Blogging-- Weedin Style!

Thing #11.5- Evalutation

2009-07-23T16:58:00.006-05:00

1. My favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey were Wordle, Animoto, Facebook, backchanneling, Hulu, and 280 Slides. I guess that's a long list! I really thought that 11.5 Things was a lot of fun and I learned so many new programs that I can't wait to use with my students. In fact, I think I got a lot more out of 11.5 Things than I did out of 23 Things. These sites and programs were more my style. :)

2. These programs have encouraged me and given me the confidence to continue learning and attempting to keep up with advancing technology. Programs like Second Life were frustrating for me, but I know that when I go back and give it another try, I'll hopefully be able to keep up (and put on some clothes!). I'm always amazed by what my students know, so hopefully I can continue to keep up with their thirst for technology.

3. I was surprised by Second Life. However, my frustrations were at their worst, so I was too impatient to deal with clothing. I certainly wasn't expecting to lose my clothes though! On the other hand, I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it is to make a screencast. It's a program that looks difficult, and although it was late at night and I was having technical difficulties, it was actually really quick and easy. Who knew!

4. Honestly, I loved 11.5 Things. Maybe I just had a better idea of what to expect. Or maybe the programs were better. Either way though, I got more out of 11.5 Things than I did out of 23 Things. My only suggestion would be to have a buddy system or a mentor to go to with help on Second Life. I needed some one-on-one help with that one! Otherwise, I loved everything. Thank you for this awesome experience!

Thing #11- Digital Citizenship

2009-07-23T16:27:00.008-05:00

I agree that it's important to discuss/teach/review/stress the importance of being a good "digital citizen," and I like the terminology too. What a great way to explain the concept, much like being a good citizen in society. Makes perfect sense!

I focused mainly on the following articles:
1. National Educational Technology Standards (NETS-T) and Performance Indicators for Teachers AND National Educational Technology Standards (NETS-S) and Performance Indicators for Students
2. "Digital Literacy and the Classroom" on Rhonda's Reflections- Wandering Around the Web
3. The Cool Cat Teacher Blog

I found all of the articles helpful and insightful.

When encouraging my students to be good digital citizens, I will stress the importance of the following tips:
1. Students should always use technology in SAFE, legal, and responsible ways.
2. Students should use technology to find, EVALUATE, and use information. Remember, not everything found on the internet is true or accurate.
3. Students should push themselves to use technology and knowledge to develop NEW ideas. Cheating is cheating, whether off another students' paper or off the internet. Don't plagarize.
4. Students should use technology to COLLABORATE with others for further learning...including collaborating long-distance.
5. Students should be familiar with addressing multiple AUDIENCES using a variety of formats.

Thing #10- Virtual Worlds

2009-07-22T17:00:00.002-05:00

I am so frustrated with Second Life! And I'm disappointed in myself because I've heard how cool it is. I think I need to take a break and relax, and then I'll give it another try later.

I managed to customize my avatar and to dress her. That took forever, but it was fun. However, I somehow made myself bald and couldn't get my hair back. It only got worse from there. Then, while trying to undo my baldness, I somehow took off all my clothes! Ooops! And while trying to put my clothes back on, I mysteriously managed to make my view of my avatar appear as a white fog. Others could see me (and my nakedness!), but all I could see was a white fog. Who knew you could feel embarrassed in a virtual world?!

I did manage to transport, fly, run, sit, and have a few short conversations with the people standing near me. I tried to explore Campus 3D, but I was a bit preoccupied without clothes or hair, so I'm taking a break. Frustrating!

I'm not sure how I would use this in the classroom. Apparently, I have a lot of learning before I'll teach my students.

I'm going to take a break, calm down, and I'll try again tomorrow. :)

Thing #9- Slideshare

2009-07-21T21:15:00.002-05:00

I think Slideshare, and, specifically, 280 Slides, seems awesome! I love that it's possible to access 280 slides from any computer and that's it's free. What a deal!

This would be great for students. Particularly when students are presenting, it would be so easy for them to open their presentation on a class computer. Last year when my students were presenting their projects, a few students couldn't open their projects due to file errors or problems with their email. It would be so convenient to open it online. The media services would help make the presentations more interesting. And, of course, I already mentioned that it's free! What's not to love?

Thing #8- Screencast

2009-07-20T23:30:00.003-05:00

This screencast is terrible and completely embarrassing, but at least I learned how to make a screencast. My computer is having technical difficulties tonight, so I figured I'd stick to something easy like the Library Resource Page.

When I try this again, I think it will be really helpful to make an instructional screencast for Eduphoria. Because teachers are going to need to learn a new program, a screencast could be a great way to learn. Again though, due to technical difficulties, I couldn't make it tonight.

I could definitely have my students make screencasts. I can't believe how easy it is! Good find!

Thing #7- Video Resources

2009-07-20T22:33:00.005-05:00

Using news clips of current events could lead to interesting writing topics. Short videos can capture the students' interest and allow them enough background information to formulate opinions.

Movie trailers are a great way to get students excited about reading. Clearly, the movie Twilight helped get hesitant readers to pick up a book...and to continue reading the entire saga. Similarly, students who already read the book likely feel a connection with the characters. Thus, they will have more of an opinion about the movie. Anything that engages students in discussing literature seems valuable.

Thing #6- iTouch Apps

2009-07-17T10:27:00.000-05:00

Although I don’t have an iTouch, I’m dying for one! As soon at the iphone is available with Verizon, I’m definitely getting one. Can’t wait!

Several of my friends have iphones, so I’ve used them several times. They are SO great, both for personal and professional use. Some of the applications I could imagine multiple students using in the library are included in the following:

WeDict
Graphing Calculator
TouchCalc
Word of the Day
Google Map/Earth
Poptiq
Brainteaser
6500+Cool Facts
inFactUSA
Stanza
Classics
3DPlanet
WorldCat

Thing #5- Microblogging

2009-07-17T09:39:00.000-05:00

I'm already a fan of Facebook. I love that Facebook allows me to keep in touch with my high school friends, my college friends, and now my teaching colleagues. In fact, in the past year, even my sisters, aunts, and uncles have joined Facebook. Although communicating through Facebook is not the same as visiting in person, I’m grateful that I can easily keep in touch with my friends and family back home in California.

I’m a beginner with Twitter. I’ve played around a few times, and I can definitely see the appeal. Depending on who you are following, it can be a lot of fun. Juicy, too!

Having a Facebook group would be great for students to join. Students can post questions/comments about homework, projects, book clubs…anything. Limitless possibilities! And, of course, it’s another way to keep students engaged in their learning.

In general, back-channeling seems like a great way for students to stay engaged in their learning. When back-channeling during class, it might take some time to establish ground rules for appropriate comments. Also, it will be an adjustment for the teacher to get used to students looking at a computer and typing, not making eye contact with the teacher. However, I think the benefits could be so amazing!

I’m ready to give it a try with my students!

Thing #4- Posting to YouTube or TeacherTube

2009-07-16T19:58:00.004-05:00

I uploaded a video of my friend trying to sled in Breckenridge. She was having such a difficult time, so the rest of us girls thought it was hysterical. Poor Becca! 

I think it would be awesome for students to upload their student-made videos online. It seems like students would take the assignment more seriously. And, of course, it would clarify the importance of knowing your audience. Plus, it would be so exciting!

My only concern would be for their privacy. According to the privacy option, only 25 viewers could watch the video. I’m not sure if students would continue to take the project as seriously if they knew their viewers were capped. On the other hand, it seems like a huge liability to have the student’s face on camera. Last year, I took a video of my students performing some of Shakespeare’s plays in a student-written, student-produced, student-performed masterpiece. I played it back so they could see themselves, but again, I wasn’t comfortable uploading it because of privacy. Hmmmm…I wish someone would just give me the specifics of privacy rules and such.

Thing #3- Like Skype (11.5 Things)

2009-07-01T17:54:00.002-05:00

I've used Skype before and I think it's amazing! In fact, I have a friend who used Skype to continue a long-distance relationship with a guy in Australia. (Miss you, Claire!) I could definitely use this in my classroom. My students could communicate with students in other parts of the world, talk with authors, conduct interviews for research...

Thing #2- Image Generators 2 (11.5 Things)

2009-06-30T22:40:00.017-05:00

I created this in Wordle using the article "You are Brilliant, and the Earth is Hiring." I can definitely use this program in class. As a pre-reading exercise, students can use this Wordle to make predictions about the article. While reading, these common key words might help students with their annotations/highlighting. After reading, students can use this to write a summary for the article. These words will remind the students of the main ideas. I love this program!

Glogster is such a cool program! Using this program instead of creating the tradition posters would have so many advantages. Particularly, students can upload images, sounds, text... Also, students or teachers could save these "posters" in a file on the computer. Lasts a lot longer than the old school poster boards! Obviously the students would have to project their posters for others to view. Easy enough though.

Animoto is such a great program and I know I will use this with my students! This would be an awesome alternative to the dull project. Love it!

Bookr seems like a fun way to spice up a book talk, a presentation, or even introducing a new unit. Good find!

You are Brilliant, and the Earth is Hiring :: Paul Hawken's Commencement Address to the Class of 2009

2009-06-30T21:35:00.001-05:00

You are Brilliant, and the Earth is Hiring :: Paul Hawken's Commencement Address to the Class of 2009

Shared via AddThis

Thing #1- The Networked Student (11.5 Things)

2009-06-30T19:37:00.004-05:00

Wow! What a lucky student! I want to be in that teacher's class!

If I want to be a "Network Sherpa" or a "student of Connectivism," I have a lot of learning ahead of me. I love that it's the teacher's role to teach the students how to build this network and to take advantage of learning opportunities. Sounds like fun for both the students and teacher. Much better than lectures and reading from a text book! And obviously much more relevant to learning and succeeding in the 21st century. I'd love to make this (or something like this) work in my class, so I'd better learn a lot in this 11.5 Things!

What a great lesson for students to take control of their own learning and to make new connections with others who will strengthen the learning process. It seems ridiculous that you can learn everything from the teacher. I certainly don't know everything, so my kids would be out of luck! Better instead to help facilitate their exploration and learning. And really, at the point that a student could create a virtual textbook of sorts, clearly that student has learned more than in the traditional class.

And, just as an added perk that I'll have to try, I love that I can hear lectures from the best professors from around the world. That's just cool! Maybe I'll go to Harvard tonight. :)

Thing #23: Summarize Your Thoughts About This Program

2008-07-27T18:14:00.005-05:00

I've gotten so much out of 23 Things! I feel like I've spent much more than 18 hours on these projects, but I've learned a lot. I'm really excited about this experience and I would highly recommend it to anyone!

1. My favorite exercise was using the Image Generator. Fun and clever!

2. Although I thought I was relatively tech savvy, this program taught me that I have a lot to learn. Most of the 23 Things were new to me. Clearly, there is always more to learn! In order to keep up with the advancements in technology, I need to be a lifelong learner.

3. I had a difficult time with the podcasts and audio books. However, I'm impressed (and shocked!) that I learned the basics, and I'd like to continue playing with this.

4. Some things had TONS of explanation and help, but I felt like others were lacking support. Again, I was very overwhelmed by the podcasts and audio books, and I would have appreciated more help. Then again, I guess I could have asked for help by commenting on others' pages. Oh well.

5. Yes, I would definitely participate in a program like this in the future!

6. Gratifying

Thank you for this experience!

Thing #22: Nings

2008-07-27T17:23:00.003-05:00

I went to http://teacherlingo.com and I actually thought the site was interesting. I was particularly interested in the Middle School Teacher Blogs. I was curious to see what others wrote, and even more curious to read the responses to the blogger. What can I say? Teachers are feisty!

Also, I know there are countless other site, but I'm always interested in looking at other people's lesson plan ideas. Nings seems like a good way for people to break up into groups based on their interests. I don't picture myself becoming a regular on this site, but I do think it's a clever idea.

Thing #21: Podcasts and Audio Books

2008-07-24T00:08:00.007-05:00

Perhaps this was not the task to attempt at 12:30AM. I'm exhausted, confused, and embarrassed at my pitiful book preview. I guess my creativity is already asleep.

On the bright side, I thought Audacity was pretty cool. I didn't even realize that my mac had a microphone connected. Hmmm...I guess that shows how little I know about computers. ;) In my exhausted state, I forgot to use Switchpod, so it took me forever to figure out how to set up a link. Reading directions actually helps.

I'm not proud of my end result, but I've learning the process, and I'm happy about that.

I think I'm going to bed now. Enough!

http://www.switchpod.com/users/milkdudly/Wave.wav

Thing #20: YouTube, TeacherTube, and Zamzar

2008-07-23T23:19:00.003-05:00

I'm already very comfortable with YouTube. It's easy to find what interests me, and I like reading other people's comments. I thought the video below was pretty cute. :)

This is the first time I've used TeacherTube, and I'm loving it! And better yet, I LOVE that we have access at school! I can see using this site frequently in the classroom.

Thing #19: Web 2.0 Awards List

2008-07-23T22:55:00.003-05:00

Ooooh, this task was easy! I already have an account on Facebook and Myspace, both social networking sites. I also have LinkedIn, a professional networking site. These sites allow me to keep in touch with friends who live far away--especially my California friends. We all get so busy, so the social networking sites allow us to drop each other a message at our convenience. Easy and fun!

LinkedIn is a great way to network. We all say it's a small world, but that becomes apparent when you're looking for a job and your friends' connections are offering jobs. Everyone is happy!

We can't get on to most of these sites at school. However, if it were possible, and liability/safety wasn't a concern, it would be an excellent project to have students characterize the main character in their summer reading novel. Then they could create a Myspace page for their character. Because we couldn't use the site at my school, my students created a Myspace profile on a piece of poster board. They each characterized the main character in their summer reading book, a task which took a great deal of analysis and creativity. The projects turned out wonderfully!

Thing #18: Online Productivity Tools

2008-07-23T22:38:00.002-05:00

Oooh, Google Docs is wonderful!!! I'm always emailing files to myself from my home computer to my school computer. I fill up my inbox with files I want to have on two computers. Google Docs is the solution! Good find!

Open Office is going to be my backup program on my home computer. I've been having problems with MS Word ever since my computer crashed a few weeks ago. At least I'll have another program that will allow me to open and create my files, as well as to save files in different formats. Brilliant!

Thing #17: Rollyo

2008-07-23T15:24:00.002-05:00

I can see how Rollyo could be a great help, especially by saving time when researching. Because there's so much on the web, this would be a way to cut out the irrelevant matches. However, I used Rollyo to look up grand entrance wedding songs and it came up with the same sites as on Google. I guess I should have chosen a sub-category in the drop-down menu. I'll keep practicing.

Thing #16: Wikis

2008-07-23T15:04:00.002-05:00

I like the idea of Wikis. People can always learn from each other, and what a great way to collaborate by adding information! Then again, I'm certainly not comfortable with Wikis yet. I accidentally changed the font and color of another person's comment, and I couldn't figure out how to change it back. I guess I'm still a beginner, but with a bit of practice, I'm sure I'll enjoy what I've learned.

Thing #15: Web/Library 2.0

2008-07-08T18:36:00.004-05:00

I really appreciated the video "A Vision of Students Today." Clearly, times are changing! For better or worse, people need to learn how to keep up with these changes.

I agree with Rick Anderson's thoughts on the "icebergs" that have potential to threaten our progress and future success. It seems like many people are packrats. I know I am! However, how ridiculous to fill space and spend money on "just in case" books. Instead, let's fill our libraries with books that students actually read. After all, the internet is a wonderful resource for research and reading for pleasure. On that note, though, I can't bear to give away my personal set of encyclopedias. I have very little room at home for all my books, I use the internet for research, and yet I'm hanging on to them "just in case."

I also agree that our library resources need to be user-friendly. As a language arts teacher, I feel that it's important for students to spend time in the library. Although I value library time, it's difficult spending classtime in the library when students walk around lost and confused. I definitely teach my students how to find books and we review some ways to research, but if some of the technology tools were easier to navigate, the students would be more productive with their time.

Thing #14: Technorati

2008-06-27T19:35:00.004-05:00

Technorati seems like a great way to find blogs of interest. Then again, I thought it was interesting to look at the Top 100 list of blogs. Definitely not my idea of interesting. However, as the woman on the video said, those on the Top 100 probably just post the most, not implying that they are the most interesting. I guess that makes sense.

On a side note, I claimed my blog, so we'll see if more people visit my blog.

Thing #13: Del.icio.us

2008-06-27T19:02:00.002-05:00

I guess I still need a little time to get used to Del.icio.us. I like bookmarking sites and adding websites to my favorites list. I think I'm just comfortable with what I'm already used to using. However, I can definitely see how Del.icio.us could be very useful when researching. I use so many different websites for my classes, so Del.icio.us would be a good way for me to keep those sites organized. I'll keep practicing.

Thing #12: Creating Community Through Commenting

2008-06-21T22:37:00.004-05:00

Before commenting:

I found the tips for commenting pretty helpful. Particularly, I agree that it's important to write a meaningful comment, not just "I agree" or "Cool." A meaningful comment actually matters, but some other comments seem pointless.

The other piece of advice that I found helpful is not to be afraid of commenting. I haven't left any comments yet, and I am somewhat nervous about writing on someone else's blog. Logically, this seems ridiculous. However, I can't help how I feel. I like receiving comments though, so I'm just going to keep my fingers crossed that others will like it as well.

After commenting:

Surprisingly, I really enjoyed commenting on other people's blogs. Hmmm...I guess I have a lot to say. ;) And besides that, I liked to read what's others were saying. Besides commenting on people's blogs in the Learn2Play community, I commented on two other blogs about Cinque Terre, Italy. I'm getting exciting about my upcoming trip, and it was fun to see what other people were saying. I guess it's pretty common to write a blog as you're traveling, and these blogs were posted within the past few days.

Thing #11: LibraryThing

2008-06-21T22:02:00.003-05:00

I think Library Thing was created just for me! I'm in heaven--an entire website dedicated to book dorks like me. I love it!

I added 8 of my favorite books, all of which I gave perfect ratings. I had so much fun reading about what others thought about my favorite books. In fact, I always want to talk about what I'm reading, but I feel like most people are too busy for that. But now there is an entire website of people wanting to talk about books. Woo hoo!

I also thought it was really interesting to explore some of the different groups. I particularly liked the group 1001 Books To Read Before You Die. Again, I know I'm a dork, but I don't want to miss out on a good book. And I figure that with so many people sharing their opinions on the best books, this is my best shot at always finding something great to read.

I love it!!!

Thing #10: Image Generator

2008-06-16T22:33:00.008-05:00

Made with free image tools @ TXT2PIC.com

Clearly, I've had way too much fun with Thing #10. I can't believe that there's so much I can do online (for free) that I didn't know existed. Exciting!!!

I can definitely see that this will be fun to use with my students. It would be a great addition to projects. In fact, an occasional image would be fun on any of their papers. I'll keep these creative resources in mind.

Thing #9: Blogs and News Feeds

2008-06-15T21:17:00.004-05:00

Okay, I think I'm blogged out! A bit too much for me.

I found Google Blog Search approachable, easy, and very helpful. I've used Atomic Learning during the school year and I've also found that helpful. The other sites (Syndic8, Technorati, Topix) were too overwhelming.

I actually found some really great feeds that have helped in planning my trip to Italy. I've been looking for a hotel in Monterosso al Mare in Cinque Terre, Italy, and it's been really helpful getting reviews of the hotels. What a great resource in planning a trip!

Thing #8: RSS Feed

2008-06-15T20:41:00.003-05:00

I really appreciate that RSS and newsreader will allow me to keep up with the news (and gossip) quickly. When I'm busy with school and my personal life, I don't always have time to stay as up-to-date as I'd like. Now I can keep up with the news in a hurry. I will definitely use this technology to stay posted on the news. I can also add blogs about books for young adults to stay current on the books for my students. Additionally, libraries can also subscribe to blogs about books for young adults. This way, libraries can keep up with the current, popular books to keep the students excited about going to the library.

Thing #7: Google

2008-06-13T22:15:00.005-05:00

I set up a Google Alert to email news about USC Trojan football. What can I say? I'm a fan!!! I can see how Google Alert would be helpful in keeping up with the news. Whether I'm trying to follow the election coverage or football recruitment, this site can be tailored to fit my needs. Plus, I can use this site in the classroom when keeping up with current events (as we do in Reading Lab). This can cut down on my research time and it would be a great resource to teach my students to use.

I also used Google Calendar to keep my life in order. During the summer, I seem to lose all track of time. I'm not even 100% sure what day of the week it is, much less the date! By using a computer calendar, it makes organization a bit more fun. Plus, when school starts back up, I can even keep my lessons straight on Google Calendar. This would make sharing and collaborating so much easier!

Thing #6: Mashups

2008-06-13T00:02:00.005-05:00

I had fun on this one! I played with a few different mashups, and got more comfortable with Flickr. My favorite part was creating a trading card. Although I practiced using Flickr, I created my favorite trading card using one of my own pictures. I know, it's cheesy, but I like it! :)

Thing #5: Flickr

2008-06-12T23:29:00.005-05:00

Flickr is pretty cool! I will definitely use this site to find images I can use with my students. Great resource!

I found an awesome picture of a totem pole that I can use when we're reading Touching Spirit Bear. Since most of my students aren't familiar with totem poles, pictures help. Good find!

Thing #4: Registered

2008-06-12T23:27:00.002-05:00

I sent in my email and I'm just waiting for confirmation that I'm registered. I guess I'll keep going...

Thing #3: Blog and Avatar

2008-06-11T23:52:00.003-05:00

I can't believe it! I've started my own blog and I've created an Avatar. I'm proud!!!

Thing #3 took me quite a while to complete, but I'm actually a fan of my Avatar. I guess that's all it took to win me over. ;)

And, on the bright side, I think I'm getting the hang of blogging.

Thing #2: Life Long Learning

2008-06-11T23:15:00.003-05:00

The easiest habit for me is setting goals. I generally think of the outcome as I approach any new task. Lucky me!

I definitely have a difficult time finding time to play. After all, we're all so busy and there's always so much to do. Finding time to play is certainly one of my many goals, and I'm already thinking about how to achieve my successful outcome.

Thing #1: Getting Started

2008-06-11T23:03:00.004-05:00

Woo hoo! Success!

I read the blog and may move on to Thing #2. :)