How to Survive in 2010 – Digitally

New Year 2010 SignpostI’ve been enjoying reading 2010 resolutions of others! I’ve always liked the idea of making lists and here is my list to survive in 2010!

1. Start Blogging!

You can consider start blogging. It’s the best way to keep your ideas organized, keep pace with the changing world, leave your footprints to the digital world. It is the best way to start an online presence! Here are some good posts to read on how to start blogging:

How to start blogging , 9 Tips to Start Blogging, The Easiest Instructions for How to Start a Blog, Rules for Writing Blog Articles, Ready to Start Blogging? or have a  look at “Blogging in Plain English“.

You can get an account from EduBlogs, Blogger or WordPress! Enjoy your blogging throughout the new year!!

You can also consider creating a class blog. If you don’t know where to start, read Burcu Akyol’s blogging adventure:Part 1,part 2, part 3 and blogging school.

2.Start Tweeting!

Twitter has been undoubtedly the best tool I’ve started using in 2009 and it will be the same in 2010! It has expanded my PLN and helped me to meet with great educators from all over the world. If you still haven’t started using Twitter and you are reading this, start tweeting, it’ll be one of the best things you can do to improve yourself on Web.

You start watching Twitter in Plain English by Common Craft, you can read How to Start Tweeting, Twitter for Teachers, 7 Steps to Start Tweeting, I Tweet Therefore I am, Join Twitter.

You can follow ME or follow a list of great educators! Micro blogging works and it rocks!!

3. Google Your Name!

 Have you ever googled your name? This is what most people, your co- workers,employer(s),students will do with it! Just google it and see what your digital identity says about you to others. Is it a blog post or a picture that you would not prefer other people to see it? You can work on making your digital reputation better with this new coming year.

4.Use Technology!

Web 2.o has been the most popular term in 2009 for me and for many other people in my PLN. There are great applications that we can use in our classes with our students. You can have a look at these great blogs to learn more about Web 2.0 applications that you can use in your classes in 2010.

Life Feast, Box of Tricks, ILearn Technology, Nik’s Learning Technology Blog, Educational Technology, Using ICT Further Education, The WhiteBoard Blog, Technology Tibbits, Free Technology for Teachers, Civitiquana.

5.Watch Some Great Videos!

I’ve watched great videos in 2009, I believe most of them should be watched by each educator. Here is my list of must-see videos:

A Brave New World, A Vision of Students of Today,The MAchine is Us/ing Us, Did You Know?, Animal School and Common Craft videos.

6.Attend Online Sessions!

We’re lucky as English teachers, because there are great resources on web for us to use, learn and improve ourselves to become better and online teachers. There are many online courses, sessions, workshops on web and I’ve discovered many other this year.

EVO sessions are my favourites, it takes 6 months and I always learn a lot of things. This year,I’ll be taking BAW and Teaching Languages in a Virtual World. I hope to meet some of you there online!! You can also attend k12 onlineconference, SEETA, ADOBE  Youth Voices Online Course, Advance Composition for Non-Native Speakers of English, Wiki Educator.

7. Improve Your PLN!

Creating a PLN is the easiest thing on Web, but creating an efficient and a good PLN that supports and teaches you is important!So,blog, comment on other’s blog, join a Ning, tweet!

8.Learn Your Rights!

With the development of Web tools, we’re sharing ideas, pictures online but what about copyright?2010 is the year to license your work! Invest yourself today with Creative Commons!

9. Get Your Domain Name!

If you have a website/blog, you can consider getting your domain name! ozgekaraoglu.com will be here soon!

10. Be Nice and Positive!

Be positive to yourself, your colleagues, workers, your friends, your family. Praise yourself and others as well. Leave nice and encouraging comments on other’s blog. Make others smile and motivated! Enjoy your and your friends’ success and don’t forget: “The positive thinker sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible.”

Super Happy New Year!!

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