• Blogroll

  • Education blog services
  • Free education blogs
  • Incorporated Subversion

• My Links

  • my delicious
  • wepopedia

Using this post, the student will compare and contrast Internet context vs. traditional context of common words and their uses in both places. Just for fun.

This is a work in progress.

Example: I feed (verb) my son delicious (adj) cookies (noun).

vs.

Using the feed (now a noun) from Google Travel, spammers set up cookies (noun-different meaning) to track and solicit new customers. I suspect they also tap into delicious (now a noun).

I’m not sure if the above statement is accurate, but you get the idea!

2 b or not 2 b that is the ?…..

Creating a social network of on-line friends is something many of you already do, but how do you “talk?” Most of you use abbreviated (shortened) words and phrases. Social network “places” like 43 Things, MySpace, AIM, Facebook, etc. provide you with a much bigger space to meet and interact with other people. They also present some challenges in terms of Internet safety and self-discipline. We will be discussing these issues before we do anything on these social networks.

This is your opportunity to teach me. I don’t know how to communicate on them, and I’m fascinated by the language. When I see IM messages, it’s almost like looking at a foreign language I don’t speak! I’d like for you to post abbreviations you know or use on your blog. We will create a class dictionary of common IM abbreviations. We will use these for our discussions about how language changes depending on who you’re “talking” to and why.

So keep a running post of abbreviations that you use, and we will combining your individual dictionaries on the class blog.

Final project link

Essential Question: Who is the “I” in Internet?

Audience/Learners: myself, my students – “If you truly want to learn how to do something, prepare to teach it.” (author unknown)

WHAT:

I. Compile of glossary of terms (see “iTerms – The NeverEnding List”) that:

• reflect (in part) my understanding of the Read/Write Web in the Classroom;
• provide a resource for others learning about Web 2.0 tools;
• provide a vehicle for additions & revision of these terms by myself and others;
• illustrate the fluid and infinite nature of language
• illustrate jargon, universal language;
• provide a “jumping off” point for the exploration and use of Web 2.0 tools in the classroom, as well as how to be a responsible digital citizen.

II. Students will create their own blogs and contribute to the class blog to:

• learn how to set up and use blogs (and eventually wikis) and apply the iTerms;
• learn how to use the tools available on Web 2.0 for communication, reflection and research;
• participate in projects/communication started on “Mrs. Macoy Goes to Cyberspace” (see “Kids–help your blogmates”) ;
• compare and contrast writing and content in standard and digital communication (see “Abbreviation Station–Talking at the Speed of Type” & “It’s a Mad, Mad Word”);

WHY: Since all our kids have laptops, their learning is, dare I say was, limited by my willingness and understanding of how to get the most use of these computers to further their learning and interaction with others outside the classroom walls. However, despite statistics to the contrary, I’d guess about 1/3 don’t have the Internet at home even if they have a computer. For the first time, this year students will be able to take their laptops home. I feel that everyone, regardless of their status as digital natives, will benefit from the process of using Web 2.0 tools. Additionally, by modeling my own learning process, using the kids who are “experts” in these tools as resources and peer teachers, I believe the learning will be internalized and positively affect all their interactions, both in person and in cyberspace.

CHANGE IN CLASSROOM PRACTICES:

This is a concept so huge that I haven’t even begun to tap its potential in my Language Arts classes. Prior to now my students’ computer use in my classroom has been limited to word processing and what I now know is inefficient Internet research. In addition to what’s listed above, I will use Web 2.0 for book groups, reading reflection, collaborative creative writing, efficient research, the gazillion ways to use iMedia, etc. I’m still processing….there should be an hourglass over my head!

It is a sign of good teaching and engaged students when the teacher is ready to move on to a new topic or unit and the students don’t want to stop learning about the current one. Engaged students are learning from the teacher, with and from their classmates, and they don’t want to stop. Engaged learners take what they’ve learned and continue to “work the content” (David Warlick) long after the class is over.  This is the way I feel about my learning in this class. During this week I have made a cyberleap (new word) in my understanding of the potential of Web 2.0 in the classroom. In fact, I have learned more in one week than I have in many semester long classes. My computer skill was limited to word processing, email and research capabilities. Given that starting point, I feel I’ve come a long, long way on my path toward digital literacy. My goal was to catch up with my students and I feel I’ve made great progress. Before Monday, I didn’t know what 95% of the terms on the Never Ending List meant, let alone how to apply them professionally and personally. Perhaps that is the true benchmark of my learning–I actually know how to use these tools in everyday class room practice. (In the “Introduction” post I also discussed my “ah hah” regarding digital literacy.) Thank you Alice!

Below I’ve started a list of words that some middle school students know and some don’t. If you know what the word means, please post a comment with the word or words you’re explaining as the “title.” In the respond box please give a definition IN YOUR OWN WORDS. Copying a definition out of the dictionary is really just an exercise in handwriting after all–your blogmates don’t want to read one either. If you can do it, use the word in a sentence that shows how it’s used in context or helps to explain it further.

If someone has already defined a word, and you have something to add, please do it!

If you come across a word or term you don’t know, please add it and get someone else to define it if you want!

EXAMPLE – key words – these are the words you type in the “search the web” bar when you want to Google something

When I used the key words “President Roosevelt,” I got a gazillion hits on both Franklin and Teddy Roosevelt. I didn’t know there were two President Roosevelts!

THE LIST OF WORDS – Reminder – When you’re choosing definitions, please make sure you use their internet context!

access

accessible

collaborative

efficient

interactive

key words

network

private

protected

public

publish

relevant

simulation/simulate

social

submit

syndicated

INFORMATION LITERACY

IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT KNOWING WHAT THE WORDS MEAN…

Like reading comprehension, information literacy, is an interactive process based on the interaction between the reader/user and the text/information network. Comprehension is a personal process based on what experiences the user has before s/he starts along the road of information highways and byways. Understanding how to apply the knowledge or what applications to use depends on need, time and focus. Also like reading comprehension, the user has to know what the words/terms mean before s/he can use them to make meaning.

Creating the iTerms Glossary is an exercise in self-directed learning. It is my attempt to make meaning of web language and to take the baby-steps to sharing what I understand with the rest of the information age community. The definitions are written in my own words and unless starred (*) did not come from an outside source. Because my navigation skills are weak, I created a blog because I think it’s easier to use. In fact, a wiki would be better suited to the iTerms Glossary because I hope that potential users would edit my explanations or definitions to either correct or better explain the terms to other newbies.

Note from the page creator (aka the author): As an English teacher I’m fascinated by the fact that iTerms have extremely fluid syntactical function–they change parts of speech much more often than non iTerms. For example the noun “link” refers to the thing as any good noun should do; however, in cyberspace things don’t just sit there, they require action and interaction and thus become verbs. So as I listed the terms, I didn’t follow the standard dictionary format of listing definitions by their parts of speech. I’ve always found this practice boring and repetitive at best, confusing at worst. Rather, if the terms is interchangeably a noun and verb, I put the noun definition in bold font within the general definition.

1. Aggregator – a service like Bloglines that reads and manages RSS feeds
2. Archive – (1) anything older than 30 days on a blog; (2) history or list of previously viewed web sites
3. Avatar – visual representation of a user
4. Blog (Web Logs) Blogger, Blogging – personal web space/journal that invites comment from users and shares information and ideas – interaction is limited to responses to posts; administration is totally controlled by blog creator
5. Breadcrumbs – tabs that appear within a web site on the tool bar that show where you have navigated within the site
6. Blogroll – a vehicle for saving, accessing, and managing blog subscriptions
   Boolean Search – linking (re)search words or keywords with + symbol to limit the results to those that contain both topics
7. Bookmarlet – setting up a one-click shortcut to a frequently accessed site like delicious or bloglines
8. Chicklet – a small square symbol, usually orange, that indicates an RSS feed
9. Community – (1) everyone with access to a website; (2) subscribers; (3) buddies, circle of friends, cyberpals or other groups of communicating users
10. *Currwiki – a curriculum wiki – examples the head of Sun Microsystems (name?) has developed college level science and math courses anyone can use
11. Cyber….space, world, citizenship, smart, pals – a hypothetical “space” where information that is sent and received passes through – the digital world
12. Dashboard – control panel for creating and editing content (of a blog)
13. Delicious – (1) a service for keeping all web sites of interest in one place for easy access, categorization, and linking; (2) a place to access others’ web sites of interest (see Tag)
14. Digital Citizenship – (1) the concept that there is personal responsibility and accountability for the use of, access to, and interaction with others’ blogs and wikis; (2) Internet etiquette norms of appropriate and inappropriate interaction
15. Digital Immigrants – (1) those who began using the Internet as adults; (2) people who are uncomfortable using Web 2.0 applications
16. Digital Divide – like a generation gap, this term refers to lifestyle differences between those who use computers to facilitate daily life and those who either cannot or have not tapped into the potential of the computer
17. Digital Natives – (1) people who were born and raised using Internet technology; (2) those who are fluent in Web 2.0 use and application
18. Download – actively retrieving files, software, pictures and other media from the Internet to your personal computer (see Upload)
19. Feed – constantly updated information network
20. Flickr – service for uploading and tagging pictures shared on the web ??
21. Folksonomy – an informal taxonomy (system of categorization) of tags that make sense to those users rather than using formal, prescribed taxonomy
22. iTunes, iMac, iPhone, iPod, iMovie, iHiking, etc. – (1) technology innovations that were produced by Apple Computers; (2) any interphase between technology and an everyday activity (analogy – Kleenex:tissues)
23. Information Landscape – the fabric of infinite content available via the computer
24. Link, Links, Linking (aka hyperlink)- (1) connecting two sources of information in one location; (2) to create a page on a wiki; (3) to provide instant access to another web site
25. Mash-Up – manipulating two information sources so that they are tailored for personal relevance (ex- Google Earth & My Maps)
26. Meta Function/Access – the ability to manage, change, initiate, and administrate a web site
27. Naming Protocols – setting norms for user names within a group so that the users are easily identified and simipler for the site administrator to manage
28. Navigate – moving from one place to another both within a web site and throughout the World Wide Web
29. Ning – social network where participants must be invited to join
30. Ping – an automated message to an IP address to determine whether or not it is accessible
31. Podcast – audio program created and distributed on the Internet
32. Post, Posting – to create or respond to a blog page
33. *RSS – (Real Simple Syndication) listserve or subscription to information feeds
34. Sidebars- the sides of the web site that list available links, services, or products
    Skype – service that connects phone to Internet and allows you talk in both places
35. Social Networking/Bookmarking – (1) using an account like Delicious to connect with other users who have similar interests; (2) a method of streamlining or focusing Internet research; (3) a way to tap into experts’ personal Internet research results and publications
36. Tab – opens new window as a tab at the top of the screen – allows you to navigate easily among all open windows
37. Tag, Tagger, Tagging – (1) putting sites that you plan to use in the future into categories for easy retrieval; (2) the process of creating webs of interrelated sites; (3) quickly setting aside websites that you don’t have time to explore at that time
38. Template – a pre-set format for displaying, organizing and presenting information
39. Thread – discussion topic
40. Trackback – setting your blogroll to search for posts/comments that contain certain words, names or phrases of interest to you
41. Twitter/Twitteresque – ????
42. Upload – sending files you downloaded to a specific place on your computer so that you can access and apply them
43. URL – the internet address used to identify and link web sites – http://www.___.___
44. *Virtual World – (1) a 3D representation of some form of reality; (2) a simulated environment
45. Web 2.0 – (1) the second generation of Internet use where the focus has shifted from going out to find information to having the information you want come to you; (2) applications used for tapping the live, interactive, worldwide potential of information/idea sharing
46. Webcasting – creating and sharing audio/visual content on the web (Podcast-audio only; Vodcast – audio & video)
47. Widgets -????
48. Wiki – personal web site that invites additions and/or revision from viewers and shares information and ideas – interaction is live and users can make changes to content; administration is open to invited participants
49. Wikiopedia – (1) a universal content web site; (2) a wiki that is open to addition/revision from all users of the web
50. Window – what’s visible on the screen – when you click a link, it takes you away from the current screen and requires the back arrow to get back to original screen
51. YouTube – service that allow users to create and share videos using the Internet

If words are being created as fast as new technologies, then I cannot possibly provide a comprehensive list. The webopedia site gives an extensive list of all technology terms but it may be TMI (too much information)! Still it’s a handy tool when you hear a new word–you know the one that was just created 5 minutes ago.

At this point my plan is to set up a glossary of 21st century, computer related terms. My hope is to use them to not only teach the term’s meaning/use, but also to compare and contrast writing on line w/writing on paper (capitalization, spacing, abbreviations, interchangeable parts of speech, length, syntax, formal vs. informal, etc.). I also hope to use these terms to illustrate the fluid and infinite nature of language.

I’m not sure yet how it will be interactive, but I’m thinking along the lines of having the kids generate a list of abbreviations they use for IMing, share and add to each other’s responses, brainstorm definitions/understandings with what I provide and add to them, making up some kind of visual matching game to go w/the term (ex – alligator pic to go w/aggregator) or have them choose & retrieve pics to go w/the terms. I will also provide links to sites that either demonstrate the term or use it & giving feedback. Another activity could be writing an on line and on paper version of the same/similar communication, etc. Still pretty loose, but that’s what I have so far. Not too kid focused yet, ’cause I feel like a kid in a candy store w/all these tools. Possible essential question: What’s the deal with the letter “i” or Who’s the I in Internet?

Well, I went down the cyberspace rabbit hole for about two hours, and I had to force myself to climb back out again. The world of information, previously untapped by me, is mind boggling (or should I say mind blogging?) I loved the ease of quick tagging and bloglining of sites and tools. I loved the article on ihiking, and I especially loved David Warlick’s concept of “working the content” by using 21st century tools in the classroom.

http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2007/07/great-visual-tools-from-joyce-valenza

http://davidwarlick.com/2cents/

keep looking »

• Recently Written

  • It’s A Mad, Mad Word
  • ABBREVIATION STATION: Talking at the Speed of Type
  • Final Project Overview
  • Reflection
  • Kids – help your blogmates….
  • Introduction
  • iTerms – The Never Ending List
  • Tech Terms Site
  • final project
  • response to great blogs