Busy Business

Wow, so I noticed I forgot to make a post for quite some time. Things have been a little hectic in the last while. However, my abundant readers haven't missed a whole hell of a lot. I've been spending quite a bit of time reading very theoretical journal articles and writing reflection after reflection. I'm not sure if that's the definition of excitement but I do know it has to be close! The important thing is that the end is almost here and even though this is gonna be hell week I could care less. 45 essays due on Friday wouldn't even stress me out at this point. Time to get this year fiiiiiinnnnishhhhedddddddd up!

This Week

Well, things are getting down and dirty in the college of Education these days. Every class has something due it seems. I decided it was better to take last night off and respectfully celbrate my non-irish heritage on St. Patricks day. Needless to say, my 830 class didn't happen. Anyway, now its back to the grind, plugging out journal articles and fighting the good fight. Until next week "Keep fit and have fun" (Johnson, H., McLeod, J., 1993)

E-portfolio Proposal (Beta Version)

Why have you chosen to complete an e-portfolio?

I have chosen to complete an e-portfolio because I want to use it when applying for careers. I knew a long time ago that working in Saskatoon or Regina wasn't my first choice. I will be working in a rural community. Instead of sending around a hard copy of work I think I could use a professional portfolio based on the internet. I think divisons like to see a new teacher who is caught up on technology and I feel that an e-portfolio is a great way to demonstrate my technological skills. I have taken the e-learning course with Dirk and was very interested in that method of delivery. This portfolio can help me find a job and also prepare me to build webspaces for my students and me.

What professional uses does an e-portfolio have for you?

As stated above I have been applying to a number of school divisions. I am not picky about work. I think it would be very beneficial to have a web based portfolio because I wouldn't have to send a hard copy out to divisons. I would also look incredibly tech savvy so that's also a big plus. All of the practice is really going to help me when I make class based websites in the future because I will be doing that for sure.

What content do you plan to include?

-Teaching Resume

-Unit Plans (hopefully two)

-Assessment Tools

-Skills/Interests

-Extracurricular interests and abilities

-Teaching Experience

-About me!

-Clever anticdotes

-Hopefully some other cool looking doodads if I can ever get me dreamweaver to stop messing with my windows 7

What graphic design considerations have you taken into account for the look of your e-portfolio?

(Include a drawing, sketch or layout to show what you pages may look like.)

This portfolio is going to be very well organized and easy to navigate through. I hate websites that aren't organized and for many administrators a poorly organized website would not put me at the top of their hiring list. The colours will not be overly bright. I'm thinking some cobalt background will make the page pop. I plan to include a fair amount of white space as well because a cluttered page is an annoying page. The text will be easy to read as well. I intend to play around with flash a bit and will try to include some flash items on the page. For the most part, each of the items above will have their own tab. Any files will be accessible in pdf form for download as well instead of just having them posted on the site. I will try to get my hands on a scanner in the next few days so I can post an actual sketch.

What concerns do you have about the process? How do you plan to address these concerns?

Dreamweaver is a new program for me. I have never really made a professional looking page. I'm worried that I may expect too much right now in my vision. However, I think this will be fun so my method of solving the madness will be to just put in as much class and spare time as I can muster to achieve a site that will work for me now and in the future. I have also come across a (wink)borrowed copy of a Dreamweaver guide on a certain internet site. I hope it helps me by walking me through some of the more complicated aspects we didn't address in class.

This Weekend

This weekend I will be participating in the Hudson Bay Sportsman's Bonspiel. Basically, it is a curling bonspiel... in theory. In practice it tends to become kind of a gong show involving a series of recyclables. I will be partaking in both aspects. I hate to lose so I will not be trying to lose by any means. I sure won't let winning get in the way of fun this weekend though.

Blog o the week

I feel I have always been a patriotic Canadian. I have always said that we need to show a bit more enthusiasm. This guy obviously has the enthusiasm but you know that a Canadian would have proof read their sign. This picture makes me giggle as a Kin major/Sports Fan and as an English Minor grammar stickler. Not many images can do that. Congrats to this loser.

Web Safety

Web safety means not being naive and using critical thinking to decide whether what you're doing on the internet is rational, secure, and will not compromise you're personal and financial identity.

Time for a concise blog about my wikipedia changes slash proposal idea. On wikipedia I changed some poor spelling on the home site of Hudson Bay. It was very poorly written and that made me quite sad. Its Etomami not ETAMAMI or etamami. Both of which were changed by yours truely.

CHECK YOSELF BEFO YOU WRECK YOSELF...with this link to my wikipedia changes

Also, my research paper is going to be on censorship... so that should be thrilling for everyone.