The Connected Educator, from an Unconnected Student's Perspective

     So this week, I log on in excitement to begin a new class, The Connected Educator. When I previewed this class I thought, "No problem, I know how to use the computer. I can search, I can post, I know e-mail, powerpoint, and a few other things; I've got this!" To my surprise, in week one we are to read about RSS and Blogs - "Um, what?" As often as I find myself scrolling through Facebook, glancing at Pinterest and searching for lesson plans and recipes, I realized that I do not think I have ever sat and read a blog, and if I did, it was completely by chance. Now I see that I am to create my own blog, panic set in! 

     I sit down, prepared to start working on and discovering the new technology that I can use to improve my teaching, my student's learning, and a new way to communicate with parents and other educators. A task for week one: organizing blogs with RSS and Feedly, and of course, I have not a clue as to what either of these things are, but as I read, I discover that Feedly is my new favorite resource! Not only did I set up a Feedly account, both for professional and personal interests, on my laptop, but I also downloaded the app on my phone so I can read, catch up, and search on the go. 
What is an RSS? Well, while I am still trying to put in into "English" instead of "Computer Lingo", I believe it a system which allows you to keep up to date with a site or blog that you often visit. In my mind, I thinking of it as a bookmark that automatically sends you updates and articles. This video does a great job of putting the "Computer Lingo" into "English". **Please note, Google Reader is no longer available, but you can use Feedly instead.** 

     So far, I would like to believe that I am right on track with making the transformation from an unconnected student, to a connected educator. I'll be writing about my successes, my failures, my confusions, and findings throughout this course so stick with me as I become "Connected"!