Introductions

Please introduce yourself, let us know a little bit about you, and where you are from.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Anne Mirtschin on April 2, 2008 at 5:04pm

Hi Mini, classroom2.0 is actually a sample of a ning. It is another tool that will allow you to have discussions, forums, groups, video pages, blog pages etc. I would start with the other tools first and embed them into blogs etc. Do your students have blogs. That is a great way to start and then they can connect with other students who blog. With their blogs they can keep a record of all the things they are doing in their various classes and end up with wonderful digital portfolios. Keep using this site so that you understand how it all works and then you will know whether a ning would have a purpose for you. Also joining the distance collaborations group of classroom2.0 is another good starting point as are other groups on this site that may interest you. I started my students working on a delicious account as well, where they can bookmark all the sites they may use or need to use in classtime. Involvement in global projects is a great way to start connecting as well and usually involves reasonably simple procedures with other experienced educators to help you through.

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Permalink Reply by Kathleen on March 28, 2008 at 11:47pm

Thanks for the invite, Katie...got to get more people on here!

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Permalink Reply by Melanie on March 28, 2008 at 9:43pm

Hello all. Looking to add even more to my classroom setting and learn from everyone.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Hargadon on March 29, 2008 at 12:47am

Welcome, Melanie! Glad you joined, and thanks for introducing yourself. I left a note on your page since you are member #7000. Wahoo!

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Permalink Reply by Kathleen on March 28, 2008 at 11:46pm

Hello all,
My name is Kathy and I am so excited to find this site. My friend Katie asked me to join. I hold a master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction and I teach Methods and Materials for teaching English Language Learners. I am currently a Curriculum Technology Integration Specialist at an intermediate school in the NW suburbs of Chicago. My biggest objective in working within this site is to collaborate with other educators to integrate technology. I find that every single day using technology in education changes. It is so hard to get a grasp on what is out there, especially when there are only so many hours in the day and so many das in the week and so many weeks in a school year. I guess what my biggest hope is that we can all work together to discuss best practices in integrating technology. I can't wait to ask questions and give suggestions!

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Permalink Reply by Steve Hargadon on March 29, 2008 at 12:48am

Hi, Kathy! We're actually planning a Web 2.0 workshop for Chicago.... if we can get it together in time (early May). More at http://www.classroom20wiki.com/Local+Workshops.

Waiting for your questions and suggestions!

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Permalink Reply by Anne Mirtschin on March 29, 2008 at 2:21am

Hi Kathleen Welcome aboard. I know how much I have got out of this great classroom both for myself and my students and will reply to your comment in the next few days about what I do with the younger ones in regard to web2.0.

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Permalink Reply by Daniel Bassill on April 4, 2008 at 4:57am

Hi Kathy, I lead the Tutor/Mentor Connection, based in Chicago. We're trying to help non-school, volunteer-based tutor/mentor programs grow in the high poverty areas of the city and suburbs where kids need lots of extra help. I live in Park Ridge and have been working with the schools there to help them start a service learning program that connects older students to younger students in the Park Ridge system, then connects the kids in Park Ridge with those in inner city neighborhoods. We host a conference in May and November. I encourage you to take a look.

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Permalink Reply by Andrew Balmoral School on March 29, 2008 at 3:12am

Hello - I am Andrew, classroom teacher at Balmoral School in Auckland, New Zealand.

I teach Year 5 and 6 children and they have just begun their journey into the world of blogging. Come along and visit our class blog and follow some links to some Room 18 students who are following their own blogging adventures.

See: www.room18space.edublogs.org

We welcome feedback and comments on our site. If you are running a class site of your own please contact us as we love to extend our worldwide community links.

Andrew
Balmoral School
Auckland
New Zealand

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Permalink Reply by Anne Mirtschin on March 29, 2008 at 3:53pm

Hi Andrew, I worked a lot last year, with one of the first friends I made on classroom2.0. It is rather interesting that her room was 18 as well and she used that in the title of her wiki. I will certainly be looking up your blog site as I teach grades 4-10 this year and they have all started blogging. We are in south west Victoria, Australia

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Permalink Reply by Andrew Balmoral School on March 30, 2008 at 12:10am

Thanks Anne,

It would be great if we could hook up some links between our children. Share ideas and help each other explore the ever expanding Web 2.0 horizons. You are certainly teaching a wide range of ages there.

Drop by to our site and leave a link.

Andrew

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Permalink Reply by Helen Otway on March 30, 2008 at 12:31am

Hello Ben,
Welcome to Classroom 2.0. I think you might find some good people to collaborate with here. If you look at the right sidebar you will notice a link to English as a Second Language where you can find discussions, and there are also Groups you can join that have a focus on 'collaboration'.
Enjoy exploring,
Helen