Monday, July 13, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Goodnight!
Reflections on my Journey
My favorites were Youtube, Creative Commons, Del.icio.us, and Zoho Writer. All of these met a need in my life whether it be personal or professional. I was so excited to have found them and immediately began using them and sharing with others who might benefit.
This program has stretched me and made me reach further than I imagined when we began this summer. I'm now excited about using and sharing everything I've learned. That's what a life long learning experience is all about, maintaining that excitement when we learn something new and it applies to all areas of our lives.
Were there any take-a-ways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?
The list is WAYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!! too long for the take aways. I will use so many things learned here it's impossible to list just one. Unexpected outcomes include being able to relate better to co-workers and students. My "coolness level" increased dramatically according to one of my students as a result of this class! Thanks Dr. Wall!
There is very little improvement needed for this program's format. The only thing I can think of would be to have groups assigned early and have group members follow each others blog and build community so that when the project portion is due there is already a relationship.
How will what you have learned influence your practice as a teacher?
I plan to use many of the Web 2.0 tools in my class this fall. I'm thinking of using the blog format instead of essays for some of my assignments and integrating technology into each post as we have done here. I'll have to use the creative commons license to develop this and look forward to learning that also.
How do you plan to keep up with new developments in web 2.0? Recommend a way that you have found to be useful.
The RSS feeds and subscriptions are the best way for me to stay informed. I like the format of highlights that I can pick and choose from as it relates to my interests.
My favorites were Youtube, Creative Commons, Del.icio.us, and Zoho Writer. All of these met a need in my life whether it be personal or professional. I was so excited to have found them and immediately began using them and sharing with others who might benefit.
This program has stretched me and made me reach further than I imagined when we began this summer. I'm now excited about using and sharing everything I've learned. That's what a life long learning experience is all about, maintaining that excitement when we learn something new and it applies to all areas of our lives.
Were there any take-a-ways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?
The list is WAYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!! too long for the take aways. I will use so many things learned here it's impossible to list just one. Unexpected outcomes include being able to relate better to co-workers and students. My "coolness level" increased dramatically according to one of my students as a result of this class! Thanks Dr. Wall!
There is very little improvement needed for this program's format. The only thing I can think of would be to have groups assigned early and have group members follow each others blog and build community so that when the project portion is due there is already a relationship.
How will what you have learned influence your practice as a teacher?
I plan to use many of the Web 2.0 tools in my class this fall. I'm thinking of using the blog format instead of essays for some of my assignments and integrating technology into each post as we have done here. I'll have to use the creative commons license to develop this and look forward to learning that also.
How do you plan to keep up with new developments in web 2.0? Recommend a way that you have found to be useful.
The RSS feeds and subscriptions are the best way for me to stay informed. I like the format of highlights that I can pick and choose from as it relates to my interests.
Thing 23 Creative Commons
Creative Commons is a wonderful tool for sharing information and work. As an educator we are all interested in cost effective methods that are also interesting and engaging to hook our students. I found a link to Carnegie Melon that offers FREE courses through CC!!! I'm very excited to see this and plan to take French I and II courses this next year!
In the future I plan to use Creative Commons to share my work but also to teach students how to fairly use works from other sites and how to give credit for work borrowed and edited using the licensing.
An example of Creative Commons for this class is listed below.
Credits
Learning 2.0 - 23 Things for Teachers is based on Learning 2.0 - 23 Things, a staff development program for the Mesquite Independent School District. That program was based on the Learning 2.0 program that was designed by Helene Blowers and adapted by the California School Library Association and others. Content and style for Learning 2.0 - 23 Things for Teachers has been borrowed and duplicated with permission, under a Creative Commons License.
In the future I plan to use Creative Commons to share my work but also to teach students how to fairly use works from other sites and how to give credit for work borrowed and edited using the licensing.
An example of Creative Commons for this class is listed below.
Credits
Learning 2.0 - 23 Things for Teachers is based on Learning 2.0 - 23 Things, a staff development program for the Mesquite Independent School District. That program was based on the Learning 2.0 program that was designed by Helene Blowers and adapted by the California School Library Association and others. Content and style for Learning 2.0 - 23 Things for Teachers has been borrowed and duplicated with permission, under a Creative Commons License.
Thing 22 Podcasts
I listened to the Discovery Home: Toolbelt Diva Episode on Renovation. She is one of my favorite television DIY personalities so I wanted to listen to her episode.
The LearnOutLoud directory was the easiest for me to use. The directory is a new tool for me and I found using them a bit confusing and frustrating due to the amount of podcasts on each site. With practice I'm sure it will become less frustrating and more useful.
For now I'm undecided on whether I would create my own podcasts for classroom use but now it's in my resource list of tools from which to pull so I will remain open to using them if it fits my class.
I subscribed to two podcasts and look forward to learning more about how to use the directories to find more of interest for my hobbies and also my professional use.
The LearnOutLoud directory was the easiest for me to use. The directory is a new tool for me and I found using them a bit confusing and frustrating due to the amount of podcasts on each site. With practice I'm sure it will become less frustrating and more useful.
For now I'm undecided on whether I would create my own podcasts for classroom use but now it's in my resource list of tools from which to pull so I will remain open to using them if it fits my class.
I subscribed to two podcasts and look forward to learning more about how to use the directories to find more of interest for my hobbies and also my professional use.
Thing 21
Animoto is definitely fun! I like the user friendly format and how the site walks you through each step. I plan to use this in the future for family memories and for special occassions such as birthdays. This will also be a useful tool for my freshmen to create a video about their first semester in college.
Thing 20 Youtube
What did you like or dislike about the site and why did you choose the video that you did? My son has used Youtube for entertainment for about a year but I had not really used it or paid much attention to it before this class. It can be extremely useful. While preparing my power point presentation for the group project I used a video in the power point from Youtube. This was my first time embedding a video so I used a tutorial video in order to do so. This was a feature I had not realized was available and I can certainly see using the tutorials for my class. The video I chose was Dear Mr. President: Students Speak Up to President Obama about how to improve their schools. Part of the National Education Technology Plan included student opinion and ideas for education improvement. The students in this video remind us that they have a voice and we should listen when planning for the future, especially theirs.
Can you see any features or components of the site that might be interesting if they were applied to your library website?
The tutorial videos lend themselves nicely to a learning situation. I'm sure there are more videos applicable for education purposes on the site.
Embedding video links is a great tool to know! I'm excited about using this in the future. Be sure to check out my video in the player below!
Can you see any features or components of the site that might be interesting if they were applied to your library website?
The tutorial videos lend themselves nicely to a learning situation. I'm sure there are more videos applicable for education purposes on the site.
Embedding video links is a great tool to know! I'm excited about using this in the future. Be sure to check out my video in the player below!
Thing 19
Are you a member of any online communities?
I am a member of some Ning social networks on my hobbies and interests.
Are any of these social networks appealing to you?
I tried Project Playlist as music is one of my favorite hobbies and I'm always looking for new songs to learn and perform. I am looking forward to sharing music and getting to know other music lovers there.
What did you find that was interesting and that you might use later?
College 2.0 looks good and I am excited to be able to connect with other professionals in higher education from around the world.
I am a member of some Ning social networks on my hobbies and interests.
Are any of these social networks appealing to you?
I tried Project Playlist as music is one of my favorite hobbies and I'm always looking for new songs to learn and perform. I am looking forward to sharing music and getting to know other music lovers there.
What did you find that was interesting and that you might use later?
College 2.0 looks good and I am excited to be able to connect with other professionals in higher education from around the world.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Thing 18
I've had a MySpace account for about two years. I truly never enjoyed that site. Last year one of my students encouraged me to get a FaceBook account for events in our office. I enjoy that site much more and use it often. As of tonight, I have 132 friends.
Knowing how socialnetworking is important because students are using them to stay in touch but also to complete group projects, assignments, etc. My APSU 1000 class last fall did group presentations on the importance of MySpace and Facebook in college and how it applies to academics as well as campus events and social activities. Being involved on campus many times ensures the students feel connected and a part of a community so that they will return each semester. Socialnetworking can play a role in staying connected. One of my friends is President Hall. I also follow him on Twitter and it's fun to see how current the posts are there. Using a cell phone to post is an incredible tool!
MySpace seems to be used more by the Millenial generation than mine. It also did not provide the same level of contact for me as Facebook. I only had about ten friends on MySpace and never really got into it. One of my student's put it this way: "MySpace has much more drama" and I tend to agree. Facebook provides a more professional level of usage. I have many friends, teachers, colleagues, and students as friends. It's a fabulous way to stay in touch with people after graduation or moving. Our office also uses Facebook to promote student events and to keep students informed.
Knowing how socialnetworking is important because students are using them to stay in touch but also to complete group projects, assignments, etc. My APSU 1000 class last fall did group presentations on the importance of MySpace and Facebook in college and how it applies to academics as well as campus events and social activities. Being involved on campus many times ensures the students feel connected and a part of a community so that they will return each semester. Socialnetworking can play a role in staying connected. One of my friends is President Hall. I also follow him on Twitter and it's fun to see how current the posts are there. Using a cell phone to post is an incredible tool!
MySpace seems to be used more by the Millenial generation than mine. It also did not provide the same level of contact for me as Facebook. I only had about ten friends on MySpace and never really got into it. One of my student's put it this way: "MySpace has much more drama" and I tend to agree. Facebook provides a more professional level of usage. I have many friends, teachers, colleagues, and students as friends. It's a fabulous way to stay in touch with people after graduation or moving. Our office also uses Facebook to promote student events and to keep students informed.
Thing 17 Del.icio.us
This is an awesome tool! I have always had difficulty with organizing my bookmarks and now I'm in heaven! One of my co-workers made a comment on how I needed to organize my bookmarks and I can't wait to share this with her.
I can definitely see this as a useful tool in the classroom. When researching students only need to log on to the internet and all the bookmarks are available. I'm excited about that feature especially. I can't wait to share this tool and many others with my students in the fall.
Teachers can take advantage of this tool to eliminate organization headaches when researching and also to collaborate with other teachers and see sites or topics we have not discovered. This is an excellent time management tool!
My Del.icio.us account is mmmm mmmm good! It organized my 460 bookmarks and 25 tags in about two minutes! Now I won't have to struggle to remember where everything was filed!
I can definitely see this as a useful tool in the classroom. When researching students only need to log on to the internet and all the bookmarks are available. I'm excited about that feature especially. I can't wait to share this tool and many others with my students in the fall.
Teachers can take advantage of this tool to eliminate organization headaches when researching and also to collaborate with other teachers and see sites or topics we have not discovered. This is an excellent time management tool!
My Del.icio.us account is mmmm mmmm good! It organized my 460 bookmarks and 25 tags in about two minutes! Now I won't have to struggle to remember where everything was filed!
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Thing 16 Let's Get Organized!
iGoogle was the start page I chose. As I already had a Google account it made sense to integrate all applications here. The calendar I created and other cool widgets like doppler radar and to do lists all on one page make it an attractive option for my home page. The chat feature is one of my favorites and I am planning to invite my chat buddies from around the globe to join me here! The jury's still out on whether this will become my permanent home page but I certainly am tempted by all the cool gadgets here.
Online Calendar: This feature is great for accessing my appointments and schedule from anywhere using the internet. I can even check using my cell phone and love the reminders sent via text message! No excuse for being late or forgetting now!
To Do Lists: Ta Da and Remember the Milk were two applications I tried. Ta Da seemed too much work and I didn't like the format. Remember the Milk is appealing and the format was more user friendly. The text and email reminders were a big plus. The mashups are also a cool feature and I'm looking forward to using them soon.
CutePDF is an application I'd recommend for those who want a free pdf converter and have no need for the professional version. It does have upgrade features which are appealing for the professional usage making it that much more applicable.
Challenge: BaseCamp vs. ZohoProjects
Both applications are wonderful for collaborative projects! The drag and drop feature is totally user friendly in Basecamp. My favorite feature of both apps is the File sharing capability and centralizing documents in lieu of using email. ZohoProjects has many of the same features as Basecamp but at a much more budget friendly price. ZohoProjects would be my choice for a small office or group presentation.
Online Calendar: This feature is great for accessing my appointments and schedule from anywhere using the internet. I can even check using my cell phone and love the reminders sent via text message! No excuse for being late or forgetting now!
To Do Lists: Ta Da and Remember the Milk were two applications I tried. Ta Da seemed too much work and I didn't like the format. Remember the Milk is appealing and the format was more user friendly. The text and email reminders were a big plus. The mashups are also a cool feature and I'm looking forward to using them soon.
CutePDF is an application I'd recommend for those who want a free pdf converter and have no need for the professional version. It does have upgrade features which are appealing for the professional usage making it that much more applicable.
Challenge: BaseCamp vs. ZohoProjects
Both applications are wonderful for collaborative projects! The drag and drop feature is totally user friendly in Basecamp. My favorite feature of both apps is the File sharing capability and centralizing documents in lieu of using email. ZohoProjects has many of the same features as Basecamp but at a much more budget friendly price. ZohoProjects would be my choice for a small office or group presentation.
Thing 15
The Wiki is a new tool for me. I think it would be extremely useful for my office staff in order to collaborate when working on various projects. We use email almost as an instant messenger some days so the wiki would alleviate multiple emails filling our inbox and multiple messages forwarded and copied. It would certainly be useful when teaching a class. My APSU 1000 section could use a wiki to complete the group project.
The APSU 23 Things Sandbox was interesting but I really didn't see many current posts. My favorite experience with the wiki was when we posted on the national technology standards wiki. I saw a post by two of my colleagues at APSU and enjoyed reading the posts for each standard very much.
The APSU 23 Things Sandbox was interesting but I really didn't see many current posts. My favorite experience with the wiki was when we posted on the national technology standards wiki. I saw a post by two of my colleagues at APSU and enjoyed reading the posts for each standard very much.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
