BP1_Google Reader

BP1_Google Reader

As a member of a Team called Team NewbieTech (TNT), a group of 5 students studying Education, Media Design and Technology at Full Sail University, I can honestly say that this name is very appropriate for me.   As you will see in my blog posts, I am on an adventure to learn technology so that I can incorporate it into my current and future educational environments.    

My first blog posting is on Google Reader, a Web 2.0 tool that is new to me.  I am using this tool to help me create an electronic Personal Learning Environment (PLE) that will allow me to receive and share information quickly from my favorite educational websites.  I plan to use this tool with my Critical Friends for my Action Research Project.   I have added RSS (real simple syndication) feeds to my Google Reader and my newly created Google Blog site.  I am already starting to receive notifications to my site on new postings that can be valuable to my Action Research project and personal technology learning experience.

The first RSS I have added is Cisco’s Higher Education blog.  Cisco Systems is a company that offers innovative solutions and partnerships to connect, engage and empower learners through the use of technology.  They are transforming education and taking virtual education to a higher level.  They have established many educational programs throughout a vast array of educational communities around the globe to enhance the educational and economical climate.  I use Cisco Teleprescence and WebEx technology as one of my educational tools in my current corporate trainer position.   I look to this site to offer me new ideas, solutions and opportunities as well as networking with fellow corporate and K-12 educators around the world.   It allows me to perform training in a virtual classroom with up to 5 sites from around the world and it feels like we are all in the same classroom.   The photos below are taken from my virtual classroom.  If you would like more information on this technology you visit Cisco Systems websites at http://www.cisco.com/web/strategy/education/connected_learning_societies.html

Cisco Telepresence System

Cisco Telepresence System

The second RSS I added is Edublogger blog, which has already been very helpful in my understanding of blogs and how they can be used in an educational environment, both K-12 and Corporate.   I plan to look at the many examples that are shared from other educators to gain ideas to help me in my current corporate training job as well as with my Action Research project.

The third RSS I added is edutopia.org blog where I will use this to help me explore possible solutions for integrating technology into the K-12 Math curriculum for my Action Research project.  I am investigating possible technology tools for improved motivation and hands on application for mathematics.

The fourth, fifth and sixth RSS sites I added are The Opportunity Equation blog, The Winning Equation blog, and edweek.org blog, all of these sites have excellent articles on how technology has been adapted into math curriculums with proven success.  I plan to measure the motivation of students using technology for my Action Research project and the edweek.org blog has some interesting articles and blog postings on the topic of how motivation matters.   I will be exploring these more and following blog postings to help shape my Action Research project cycles.   

I am really excited to begin this journey into Goggle Blogs and Google Reader and the efficiency they will provide me as I continue with my Action Research project and continued learning of technology.