Thing 15 - Revisiting RSS

I had only gone back to Bloglines two times since I set up my account, but I did need to move some of my feeds around to other folders. I think I will be looking at it more, now that I have added the Delicious feed on "Children's Literature".

I think it becomes a lot easier to add items to RSS and Delicious by using the icons or buttons. I haven't had to copy a URL and paste it. Once the holidays are over, I will start using these more and checking them more often.

Thing 14 - Posting on Delicious

I began by looking for sites that I could share with both my students and teachers such as homework help sites and curriculum sites targeting middle school. Then I started searching for sites that I could direct my students to on my Media Center webpage, ebooks, booklists, reviews, etc. My address is: delicious.com/cwadhams.

I am even thinking of holding an after school session for those interested in learning about using Delicious as a tool their departments can use. This could be a very time saving shortcut to access sites you have bookmarked at home. I usually send them to myself in an email to bookmark at school.. Now, however, I can access them on Delicious.

Thing 13 - Delicious - Social bookmarking

I can see myself using this tool as a way to find websites and post them for the school staff. This could be done for each subject area. On my Media Center web page on our site, I could place links for the students to homework help sites, literature sites, or fun sites.

The only problem I can foresee is getting the teachers to use this as a resource. Once they see the advantage to using something like this, they could add their own sites for their departments.

Thing 12 - Embedding Widgets

Happy Holidays!



I really enjoyed finding a Lookybook on someone else's blog, so I thought I would try the same thing. I looked for something seasonal. This book has beautiful illustrations along with whimsical feline Christmas wishes.

This is such a wonderful way to arouse curiosity in students. By posting these, it may prompt a student to seek out a particular book and read it.

Thing 11 - Courtesy in comments

Any time someone makes a comment, I think a good rule of thumb would be to ask oneself, "If I received this comment, how would it make me feel?"

As educators, we owe it to our students to set a good example of how to use constructive criticism, or, compliments. By allowing students to post comments on a blog, I believe you are allowing another method of communication which may be preferable to some who might otherwise feel uncomfortable. However, it is important to be perfectly clear on what is an appropriate comment and what is not.

This could be a great teaching tool, and may serve as a means to better understand what goes on in your students' heads. It allows them to express themselves, within acceptable parameters. It can also act as a way to evaluate your own course content and methods of teaching by listening to their comments.