7 Things You Don't Need to Know About Me!

Seven by mdumlao98
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You don't need to know these 7 things about me for two reasons:
1.) If you know me, you have probably already figured these out
and
2.) Most of these 7 things remain arcane, yet deeply held passions or ideas that I hold.

But that kind of reasoning has never stopped me from attaining a goal before.

Since I was tapped to share in this meme by my wonderful colleague and friend, Anne Mirtschin, from Australia, it seems that I'm wondering: What are 7 things people don't need to know about me? After several false starts, I've listed 7 things and named 7 other colleagues to share this meme.

New Mexico Plains by glennharper
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1. The desert plains of North America would be a favorite place to live. I enjoy the low humidity and cool nights, as well as traveling to nearby mountains for respite in the hottest times of the year. I especially like New Mexico for its lovely landscapes, rich history and relatively small populations when compared to other mountain states.

2. Gardening and caring for the environment have been a passion of mine, since I was a toddler. Recently I completed the Master Gardener program offered through our Kansas State Extension service. This is a national model, yet it was offered for gardeners in Neosho County, Kansas where I live. My cohort forms a team who will work to encourage more participation in our southeast Kansas area and complete volunteer public gardening works to give back to the Master Gardener program.

3. As a citizen of present day United States of America, I like to talk about the founding fathers' foresight in organizing our country and establishing traditions that continue to serve us well. Next to the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States of America and the American Bill of Rights, my favorite American historical documents are the Northwest Ordinance and the Land Ordinance of 1785. The founders used these documents to establish firmly held beliefs about democracy. These laws were the blueprint for the public land survey system. They also helped establish the people's right to public lands for various uses, including government and schools.

4. I enjoy discussing topics that others believe arcane.

5. Besides reading and gardening, collecting is a favorite hobby. Over the years, I have focused on various items, including fossils, minerals, furniture, glassware and other items like stamps. The longest running collections I have are the minerals and fossils. I enjoy leading fieldtrips and have developed several daytrips and week long tours of our region. One of my favorites is the Volcano Tour, while another is the Sun and Stars Tour. One of my favorite fossil hunting sites is in Peru.

6. I appreciate irony and even a sardonic sense of humor at times. I agree with the beloved American humorist, Will Rogers when he said, "Everyone is ignorant, only in different subjects."

7. My Personal/Professional Learning Network continues to encourage me to push my skills to match my abilities, and I need that. I work well in groups. If I could, I would like to meet my colleagues in the World of Matter. They all make me think, cheer me on and push me to see opportunities and possibilities.

Here are several colleagues that I'm selecting to share in the 7 Things You Don't Need to Know About Me meme:


Malinka Ivanova

William Chamberlain, aka Mr.C: Thanks! We are all enjoying your contribution to the "7 Things" meme. One colleague especially appreciated that you correlated #6: "I love art, music, video games, movies, and books." with #1: "I have a very short attention span." Personally, I don't see how you can teach and NOT have a wandering attention span!

Sherry Crofut

Joyce Seitzinger

Dr. Mark Stock

Amanda Marrinan

Lori Sheldon who has always wanted to be a teacher. Read this engaging contribution to the "Seven Things Meme".

Linda George

Allison Kipta

Elizabeth Holmes

Opportunity Abounds

Would you go through that door? by The Rocketeer
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Opportunity abounds all around us. Let's work this new year to see it, while we decide to take it and use it. Opportunity defines our lives in so many ways. People in all walks of life, throughout history, make life changing choices based on Opportunity.





The discussion of this important idea, it history and implementation in education will be a major focus of my 2009 professional development discussions. My most important Opportunity of 2008 was the creation of my Professional Learning Network, and my Personal Learning Network. These wonderful people have been the embodiment of my greatest Opportunity in many years, and I thank them for their knowledge, collaboration, collegiality, friendship and improved Opportunities.

What does Opportunity mean to you?

For song writer, Pete Murray, Opportunity presents a fine canvas to write a song of powerful feelings.

For General George Washington, America's first president, Opportunity was the result of making himself available to accept it. It is widely known that learning about soldiering was an opportunity that his brother provided through fencing lessons and instructions in arms, his service in the French & Indian War and Viriginia militia. As a standing colonel in the Virginia militia, Continental Congress representative George Washington presented himself at the meeting wearing his military uniform. He took his experiences to continue opportunities to serve, and he was nominated by John Adams to be the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. He took Opportunity and used it for the benefit of our country.




For author, Malcolm Gladwell, Opportunity is the core of his new book on success, Outliers. You can listen to Charlie Rose interviewing Malcolm Gladwell about his latest book and the ideas that support it.

Welcome to the new year. "Opportunity is what you make of it!"

Consells Medi Ambient

 Consells Medi Ambient) by Lari y Gafa; for EFL/ESL - also for science & environment; PSA funny!

Simon Brown shared September launch of GeoEye satellite at Vandeburg, California, USA. Now see their Christmas greeting: http://ping.fm/yD56t

Interpreting the PLN

Photo by Sue Waters
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This wikispace, Franklinville: PLN, devoted to understanding the emergence of the Professional Learning Netowrk and its intersection with available web2.0 applications presents a unique perspective that others could easily use or modify for their own discussions. The authors, Tim Clarke and his colleague, Rick Weinberg, have a remarkable repertoire of materials.





Included on the wiki is an excellent video w/a Charles Leadbeater discussion of many of the aspects of various tools and links to those that we can employ to improve our best practice. He also discusses the similarity of thes 21st Century Professional Learning Networks with older more traditional networks.

3 Ways to WORDLE Share

Interested in learning more or sharing your WORDLES? Now, you can access the Diigo WORDLE Group.

Haven't used Diigo, the social bookmarking site? Now would be a great time to join.

While you're at it, consider joining the Diigo for Educators site that is protected, so you can use it with your students.

Here are webslide show of many of our group's bookmarks, to date.

Many Eyes on Bullying

Many Eyes is an IBM web application that people can use to visualize their data in unique ways. WORDLE is a part of this Many Eyes Project. Here is a sample of real data from a study by Ken Rigby, an associate professor of social psychology at the University of South Australia on Reasons Children Give for Bullying Others.