E-portfolio Work Samples

Google Sites was not the best choice to host my E-portfolio due to its limitations, including difficulty uploading podcasts and videos. I hope to use Blogger to fulfill this need.

MicroWorlds Simple Machines

Workshop Day

We have a teacher workshop today. We are comparing/contrasting two reading programs. Each program has a huge technology component. One, Breakthrough To Literacy, expects students to be on the computer for at least fifteen minutes a day for student paced drill and practice exercises. The other, Imagine It! (Open Court revamped), also has a computer based component for students but I'm unclear/uninformed about all the details. Technology does not appear to be such an integral part of Imagine It!. My mind is spinning regarding the logistics. We'll see...

Second Life was one of the topics of my graduate class last week. I'm trying not to spend too much time on it as it could be very addicting, so much to explore. At least I have real clothes and hair now!

Information Overload

Among other things, Maine based health initiative Let's Go recommends that individuals spend just two hours of screen time a day. While I completely agree with this, the screen police are headed my way!! My job requires me to be on the computer most of my work day. Once at home I sadly admit that the television is usually on. Not only is my television on but I often have my laptop running. I consider myself quite proficient in multi-tasking. Perhaps this is the reason why I am so out of shape? My life is immersed in technology therefore my daughter has "second hand screen time". We don't actually watch the TV every minute that it is on, it's often just there for background noise. According to statistics on screentime.org, "Children in households where the TV is on "always" or "most of the time" are less likely to read than are children in other homes. Zero to Six: Electronic Media in the Lives of Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers, Kaiser Family Foundation and the Children's Digital Media Centers, 2003". Am I inadvertently steering my child away from one of my greatest passions?

Check out this great PSA for National TV Turnoff Week, 2007


Growing up, the homework rule in my household was no television and no radio. It was impossible for me to concentrate!! I finally convinced my father that I needed the background noise and he lifted the no radio constriction. We joke now that I do homework while watching TV (and so does he). Not only do I watch TV but I usually working on my laptop and I switch back and forth from the assignment I'm working on to various websites. I am certainly not alone in my work habits. Teens are doing all that I am as well as texting, instant messaging, talking on the phone with friends. If I ever tried to impose a no electronics homework rule for my daughter she would not even be able to complete her homework. How do we balance technology's influence on our lives and maintain a healthy lifestyle? Let's Go acknowledges how difficult it is to cut screen time to two hours and gives great recommendations on how to accomplish this feat. So, that's my new goal, just two hours of recreational screen time per day… Keep checking my blog to see how I'm doing!

Sick Day

I am in the running for worst mother of the year after giving my daughter my cold. She had a fever most of the day yesterday so I called in for a sub. So, while my little one is resting I might be able to work on some homework.

A Few of my Favorite Tools

Here are a few of my favorite web tools, sites and services.

Professional:
Twitter: Twitter is a micro-blogging site. You add status updates in 140 text characters or less. Follow me... s_burke

Delicious: Delicious is a social bookmarking site. You can bookmark sites on any computer. Once you set up a network of other users you can send and recieve bookmarks from one another. You can also see bookmarks posted by the users in your network.

Build Your Wild Self: Did you see my picture as part penguin, butterfly, hissing cockroach and the real me? Check out the site to create your own Wild Self. This would be great for creating avatars with kids.

Personal:
Facebook: What can I say? I'm addicted! I use Facebook for personal use. It is a great way to stay in touch with old friends and far away family. It is also great for learning more about the people in my life.

Failblog: This site is hilarious, 'nuff said, check it out. Warning: this link takes you to the g-rated version of the site, be careful with the original.

Welcome!

I have had this blog for a while but have not posted much (okay, not at all). I find new technology resources everyday. I will be posting them here for those who are interested.