Thing+1

=Thing 1 (Week 1): Lifelong Learning =

Introduction
Congratulations! You are at the beginning of a self-guided learning journey.  As teachers, we are keenly aware that learning never stops.

Even so, it will require a bit of dedication and determination to keep moving through this course, past hiccups and technical glitches, past the overwhelm of what will be, for many of us, learning about completely new tools and concepts, past the competing pressures of incredibly busy lives and schedules.

As you begin to work through the course, you will notice a pattern in each "Activity" -- Introduction, Discovery Exercise, Task... To complete (and get credit for) each "Activity," you must work through all parts of the Discovery Exercise AND complete all parts of the Task, typically reflecting on your experience in a blog post (you will set up your blog in Thing 3).

It is helpful to read through each entire "Activity" before completing the Discovery Exercises and Tasks, so that you know where you are headed. Along the way, you will be offered an occasional "Stretch" task. These are not required unless you have already mastered the Discovery Exercises and Tasks, but will help you to further explore -- everyone should try at least some of them, especially if you are already familiar with a particular tool or concept. As a School District that honors student voice and choice, if you have an alternative exercise you would like to try to demonstrate your understanding, the instructor is open to suggestions.

 Ready to get started? Now is a great time to reflect on your stance as a lifelong learner.

Discovery Exercise: You as a Lifelong Learner
To complete this exercise, you will need a headset with mic, or computer speakers and a microphone (make sure they are plugged in and turned on). View the Voicethread presentation below (click the play arrow) to hear about some helpful lifelong learning strategies. During "Thing 3", you will complete your first blog post reflecting on the 7 1/2 Habits, so you may wish to take a few notes.  ***You will need to register with Voicethread to view and comment.***

(Sidebar: Voicethread is an amazing tool with almost limitless possibility for classroom application. Upload images or video and users can make text, audio and video comments, and even draw on the images while commenting. [|Learn more here]. Want examples? Look here.

As you review the 7 1/2 Habits of Highly Effective Lifelong Learners, consider three things:
 * 1) Which habit(s) may be most challenging for you to employ as part of your D36 Learning 2.0 experience? ** Example: ** Even though you are a master teacher, you cringe at the thought of teaching others how to use technology tools. (Habit 7)
 * 2) Which habit(s) will be easiest, or is most resonant for you as a lifelong learner? **Example:** You always begin with a goal in mind when learning about new technologies. (Habit 1)
 * 3) Which habit do you think will be most important for you as you work through this course, and why? **Example:** Viewing problems as challenges will be most important, because you often find technology problems frustrating and defeating (Habit 4)

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">7 1/2 Habits of Highly Effective Lifelong Learners
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">**⌘ TIP:**
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5;">If you aren't seeing/hearing yours and others' comments, be sure to close any additional webpages you may have open in other tabs or windows.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5;">If there are many comments on a slide, you may see a "more" button at the bottom of the slide which will take you to a second screen of comments.

<span style="background-color: #19071d; color: #f8d3e9; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">After viewing the presentation, leave ONE reflective/explanatory audio comment on the slide that depicts the habit you feel will be most important for you in completing this course. Depending on when you complete the task, you should find that others have already begun leaving comments!
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Task **

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">**‡ Instructions:** How to register for and leave a comment on a Voicethread <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">(If you already have a Voicethread account, please feel free to use that for your log-in!)
 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Click the **"Sign In or Register"** button on the presentation above and register as instructed. (Use your Gmail account).
 * 2) <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Go to the slide depicting the habit upon which you will comment. (Use the forward arrow or click the navigation icon -- looks like four squares).
 * 3) <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Click the Comment button, then click Record. (If asked to allow Voicethread to access your microphone, click Allow).
 * 4) <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Start talking (Don't be nervous! You can cancel and re-record as many times as you want.)
 * 5) <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Click stop recording when you are finished. You will hear a preview of your recording.
 * 6) <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Click Save (or Cancel to start over). Your comment will appear on one side of the slide.

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">**‡ HELP Video:** [|How to register for and leave a comment on a Voicethread]
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Video version of these instructions: **

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">**⌘ TIP:** Voicethread recording works better if you don't have a bunch of webpages open in other tabs or windows competing for your computer's resources. Close everything but the page/tab containing the Voicethread.

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Continue to Thing 2 (Week 1) or complete **Stretch Task first.**

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Stretch Task** (OPTIONAL, but more fun for everyone!): <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Upload an image (a.k.a avatar) to personalize your Voicethread comment. Use an image from your computer (please remember copyright), or other free image sites.

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Continue to Thing 2 (Week 1)