Thursday, February 24, 2011

Welcome!

Join us for an 8 week self-directed technology learning program designed to help you learn about, and how to use, Web 2.0 technologies. In addition to the traditional reading, writing and arithmetic that structured our education the new media environment includes skills like digital video production, pod casting, video game design and more. As a parent, and your child's first teacher, you are an important guide through this new digital world. If you are feeling overwhelmed, relax! You can't be expected to learn it all because it is always growing and changing. This program is designed to create a group environment for families to learn together in a fun relaxed format. We will post weekly tasks highlighting some new media technologies and then share our experiences as we learn through play.
As an incentive to complete your lessons in the eight week time span we are giving all registrants who complete all lesson assignments a 2GB USB storage flash drive. They will then be entered in a chance drawing for an Apple IPOD Shuffle.

Here's how it works:
Register now by going to the section on the right of this page entitled "Followers". Click on the icon "Followers". You will be asked to log in using a email account. Then you will be asked to give your name. You can use your name or an anonymous one. You will then select whether to follow publicly or privately. It doesn't matter either way. (Having difficulty or questions about signing up? Email mbleattl@largo.com or call 727-587-6715 Ext 2508.)
As a follower you will be able to read the weekly assignments and make comments.
I will send out weekly email reminders to visit the blog for that weeks assignments.
After you have created your family blog I will add your blog link to the class page so we can all view each others work.

Our hope is that through blog postings you will develop an online learning friendship with fellow students. At the conclusion of the eight weeks we will host a graduation party where all participants can then meet face to face and also learn the winner of the grand prize.



This program is inspired by the Learning 2.0: 23 Things program developed by Helene Blowers of the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenberg County (PLCMC) as well as Darien Library's 21 Things for 21st Century Parents and Minnesota Multicounty's 23 Things on a Stick. Content and style for this project have been borrowed and duplicated under a Creative Commons license.