I added a Ning badge to my blog and responded to a discussion about our favorite tools. Then I checked out several of the suggested nings and the one I enjoyed the most was Fuzzsters. I love animals and animal pictures so I had to look at that one.
I probably won't join any other Nings since I have so many blogs I monitor daily. Just don't have time to do more. However, I do plan to go back and explore further before school starts. The Food and Hobbies looked promising for future use.
I discovered since taking this class that I belong to several network communities and didn't even realize it. LOL Through MyFamily.com I have two family sites - one for researching one line of my family, the other for my out-of-state family members to keep in touch. I also belong to scrapbooking communities, but have been slow to become an active member. Since taking this class I am becoming more active because I understand the concept better.
It's a great way for people to connect with others of like interests, and I do enjoy being able to have "friends" around the world. I don't believe it will take the place of old-fashioned, personal relationships, but it does offer an opportunity to broaden our horizons in knowledge and understanding.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Final thoughts
I guess I should have read the last link before I posted my Thing #23! I already answered some of the questions so I'll be brief in repeating them.
I. Feedback
1. Favorite exercise: playing with Flickr, setting up a blog, setting up iGoogle and all the goodies that come with it
2. Lifelong learning goals: this program has made me even more eager to continue learning how I can use the Internet to my advantage
3. Unexpected outcomes: discovering RSS feeds and that I can follow specific topics by subscribing to a feed
4. Improve program: the only thing I can think of is to check the links; some are not working
5. Participate in future: absolutely! This was so much fun and I love that I could do it at home where I have plenty of time to play and digest the information.
6. Influence my teaching: I definitely plan to use technology more with my students this year than in the past. I want to have a class blog, use Animoto with my classes, and let them use a mapping program to help write their papers.
7. I hope to keep up with web 2.0 by using RSS feeds from sites that pertain to the new technology
II. Where do I go from here?
I do plan to start a blog for my class and keep up with the latest tools for productivity and creativity. I also plan to teach my students as much as I can about the tools I use with them. Since I spend a lot of time on the computer at home, it will be easy for me to spend a few minutes each night checking out the latest.
I had not thought about adding my blog URL to my signature line, but I like that idea. If every teacher who receives an email from me sees the blog URL maybe they will check it out and get excited about trying it with their class. I also plan to share our blog with my administrator. I want her to see what my kids are doing.
I just subscribed to the Learning 2.1 blog.
I am relieved to complete this class, but so excited aobut all I've learned. I have plenty of time to decide how I plan to integrate the new things into my lessons. By the time school starts I will have the blog set up, widgets added, an introductory letter posted, and invitations to my principal, fellow teachers, and students.
I. Feedback
1. Favorite exercise: playing with Flickr, setting up a blog, setting up iGoogle and all the goodies that come with it
2. Lifelong learning goals: this program has made me even more eager to continue learning how I can use the Internet to my advantage
3. Unexpected outcomes: discovering RSS feeds and that I can follow specific topics by subscribing to a feed
4. Improve program: the only thing I can think of is to check the links; some are not working
5. Participate in future: absolutely! This was so much fun and I love that I could do it at home where I have plenty of time to play and digest the information.
6. Influence my teaching: I definitely plan to use technology more with my students this year than in the past. I want to have a class blog, use Animoto with my classes, and let them use a mapping program to help write their papers.
7. I hope to keep up with web 2.0 by using RSS feeds from sites that pertain to the new technology
II. Where do I go from here?
I do plan to start a blog for my class and keep up with the latest tools for productivity and creativity. I also plan to teach my students as much as I can about the tools I use with them. Since I spend a lot of time on the computer at home, it will be easy for me to spend a few minutes each night checking out the latest.
I had not thought about adding my blog URL to my signature line, but I like that idea. If every teacher who receives an email from me sees the blog URL maybe they will check it out and get excited about trying it with their class. I also plan to share our blog with my administrator. I want her to see what my kids are doing.
I just subscribed to the Learning 2.1 blog.
I am relieved to complete this class, but so excited aobut all I've learned. I have plenty of time to decide how I plan to integrate the new things into my lessons. By the time school starts I will have the blog set up, widgets added, an introductory letter posted, and invitations to my principal, fellow teachers, and students.
Thing #23
I finally made it!!! What a trip! I have learned so much about the web that I had no idea even existed. Many of the tools we explored I plan to use regularly. I especially appreciated learning how to set up and manage a blog since I've been wanting to do that for my scrapbooking.
Now for the last question: I did not enjoy the video. It was really difficult to figure out what it was saying. In fact, it took awhile before I realized what the characters were doing and had to restart it to make sense of it. However, after reading through the links I finally figured out where it was headed. I do like the idea of the Creative Commons copyright effort. It just makes sense since the copyright laws are so strict.
I'm not sure what was meant by an example of how "this" program was modified unless the program referred to is the Learning 2.0. This statement from the article explains it best:
"This course is designed under a Creative Commons license and is an example of how one can take a piece of information or a product and re-work it to make it fit your needs."
But based on that statement I assume the example referred to is the fact that Learning 2.0 is based on the 43Things program and a website called 43 Things I (You) might want to do this year.
Now for the last question: I did not enjoy the video. It was really difficult to figure out what it was saying. In fact, it took awhile before I realized what the characters were doing and had to restart it to make sense of it. However, after reading through the links I finally figured out where it was headed. I do like the idea of the Creative Commons copyright effort. It just makes sense since the copyright laws are so strict.
I'm not sure what was meant by an example of how "this" program was modified unless the program referred to is the Learning 2.0. This statement from the article explains it best:
"This course is designed under a Creative Commons license and is an example of how one can take a piece of information or a product and re-work it to make it fit your needs."
But based on that statement I assume the example referred to is the fact that Learning 2.0 is based on the 43Things program and a website called 43 Things I (You) might want to do this year.
Oh my goodness!! I just saw the most amazing podcast video! I found it under Elementary Podcasts. It's from Penn Manor School District entitled "Monster Exchange Video" created by a 6th grade teacher explaining how he and a 2nd grade teacher use a podcast between their classes. In case it cannot be found by a search: the 6th grade students draw a picture of a monster then write a story about it and read it into the computer to create their podcast. The 2nd grade students listen to the stories and try to draw the monster from the description by the 6th grade. They later meet in the library to compare drawings, trying to find their partner based on the pictures. They spend time reading the stories to each other, comparing and contrasting the pictures. Finally they go to the cafeteria for a demonstration of the different technology from early days [vinyl records] and today. They celebrate by making and eating monster cookies.
To further extend the project the 6th graders contact a school in another part of the state and those of 6th graders listen to the podcasts, draw monsters based on the descriptions, then upload their pictures to the web so the first group can see what they drew.
I got so excited about this project that I started trying to think of ways I could use this with my students. Instead, I plan to tell one of my colleagues about it and encourage her to try it with her homeroom. We have always had "reading buddies" between our 6th and 2nd grades. Imagine how the podcast experience would enrich both groups' learning!
I found the Educational Podcast Directory to be a little overwhelming. There was no search option so it was a little hit and miss trying to find anything specific. I just happened onto the podcast above.
I tried to find a podcast on scrapbooking using the other three sites, but the search options were limited. I did find one I sent to my Google Reader, however it is outdated by two years! Still the information is good and there are several episodes. I like the option of listening before subscribing. This was my first experience with podcasts. I really had no idea what they were or that you did not need an ipod to listen. I may explore them more in the future to see how else they can be used. But, I probably won't subscribe to one to listen to regularly due to time constraints.
To further extend the project the 6th graders contact a school in another part of the state and those of 6th graders listen to the podcasts, draw monsters based on the descriptions, then upload their pictures to the web so the first group can see what they drew.
I got so excited about this project that I started trying to think of ways I could use this with my students. Instead, I plan to tell one of my colleagues about it and encourage her to try it with her homeroom. We have always had "reading buddies" between our 6th and 2nd grades. Imagine how the podcast experience would enrich both groups' learning!
I found the Educational Podcast Directory to be a little overwhelming. There was no search option so it was a little hit and miss trying to find anything specific. I just happened onto the podcast above.
I tried to find a podcast on scrapbooking using the other three sites, but the search options were limited. I did find one I sent to my Google Reader, however it is outdated by two years! Still the information is good and there are several episodes. I like the option of listening before subscribing. This was my first experience with podcasts. I really had no idea what they were or that you did not need an ipod to listen. I may explore them more in the future to see how else they can be used. But, I probably won't subscribe to one to listen to regularly due to time constraints.
Thing #21
I really had fun with this one! I could sit and make videos all day with my family photos! What a fun way to tell a story. It was so simple - the hardest thing was deciding which pictures to choose.
In fact, I like Animoto for my students to create videos to go along with whatever we are studying, or just for the experience of making the decisions of what goes where. The problem solving aspect of that intrigues me.
Now, while I'm making my Ta-da list, I'll add "making an Animoto video" one of my items. When I set up my class blog, I can add all kinds of goodies to it to make the experience for my students a lot of fun. I can see a video of my students working on a project to put on the blog for their parents to watch. Between Animoto and PhotoStory 3 [another staff development I did this summer] we should have some awesome entries on our blog.
Only two more modules to go and I am finished! yeaaaaaa
In fact, I like Animoto for my students to create videos to go along with whatever we are studying, or just for the experience of making the decisions of what goes where. The problem solving aspect of that intrigues me.
Now, while I'm making my Ta-da list, I'll add "making an Animoto video" one of my items. When I set up my class blog, I can add all kinds of goodies to it to make the experience for my students a lot of fun. I can see a video of my students working on a project to put on the blog for their parents to watch. Between Animoto and PhotoStory 3 [another staff development I did this summer] we should have some awesome entries on our blog.
Only two more modules to go and I am finished! yeaaaaaa
Thing #20
Actually this was an easy one for me. I have already embedded a video that a friend sent me last week. It took me awhile to figure out how to do it, but I got it done. It's posted as "Something Extra" in my archives. If I had not already used that one, it is the one I would have chosen anyway. A very inspirational story that brought tears to my eyes, it struck a chord with me because I work with children who are disabled.
I love the idea of adding videos to our classroom blog - some for information, some for just plain fun. As I said before, our students need to enjoy learning to stay engaged. This would be just one more way to keep their attention.
I think the same could be true of the library website. Informational videos could serve a dual purpose - dispensing the information and freeing up the librarian to work with students.
I found this video today that I thought my readers would enjoy.
But this is without doubt one of the funniest I have ever seen. I keep it on my desktop and whenever I need a laugh, I play it. As many times as I've seen it, I still laugh!!
I love the idea of adding videos to our classroom blog - some for information, some for just plain fun. As I said before, our students need to enjoy learning to stay engaged. This would be just one more way to keep their attention.
I think the same could be true of the library website. Informational videos could serve a dual purpose - dispensing the information and freeing up the librarian to work with students.
I found this video today that I thought my readers would enjoy.
But this is without doubt one of the funniest I have ever seen. I keep it on my desktop and whenever I need a laugh, I play it. As many times as I've seen it, I still laugh!!
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