Monday, June 30, 2008
Thing 12
I took the intel course this summer so I was already using several of the google tools. I really like google docs. You can share a document and have several people working on one document at the same time but at different locations. It is so amazing. I have thought about using this for discussions in class. You can set your kids up in groups and have them work on documents that you set to share (kwl charts, thinking maps, etc.) I also played with the calendar. That is a pretty good thing also.. BUT I have so many calendars that I already use at the moment. You can have too much of a good thing. What I really like for personal use is the homepage- igoogle. It is great. I set it up so that I get new recipes daily as well as keep up with what is going on in sports and entertainment. I look forward to continuing adding gadgets and things to this page.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Thing 11
I found Blog lines search tool the easiest and most efficient way to find blogs. Feedster never loaded for me.Topix was good for giving you headlines and the sort. It was an easy way to find important news topics. I can really see the good in blogging with my students and their parents. But I am not as interested in blogging with others yet. Maybe because I have not really gotten into it or maybe it is because I have not found a blog site that interests me! I feel like I have so many other things that I need to be reading for school and for fun ( I love my novels!) that I don't really have so much time to sit and read blogs. I am trying though! Any thoughts out there or good blog site ideas???
Thing 10- RSS feeds
I set my rss feeds up using google reader. This was the easiest way because I already have a google account. It is one of many of the google tools! I love the fact that I will be able to subscribe to all of my students' blogs. This will let me know immediately who has blogged and completed the assignments. What a time saver that will be! I have already subscribed to information relating to the election and I know I will subscribe to the olympics as well. I have several blog sites also. This will keep me from having to open so many tabs while I am working on the computer.
Thing 9- image generator
This was fun to explore. We are using this as our theme for next year. I am thinking about putting this on my blog site. This is something that will add just a little more personal touches to things! I also created the animated firecracker that is posted in my blog's sidebar. That was a lot of fun. The ways you can use these are endless. This will make things more enjoyable and hopefully will make my students enjoy getting online to see what I have posted!
I used ImageChef to create my signs.
Thing 8- More Fun
This was my nieces 1st birthday party! It was a lot of fun to be with all of them today.
I think sharing photos online is fantastic. I am a little worried about sharing my photos publicly.. I don't like my family having to be a member in order to see them privately. I am going to have to play to see how to do this the best way. I can definitely see myself using this and I will use it to input photos into my school blog so that parents can see for themselves what we are doing.
First Day Swimming
I think sharing photos online is fantastic. I am a little worried about sharing my photos publicly.. I don't like my family having to be a member in order to see them privately. I am going to have to play to see how to do this the best way. I can definitely see myself using this and I will use it to input photos into my school blog so that parents can see for themselves what we are doing.
First Day Swimming
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Thing 7- Flickr
WOW~ I am loving Flickr. This is such a great resource to use when creating a blog site for parents. I will be using this site to show work done and things we are doing in class. I know I will have to get permission from parents but I think in return they will want to see what is going on in class. I have never used something like this online. I have been using iphoto for awhile but not anything like this. I am concerned with putting images of my family on the web.. although I do enjoy the fact that they allow me to choose who can view my pics.. Great tool. I can't wait to play with it some more!
This is one of my nephews. I take them swimming each year in my mom's pool. I take them at least once a week. They love it!
I know you are thinking.... this is one of the cutest kids I have seen!! I think so too! Another one of my nephews!
This is one of my nephews. I take them swimming each year in my mom's pool. I take them at least once a week. They love it!
I know you are thinking.... this is one of the cutest kids I have seen!! I think so too! Another one of my nephews!
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Thing 6
I have already used Skype. I love this tool as an instant messenger. If you have not tried this tool I would definitely recommend this.
For the new tool I chose to create a del.icio.us account. This was so easy to do. I chose to do this because I am constantly bookmarking a site on a computer, then needing it somewhere else. When bookmarking using del.icio.us you "tag" a site and it saves it in an internet based bookmarking site. You use it just like you would bookmarking through your web browser. The beauty of this is that you can log on to you account from any computer and find your bookmarks! Another great feature is that you can place your bookmark into a category. For example, I love to cook. I am always looking for and finding recipes and equipment on my computer. When I find something I like then I "tag" it and put it in my food category. Later when I go back to my account , instead of looking through all of my bookmarks I simply find the category of food and it will tell me all of my sites that are listed under food. Another great feature of this site is that it is a social bookmarking site. This means that I can log on to my account and search the entire del.icio.us site say under the food category. It will find all sites that have been labeled as "food" from all account holders who wish to share the site. So you not only have your sites but you have many, many more. The only dislike I have for this site is that it is blocked by MISD. This creates a little bit of a problem. You will have to get around the block. If you have not created a bookmarking account of some kind, I recommend that you do!
For the new tool I chose to create a del.icio.us account. This was so easy to do. I chose to do this because I am constantly bookmarking a site on a computer, then needing it somewhere else. When bookmarking using del.icio.us you "tag" a site and it saves it in an internet based bookmarking site. You use it just like you would bookmarking through your web browser. The beauty of this is that you can log on to you account from any computer and find your bookmarks! Another great feature is that you can place your bookmark into a category. For example, I love to cook. I am always looking for and finding recipes and equipment on my computer. When I find something I like then I "tag" it and put it in my food category. Later when I go back to my account , instead of looking through all of my bookmarks I simply find the category of food and it will tell me all of my sites that are listed under food. Another great feature of this site is that it is a social bookmarking site. This means that I can log on to my account and search the entire del.icio.us site say under the food category. It will find all sites that have been labeled as "food" from all account holders who wish to share the site. So you not only have your sites but you have many, many more. The only dislike I have for this site is that it is blocked by MISD. This creates a little bit of a problem. You will have to get around the block. If you have not created a bookmarking account of some kind, I recommend that you do!
Thing 5- Web 2.0
I am thrilled to be involved in Web 2.0. To be a part of this changing environment. To actually see first hand how it is evolving our schools and classrooms. We have come from a READ ONLY web to a READ AND WRITE WEB. We have so many tools at the touch of keys. I know I am a digital immigrant, I am learning all of this later in my life. This is my "second" language of learning. I am awe struck by my students who are digital natives. I think I am going to have to go REALLY slow so they can all get it BUT I don't. They already know it.
To quote Web 2.0 A guide for Educators "Clearly, this generation—poised to shape the future—has already found Web 2.0 applications integral to daily life. And for education not to step up and maximize these resources for teaching, learning, and driving innovation is to risk becoming marginalized as a viable influence in helping to shape the 21st century." I think sometimes as teachers we hinder the possibilities of our students by standing "in the way". What else could they accomplish if we would just"get out of the way"! David Jakes says "The new tools and processes of Web 2.0, such as blogs, social bookmarking sites, podcasting and RSS, enable individual, continual, and highly customized experiences through the creation of a personal learning environment." These tools will take learning to whole new level. I believe that our kids will have take responsibility for their own learning. We, the teachers, will be there to guide and support them BUT it is on them to LEARN! Isn't that why we became teachers? To help these kids become lifelong learners. What better way to achieve this then for us to show them how to be successful in this century, how to learn from each other collaboratively, and to continue their learning when there is not a teacher there.
To quote Web 2.0 A guide for Educators "Clearly, this generation—poised to shape the future—has already found Web 2.0 applications integral to daily life. And for education not to step up and maximize these resources for teaching, learning, and driving innovation is to risk becoming marginalized as a viable influence in helping to shape the 21st century." I think sometimes as teachers we hinder the possibilities of our students by standing "in the way". What else could they accomplish if we would just"get out of the way"! David Jakes says "The new tools and processes of Web 2.0, such as blogs, social bookmarking sites, podcasting and RSS, enable individual, continual, and highly customized experiences through the creation of a personal learning environment." These tools will take learning to whole new level. I believe that our kids will have take responsibility for their own learning. We, the teachers, will be there to guide and support them BUT it is on them to LEARN! Isn't that why we became teachers? To help these kids become lifelong learners. What better way to achieve this then for us to show them how to be successful in this century, how to learn from each other collaboratively, and to continue their learning when there is not a teacher there.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Thing 4
Commenting creates a community because it is a discussion between several people. It is like being involved in a book study. You come together to share your ideas and get feedback from others that you have formed a bond with. The more you get involved with others by commenting the more you are out there and allow people to see your ideas and also allow them to share their ideas and thoughts with you.
There were several ideas in the articles that I found important. From The Cool Cat Teacher Blog, I learned that if you are going to comment it needs to be meaningful and insightful. The author should be able to tell that you actually read and understood them that you "heard" them. I also learned that using a brand name (RedRivera) and avatars people start recognizing you and your comments. This allows you to form bonds with others and form a community. When commenting it is alright to disagree but do it nicely, it is a contribution to a "conversation".
Read and Giggle- I chose to comment on her site because I agree with alot of things that she says in her blogs.
mborden- I commented about blogging in the classroom. We agree that this would help our students take more ownership in their thoughts and in their learning.
ictbailey- I loved his son's youtube presentation. That is the kind of thing we need all of our kids to be shooting for!
gigiread- I commented on her site because I loved her animoto. I loved playing with this as well and can't wait to use it in my classroom.
ourclassjournal: I commented on this site because she really encouraged me throughout this process. I enjoyed reading what she wrote throughout this journet.
This is has been difficult for me. I am usually not the type of person to comment on blogs. I usually sit back and get the info I need and leave. It has been quite an experience to actually take part in the conversation that is going on. I commented on a site called Cookthink as well as a site on teaching writing.
There were several ideas in the articles that I found important. From The Cool Cat Teacher Blog, I learned that if you are going to comment it needs to be meaningful and insightful. The author should be able to tell that you actually read and understood them that you "heard" them. I also learned that using a brand name (RedRivera) and avatars people start recognizing you and your comments. This allows you to form bonds with others and form a community. When commenting it is alright to disagree but do it nicely, it is a contribution to a "conversation".
Read and Giggle- I chose to comment on her site because I agree with alot of things that she says in her blogs.
mborden- I commented about blogging in the classroom. We agree that this would help our students take more ownership in their thoughts and in their learning.
ictbailey- I loved his son's youtube presentation. That is the kind of thing we need all of our kids to be shooting for!
gigiread- I commented on her site because I loved her animoto. I loved playing with this as well and can't wait to use it in my classroom.
ourclassjournal: I commented on this site because she really encouraged me throughout this process. I enjoyed reading what she wrote throughout this journet.
This is has been difficult for me. I am usually not the type of person to comment on blogs. I usually sit back and get the info I need and leave. It has been quite an experience to actually take part in the conversation that is going on. I commented on a site called Cookthink as well as a site on teaching writing.
Thing 3
I feel like I am really learning a whole new world here. I thought I was pretty tech savvy but I am learning how much I REALLY have to learn. One of the main reasons for taking this class was to MAKE me take time to play on the computer. I think so much of the time I use my computer and internet as I need it. I don't make time to really play on it to see how it can benefit me and my teaching.
I am currently a math and science teacher. I really wanted to be able to go back to school next year and be able to use blogging as my journaling. I think my kids would LOVE to type and be heard by everyone willing to read it. The one draw back would be that many of my kids do not have regular access to a computer. This causes a problem because I would have to use class time to make this work and I am already short on that. I know they would learn so much from each other and it would definitely be student centered learning. Would the time used to set up and establish the blog sites be worth it in the end? I have so many ideas in my head.. I am wondering if 4th graders would be able to handle being responsible for posting a blog on their site once a week or would it be better for them to post a comment on a blog site that I have created? How does this work with the school security on the internet? I will need to find this out.
I am currently a math and science teacher. I really wanted to be able to go back to school next year and be able to use blogging as my journaling. I think my kids would LOVE to type and be heard by everyone willing to read it. The one draw back would be that many of my kids do not have regular access to a computer. This causes a problem because I would have to use class time to make this work and I am already short on that. I know they would learn so much from each other and it would definitely be student centered learning. Would the time used to set up and establish the blog sites be worth it in the end? I have so many ideas in my head.. I am wondering if 4th graders would be able to handle being responsible for posting a blog on their site once a week or would it be better for them to post a comment on a blog site that I have created? How does this work with the school security on the internet? I will need to find this out.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Thing 2
Ok.. so I think I got a little ahead of myself. I have now added my avatar and created my blog site. This was a little more involved then what I originally thought. This has pushed me a little more than what I thought it was going to and we have only just begun. I am ready to continue. I am excited about learning more things over the next few weeks. I really want to able to use blogs in my classroom as well as learn more about podcasts. I think our kids can learn so much from technology if only we will lead them in that direction. So much of our world is technology, our kids need to be ready for that!
Thing 1
WOW! Well... I have learned a lot in just these two exercises. As a lifelong learner I use many of these habits. I would have to say that accepting responsibility for my learning is the easiest habit for me. As a teacher it is imperative that we take responsibility for learning so that we can pass that on to our students. The hardest habit for me is to create my own toolbox. I feel like my "tools" are more scattered then together in one place for me to get to and use efficiently.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
