.blogspot.com/ Caroline began posting about friends’ and family members’ babies, but now posts about her own!

Reflections on Daily Life:
http://jcristg.wordpress.com/ Crist posts on her personal thoughts and insights into life…very funny one! She often talks about the ridiculousness of people in our society.

http://helpyouhelpme-mjs.blogspot.com/ Morgan writes about random thoughts and shares great finds in music, jewelry, and other fun stuff.

http://sandyluther.blogspot.com/ Sandy has moved to London and wants to share her new endeavors with all of us back in SC. What a great way to keep in touch!

Gossip:
http://popgurublog.blogspot.com/ If anyone is going to tell it like it is, it’s a McFaddin. Callie posts about celeb sightings in NYC, award shows, and shares her hilarious opinion on it all.

And some other Top Faves…but I don’t know them.

Cooking:
http://www.thekitchn.com/ Recipes, gadgets, and more in the kitchen. I like to pretend that I know how to cook!

Gossip:
http://www.popsugar.com/ This blog is named The Insanely Addictive PopSugar and let me tell you , it is insanely addictive! I hate that I love to read about celebrities and what they are up to now. But who doesn’t want to know where Reese and Jake are, what Jennifer Aniston is wearing, or what Katie and Suri are doing this weekend without Tom?

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For you other educators out there: What other types of blogs do you read? Do you write non-educational posts in your blog?

For folks not in the educational field: Do you use an aggregator to follow the blogs you read? Do you read any blogs about education?

2 comments April 20th, 2009

Where in the world is/was Techjulia?

Whew, what a summer! This roller coaster is finally coming to an end.
This was my first summer as a Technology Educator and I have thoroughly enjoyed it!

Summer Workshops, Columbia, SC
June started out with our Summer Workshops. I taught SMART boards Intro, SMART boards for Media Center Staff, Google Lit Trips, Geocaching, and Web2.0 Tools.

(Teachers using GPS devices)

UTC, Greenville, SC
At the end of our workshops, MaryAnn, Elizabeth, and I traveled to Greenville for the Upstate Technology Conference. They were presenting but I was just attending. One of my schools has decided to go with Promethean ACTIVboards. Since I am a SMART Certified Trainer, I figured I needed to get “smart” with Promethean too! Greenville County seems to have mostly Promethean boards so they had many classes for me to attend. I also wanted to hear the keynote speakers, Ewan McIntosh and David Jakes.

NECC, San Antonio, Texas
This was my first National education conference so I was really excited about the trip! The conference itself did not live up to my expectations but everything else did.
On Day 1, I ran into a “celebrity” on the elevator. Mr. Google Lit Trips…Jerome Burg.
I have been using his site for almost a year and have taught classes and done presentations on creating GLTs. I was so excited to see him that I shrieked like a star-struck groupie. I may have even scared his wife…sorry Mrs. GLT!
$Me with \$

(Me and “The Google Lit Trip Guy!!” aka Jerome Burg)

SMART Version 10 Training, Chicago, Illinois
My last big trip was to Chicago for more SMART training. Elizabeth, MaryAnn, and I were continuing our SMART certification by attending this class. Once we get back we will have to video a lesson to upgrade from 9.7 certification to Version 10. The best part of the trip though did not involve work! MaryAnn and I stayed an extra day so we could play. We went to the Aquarium, shopped, ate good food, and saw a Cirque du Soleil show. I have seen a Cirque show before and this one did not fail me. It was phenomenal!

(Shedd Aquarium)

SCETV Workshops, Columbia, SC
I didn’t have to travel far for this one, but it is definitely worth mentioning. I did 2 Google Lit Trip presentations at ETV this past week. ETV holds FREE workshops for educators several times a year. They are a great form of Professional Development and they are free! From these workshops, I have had the opportunity meet and connect with many people from around the state.

Well, I am back in town for now. I am excited about the teachers and students coming back to school in a few weeks. That means I can get back on a regular schedule.
I’m looking forward to a great year in Richland One with a new Superintendent, a new Technology Educator joining our team, and new ideas for trainings at my schools.

BTW, I did get a few days in with my family at the beach!! It rained but I got to see my parents, sister, and nieces so the trip was worth it.