Take a few moments to reflect on your journey. You've covered a lot of material over the past ten weeks. What does it all mean? How has your thinking changed between Thing 1 and Thing 23? Has this program changed how you view the Internet or how view education in the digital world? What plans have you made for using these tools in and out of the classroom? How will you continue to learn about Web 2.0 tools? What are your big "take aways" from this experience?
This has been an incredible journey. It seems impossible to me that it all happened in just a few short weeks. I remember struggling just to set up my blog and now I’m creating wikis! Not only my thinking changed from Thing 1 to Thing 23, I have changed. I am much more comfortable using Web 2.0 tools and have gained so much confidence in my abilities.
I came into this journey having some knowledge and experience with Web 2.0 but I learned so much more than I thought I would. I love Flickr. I never would have investigated it had it not been for this class. I thought it was just another place to store photos like Photobucket. Flickr maps? Wow, I have to go check out that one! And I can’t wait to have some time to really play around with Flickr Speller.
By far the best lesson I take away is social bookmarking. I think I’ve become addicted to Delicious! Even though it is summer I am already collaborating with a colleague by sharing websites we find. Her user name is in my top 10 tags! Another lesson I see myself using is Google Docs. Although I was introduced to it earlier this year, I am now using it for ongoing curriculum work on the GLCEs through my ISD. Learning how to download and save video from YouTube will change how I teach. Now, I can grab my students’ interest from the start with short videos that pull them into the lesson.
Thank you for providing this valuable hands-on Web 2.0 learning experience!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Thing 22: Create a Wiki
In your blog post be sure to include the link to your wiki. Then discuss your feelings about using a wiki. How does a wiki differ from a blog? When is one more appropriate to use than the other?
Here is the link to my wiki:
http://mrsrichardsclass.wikispaces.com/
The wiki was very easy to create. I would like to use this wiki as a place where students could have discussions about their assignments by asking questions and providing feedback for each other. I am concerned that middle school students would succumb to temptation and not use it appropriately. I almost think a blog would be a better option for discussions. When using a wiki, participants can change or even delete someone else’s work. That would not happen in a blog.
In my building two teachers have used wikis with students. The first teacher uses it to post assignments and announcements. He is the only one who can edit it. The students can only view it. He uses it more like a webpage. It’s much easier to set up and maintain than a webpage so I understand why he uses it in this manner. I don’t believe it’s what wikis were designed for but if it works for his purpose then why not? The other teacher used it during class and students were supposed to have a discussion based on a recent science lab. The students misused it, harassed other participants, and changed their answers. Several detentions were issued. I am hesitant to use wikis that students are able to edit.
Here is the link to my wiki:
http://mrsrichardsclass.wikispaces.com/
The wiki was very easy to create. I would like to use this wiki as a place where students could have discussions about their assignments by asking questions and providing feedback for each other. I am concerned that middle school students would succumb to temptation and not use it appropriately. I almost think a blog would be a better option for discussions. When using a wiki, participants can change or even delete someone else’s work. That would not happen in a blog.
In my building two teachers have used wikis with students. The first teacher uses it to post assignments and announcements. He is the only one who can edit it. The students can only view it. He uses it more like a webpage. It’s much easier to set up and maintain than a webpage so I understand why he uses it in this manner. I don’t believe it’s what wikis were designed for but if it works for his purpose then why not? The other teacher used it during class and students were supposed to have a discussion based on a recent science lab. The students misused it, harassed other participants, and changed their answers. Several detentions were issued. I am hesitant to use wikis that students are able to edit.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Thing 21: Learn About Wikis
Describe a wiki you found that inspires you to create one of your own. What hurdles might stand in the way of your using a wiki? What would it take to remove the hurdles? Is it worth the fight?
I was very impressed with the wiki Comparing Hemispheres. It’s like 21st Century Classroom Penpals. I think it’s amazing that it grew out of the simple question most children ask concerning the direction a toilet swirls and is it different depending on where you live. The photos of the students and the work they produced to explain their answers create a real connection between these two very distant countries. Just noticing how the lexicon is different between the two places creates one of those teachable moments we all love to see happen. It really brings home the reality of living in a global society.
The biggest hurdle would be to figure out how to do all those cool things using a wiki. It has the same basic layout of a webpage (I guess because that’s what it is). I’ve made a couple attempts at creating webpages and I was not an easy task. I’m also concerned about the ability of anyone to add, change, or delete the contents.
To remove those hurdles, I would have to learn a lot more about wikis and how they are created. If the result was a good as the wiki Comparing Hemispheres, it certainly would be worth it.
I was very impressed with the wiki Comparing Hemispheres. It’s like 21st Century Classroom Penpals. I think it’s amazing that it grew out of the simple question most children ask concerning the direction a toilet swirls and is it different depending on where you live. The photos of the students and the work they produced to explain their answers create a real connection between these two very distant countries. Just noticing how the lexicon is different between the two places creates one of those teachable moments we all love to see happen. It really brings home the reality of living in a global society.
The biggest hurdle would be to figure out how to do all those cool things using a wiki. It has the same basic layout of a webpage (I guess because that’s what it is). I’ve made a couple attempts at creating webpages and I was not an easy task. I’m also concerned about the ability of anyone to add, change, or delete the contents.
To remove those hurdles, I would have to learn a lot more about wikis and how they are created. If the result was a good as the wiki Comparing Hemispheres, it certainly would be worth it.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Thing 20: Finding and Subscribing to Podcasts
Include in your post the name of at least one podcast to which you subscribed. Describe your experience using the various search tools. Which do you prefer and why?
I have subscribed to Speaking of History. It is a podcast produced by 8th Grade History teacher Eric Langhorst. The episode that caught my eye is Podcast #184 – Creating “Common Craft” Type Videos about Historical Terms for Class. It is a “supercast” with audio, photos, and video! Lee LeFever even left a comment praising the students and Mr. Langhorst on their product.
http://speakingofhistory.blogspot.com/2009/03/podcast-184-creating-common-craft-type.html
The process I used to find this podcast was by going to EPN, Subject Specific: Social Studies, Speaking of History, and then scrolling through several episodes until I found one I thought would be useful to me and clicking on it. At first I was a little freaked out because there were probably over 20 with just today’s date. Talk about information overload. I didn’t want to subscribe to something that sent out 20 podcasts a day! Once I subscribed, I could see the actual date of posting. Whew! I think this is a great search tool and plan to use it again in the future.
I did not use iTunes to locate and subscribe to this feed, although I have used iTunes for this purpose in the past. In fact, I think that’s how I found Grammar Girl. I also downloaded from iTunes onto my iPod and burned CDs for my students a podcast called Japanese Survival Phrases before our exchange trip last summer. I was surprised at the number of educational podcasts iTunes carries.
I really like and use NetVibes. I have a tab just for podcasts on my NetVibes page and I want to keep them all there in one “file cabinet” so to speak. So I simply clicked on the orange RSS icon in the podcast I chose, copied the URL (this one is an xml, which from past experience I know works), opened my NetVibes page, clicked on my podcasts tab, and added the feed. Now I can go through all the episodes at my convenience. Can’t wait to get started!!!
http://www.netvibes.com
I have subscribed to Speaking of History. It is a podcast produced by 8th Grade History teacher Eric Langhorst. The episode that caught my eye is Podcast #184 – Creating “Common Craft” Type Videos about Historical Terms for Class. It is a “supercast” with audio, photos, and video! Lee LeFever even left a comment praising the students and Mr. Langhorst on their product.
http://speakingofhistory.blogspot.com/2009/03/podcast-184-creating-common-craft-type.html
The process I used to find this podcast was by going to EPN, Subject Specific: Social Studies, Speaking of History, and then scrolling through several episodes until I found one I thought would be useful to me and clicking on it. At first I was a little freaked out because there were probably over 20 with just today’s date. Talk about information overload. I didn’t want to subscribe to something that sent out 20 podcasts a day! Once I subscribed, I could see the actual date of posting. Whew! I think this is a great search tool and plan to use it again in the future.
I did not use iTunes to locate and subscribe to this feed, although I have used iTunes for this purpose in the past. In fact, I think that’s how I found Grammar Girl. I also downloaded from iTunes onto my iPod and burned CDs for my students a podcast called Japanese Survival Phrases before our exchange trip last summer. I was surprised at the number of educational podcasts iTunes carries.
I really like and use NetVibes. I have a tab just for podcasts on my NetVibes page and I want to keep them all there in one “file cabinet” so to speak. So I simply clicked on the orange RSS icon in the podcast I chose, copied the URL (this one is an xml, which from past experience I know works), opened my NetVibes page, clicked on my podcasts tab, and added the feed. Now I can go through all the episodes at my convenience. Can’t wait to get started!!!
http://www.netvibes.com
Thing 19: Learn About Podcasting
Which podcasts did you find interesting? Identify one or two podcasts and describe how you would use them in your work. (Be sure to include links in your blog entry to the podcasts mentioned.)
When I taught ELA I found Grammar Girl to be some of the best professional development for ELA teachers on the Web. It increased my level of understanding but would have been way over the heads of my middle school students. Grammar Girl is not only educational but fun to listen to. She’s like listening to a friend not a lecture.
http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/default.aspx
I am so excited to have found Mr. Langhorst’s Website! I will teach 8th grade American History for the first time this year and need all the ideas and resources I can get. I really like his idea of providing “studycasts” for the students. I hope to use some of his and attempt to create some of my own. I also like how he explains everything on his website. Need to know what a blog, podcast, or studycast is? Are you interested in knowing how he records his podcasts? He gives you all that info right on his homepage. He also includes music he finds online and cites his sources. What a great model he provides when he does this. Mr. Langhorst must be an amazing teacher!
http://www.liberty.k12.mo.us/~elanghorst/blog
I think student created podcasts are a terrific idea. As a teacher though, I need to become more proficient with creating Podcasts myself before I make it an assignment for my students. I certainly want to explore this in for the future. Those 1st graders were amazing!
http://www.mpsomaha.org/willow/radio/shows/Willowcast24.html
I have a lot to learn.
When I taught ELA I found Grammar Girl to be some of the best professional development for ELA teachers on the Web. It increased my level of understanding but would have been way over the heads of my middle school students. Grammar Girl is not only educational but fun to listen to. She’s like listening to a friend not a lecture.
http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/default.aspx
I am so excited to have found Mr. Langhorst’s Website! I will teach 8th grade American History for the first time this year and need all the ideas and resources I can get. I really like his idea of providing “studycasts” for the students. I hope to use some of his and attempt to create some of my own. I also like how he explains everything on his website. Need to know what a blog, podcast, or studycast is? Are you interested in knowing how he records his podcasts? He gives you all that info right on his homepage. He also includes music he finds online and cites his sources. What a great model he provides when he does this. Mr. Langhorst must be an amazing teacher!
http://www.liberty.k12.mo.us/~elanghorst/blog
I think student created podcasts are a terrific idea. As a teacher though, I need to become more proficient with creating Podcasts myself before I make it an assignment for my students. I certainly want to explore this in for the future. Those 1st graders were amazing!
http://www.mpsomaha.org/willow/radio/shows/Willowcast24.html
I have a lot to learn.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Thing 18: Slideshare
What did you like about the presentation you embedded? How might Slideshare be useful in the classroom? Out of the classroom?
I chose the slide show Something about Antarctica because we now need to teach this region in 7th grade Social Studies but have not been provided materials or resources. Everyone is in a quandary over “what to teach” about Antarctica and why we should even do so. After all, “nothing happens there.” After viewing the slideshows on this continent I am convinced we need to teach about this important area of the world. Many groups have conflicting interests in how Antarctica should be used and students need to be aware of the controversies. It could become their generation’s “destruction of the rain forest” issue.
I like that this presentation isn’t text heavy with lots of bullets. Presented without bias, using beautiful photographs (several in a row) and giving important factual data and information, the message becomes clear. I think this would keep the students’ interest and help them become invested in the future of Antarctica. After presenting this slideshow, I would have students research whether Antarctica should be developed and if so by whom? We would have a discussion forum for them to present and test their ideas. Then they would write a short essay or letter to support their opinion.
I did find it a challenge to locate a slideshow appropriate for classroom use and one I could align with state standards. I’m not sure if there’s a better way to search. I clicked on education and then entered key words in the search bar. I ended up with lots of ads for hotels. However, I guess that is one way it could be used outside of school. Lots of travel info including virtual tours of cabins, rooms, etc.
Something about Antarctica.
View more presentations from Roelof Van den berg.
I chose the slide show Something about Antarctica because we now need to teach this region in 7th grade Social Studies but have not been provided materials or resources. Everyone is in a quandary over “what to teach” about Antarctica and why we should even do so. After all, “nothing happens there.” After viewing the slideshows on this continent I am convinced we need to teach about this important area of the world. Many groups have conflicting interests in how Antarctica should be used and students need to be aware of the controversies. It could become their generation’s “destruction of the rain forest” issue.
I like that this presentation isn’t text heavy with lots of bullets. Presented without bias, using beautiful photographs (several in a row) and giving important factual data and information, the message becomes clear. I think this would keep the students’ interest and help them become invested in the future of Antarctica. After presenting this slideshow, I would have students research whether Antarctica should be developed and if so by whom? We would have a discussion forum for them to present and test their ideas. Then they would write a short essay or letter to support their opinion.
I did find it a challenge to locate a slideshow appropriate for classroom use and one I could align with state standards. I’m not sure if there’s a better way to search. I clicked on education and then entered key words in the search bar. I ended up with lots of ads for hotels. However, I guess that is one way it could be used outside of school. Lots of travel info including virtual tours of cabins, rooms, etc.
Thing 17: Online Productivity
Give a review of the tool you explored - what worked, what didn't work, how might it be used in your personal or professional life?
Two of these online tools really caught my eye, Remember the Milk and 30 Boxes. I live by both lists and calendars. Currently I spend a lot of time creating lists and calendars on my PC to print out and take with me. I think I could really benefit from an on-line version. I’ve been looking for an on-line calendar my family could all access and add activities to help us stay organized and keep us informed. I have tried Cozi but it didn’t have all the features I wanted. I need to play around a little more with 30 Boxes to see if it will work for us.
What I really want to share with you is GoodReads. I like it better than LibraryThing or Shelfari. You can do so many things. You have different shelves for books you’ve read, are currently reading, and want to read. There are lots of reviews. You can invite others as friends. The plus is that several authors belong to GoodReads and accept friends. It even includes cookbooks! Here are some of the books on my Books I've Read Shelf.
You can sign up at http://www.goodreads.com/. I hope find it as rewarding to use as I do.
Two of these online tools really caught my eye, Remember the Milk and 30 Boxes. I live by both lists and calendars. Currently I spend a lot of time creating lists and calendars on my PC to print out and take with me. I think I could really benefit from an on-line version. I’ve been looking for an on-line calendar my family could all access and add activities to help us stay organized and keep us informed. I have tried Cozi but it didn’t have all the features I wanted. I need to play around a little more with 30 Boxes to see if it will work for us.
What I really want to share with you is GoodReads. I like it better than LibraryThing or Shelfari. You can do so many things. You have different shelves for books you’ve read, are currently reading, and want to read. There are lots of reviews. You can invite others as friends. The plus is that several authors belong to GoodReads and accept friends. It even includes cookbooks! Here are some of the books on my Books I've Read Shelf.
You can sign up at http://www.goodreads.com/. I hope find it as rewarding to use as I do.
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