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=My First Wiki=

Since last May, I've really "stepped up to the plate." Although I knew of blogs and wikis (and actually took a course on how to design web sites using the Dreamweaver software), I really had never tried to make use of these tools. In fact, I was totally intimidated at the thought of designing a web page after taking that course. I struggled through every assignment and felt like it was nothing I'd ever be able to master.

My "first step" was to create a blog. I've always been interested in family history and genealogy and thought a blog would be the easiest way to share photos and documents with the rest of my family members. The blog can be a little bit tricky, though, because you look at the page and it looks fine, but when you save it the formatting can be a little off.

Then there was the matter of HTML language. I didn't know much about it. Taking the //iDiscovery// Facilitator training enabled me to use very basic HTML language to edit my assignments. Having waded into that pool, I was much more willing to take a few chances with my blog. That experience set me up for this one.

I was thrilled to find out how easy it was to design a basic web site using the google sites software. My blog experience certainly helped me with that. Although it was easy for me to set up a link, it took a few tries (and reading the directions) to understand how I could link on text that would then link to the URL. What a cool feature.

I created a new page and then explored a variety of educational wikis through the Wikiversity site. I want to try to add links to PowerPoints and videos as suggested in the course outline.

Now to go back to my google site and create a link to this. P.S. It's Sunday morning and I am multitasking -- watching Sunday Morning on TV and checking out the readings for this week. I'm really excited that I took the time to check out this link to Project Tomorrow's Science Report. It occurs to me how unfortunate it is that I have the time (since I'm semi-retired) to keep current with technology and the changes we need to make for our students if they are to be successful -- yet the teachers with whom I work are completely overwhelmed with the demands on their time.

Update: I've got Round One of eTech under my belt and feel much more comfortable with all of this than I did just one year ago. My personal blog has had many improvements because of all I have learned. If interested in a family history blog, check it out at [|Jones Family Matters]. Here's hoping you and your students will feel much more comfortable a year from now.