Thing #4 Registered and Ready

Registered and ready to begin the next lap.

Thing #3 Stretching

I know that research shows that the more I stretch my brain, the healthier it grows. However, completing such technical activities as setting up a blog and creating an Avatar make me feel as if I have pulled a muscle up there somewhere. But, my Avatar is dressed and ready to go. Too many wardrobe and style choices. I will stay safe with comfortable. My risk-taking tonight is limited to struggling to remember yet another login and password. I feel a headache coming on.

Thing #2 Fully Immersed

As far back as I can remember, I felt called to teach. The habit that I find the easiest is the teach/mentor habit. I have been teaching and mentoring in some capacity most of my life. I enjoy reaching out to people and making a difference in their lives. I feel completely in tune when I can help someone make music with their musings, hear the symphony in a story, or reflect on their personal rhythms.
The habit that I find to be the hardest is using technology to my advantage. Though I have made progress over the last few years, I feel like there is still so much to learn. I do not take full advantage of the technology at my disposal. I don't even know what all my cell phone can do besides make calls and send texts. My husband asked me tonight if I had talked to my phone yet. I looked at him like he was crazy, but he assured me this was possible. (I intend to check this out later after I finish my homework.) I tend to use technology for its basic purposes without exploring all of its possibilities. This is one habit I want to work on this year.
As far as lifelong learning goes, here I am, fully immersed, no longer wading along the edges or testing the waters. I hope I don't drown.
Splash!

Thing #1 Diving in

I feel like I am beginning a triathalon. So, here I go, diving in!

Embedding BJ's Adventures--I hope!

BJ' Adventures

My daughter made a slide show as a surprise for me to commemorate my summer of 23 things. I hope this link works.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsK7Zm3PJ7s

Thing #23 It's Only the Beginning

Thing 23 is only the beginning. I have just begun to learn.

My favorite things are creating visuals on the online image generator, finding favorite pictures on Flickr, watching movies on the two Tubes, and writing in my blog. I am a visual learner, so these appealed to me the most. Writing in my blog was the thing I enjoyed more than anything else because it provided me with an outlet to express myself. It challenged me to think about what I was learning and share my struggles and successes with others. I also enjoyed reading other blogs and feeling connected to the other learners.

This course has helped me continue as a lifelong learner because I gained knowledge about Web 2.0, became aware of a variety of tools I can add to my teacher toolbox, and learned practical applications of available, amazing technology.

This program has helped me feel more confident about using technology that I did not even know exited at the beginning of the summer. I have been inspired to plan lessons in ways that I have never been before.

I would have explored and practiced more if I had more time to complete the course.

I would definitely participate in such a program again.

One word to describe my 23 Things experience: INSPIRATIONAL!


Ready to read and share some more... Maybe after some sleep . . .