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? Do you see the trends that Hargadon writes about in a different light than when you read about them in Thing 1? Has this program changed how you view the Internet or how you 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?
I definitly see myself as more confident in using these tools. Some obviously more then others but I think that can be expected. I still think the amount of technology and information can be overwhelming at times. However, I understand that this is what teaching is becoming. Our students are exposed to technology everywhere and it is essential that I try to do more.
I was at a conference last month and we were on break eating lunch. I took out my computer and was emailing back and forth with a few students about some questions they were having. The teachers I was sitting with were shocked that I would email students on a Saturday. I told them that it was either that quick 2 minute email then or it could be a stressed out 7th grader by Monday who also had their parents stressed out. I'll take the 2 minutes. It was just so weird to me that they thought emailing on a Saturday was me be technological. Wow, I just hope that my sons and daughter don't have teachers that out of touch.
As far as the tools that I have used in this Web 2.0 experience. I am a thousand times more confident in creating a blog. I also love the podcasts. I'm sure I will spend more time on there searching around. I have used google docs for a few years now and will continue to use it to collaborate with my teaching partners. Overall finishing the 23 Things has been a good experience to explore the many tools available to educators. Now if only I could remember all my usernames and passwords :)
Friday, April 27, 2012
Thing 22
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?
Klos' Wiki
Ok, I did it. I made a wiki. I have to say that I am not that impressed by this tool. It seems too similar to a blog or website. The only difference I can really see is the collaboration aspect of it. However, I do think there are also creative ways to collaborate using blogs too. I'm still not convinced that wikis are in my future.
Klos' Wiki
Ok, I did it. I made a wiki. I have to say that I am not that impressed by this tool. It seems too similar to a blog or website. The only difference I can really see is the collaboration aspect of it. However, I do think there are also creative ways to collaborate using blogs too. I'm still not convinced that wikis are in my future.
Thing 21
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 inspired by the flatplanet wiki. I like the fact that it showed the collaboration of the students who are in completely different continents were able to collaborate on the wame wiki.
The thing I still struggle with in making a wiki is that a lot of what I can do on a wiki I can do elsewhere. Even on the flatplanet wiki they say at the bottom to see their blog for more information. It just seems like doing double the work for the same result.
I was inspired by the flatplanet wiki. I like the fact that it showed the collaboration of the students who are in completely different continents were able to collaborate on the wame wiki.
The thing I still struggle with in making a wiki is that a lot of what I can do on a wiki I can do elsewhere. Even on the flatplanet wiki they say at the bottom to see their blog for more information. It just seems like doing double the work for the same result.
Thing 20
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 subscribed to The Math Dude and Dirty Tips to Make Math Easier.
I prefered just searching on itunes. It was quick, easy, and I was able to listen to it very quickly. I also have to say I am so excited that I don't have to have an ipod to use itunes. I never tried it before because I thought I had to have the ipod. I must be more of a technology immigrant than I thought :)
I subscribed to The Math Dude and Dirty Tips to Make Math Easier.
I prefered just searching on itunes. It was quick, easy, and I was able to listen to it very quickly. I also have to say I am so excited that I don't have to have an ipod to use itunes. I never tried it before because I thought I had to have the ipod. I must be more of a technology immigrant than I thought :)
Thing 19
Which podcasts did you find interesting? Identify one or two podcasts and describe how you would use them in your work?
The podcast I found interesting is the Math Grad.
http://www.mathgrad.com/shownotes.html
I liked that he had topics that discussed math that is around us in popular culture. Some examples include suduko and deal or no deal. I like showing my students how math isn't just found in a Math book. His podcast seems to do that too!
The podcast I found interesting is the Math Grad.
http://www.mathgrad.com/shownotes.html
I liked that he had topics that discussed math that is around us in popular culture. Some examples include suduko and deal or no deal. I like showing my students how math isn't just found in a Math book. His podcast seems to do that too!
Thing 18
Gaming In Education2
View more PowerPoint from Jeffrey Piontek
What did you like about the presentation you embedded? How might Slideshare be useful in the classroom? out of the classroom?
I like that it took a nontraditional look at how students can use technology even the technology of games to learn. I would use slideshare in the classroom if I find one that relates to what we are learning. It is a great resource to borrow from other teachers and to publish your own.
Thing 17
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?
I tried the site Remember the Milk. Again another username and password to remember. If I could remember them they I probably could remember the milk on my own. I wonder if there is a secure tool for remembering all my user names and passwords? That would be a tool for me!
I tried the site Remember the Milk. Again another username and password to remember. If I could remember them they I probably could remember the milk on my own. I wonder if there is a secure tool for remembering all my user names and passwords? That would be a tool for me!
Thing 16
How might you use this tool in your personal and professional life? What issues come to mind about using this tool with students (ie, they need email addresses to log-in)?
I love google docs! When we started using it in summer school I knew it was something I would continue to use. I think it would be great to use as an address book.
The one issue I think comes up is if you share and allow others to edit it, I worry about how they might edit it. For example if students started changing the labels or messing with other student's responses. Maybe it's just the control freak in me :)
I love google docs! When we started using it in summer school I knew it was something I would continue to use. I think it would be great to use as an address book.
The one issue I think comes up is if you share and allow others to edit it, I worry about how they might edit it. For example if students started changing the labels or messing with other student's responses. Maybe it's just the control freak in me :)
Thing 15
Is RSS becoming easier to understand? Do you recognize new benefits of using this tool? Do you remember to check your feeds regularly? Has it become a habit (or obsession!) yet?
I still do not like RSS. I get it, but I'm ok with missing some posts. I already feel my inbox is overwhelming. It is just one more thing to do. When I added the tag feed with the delicious site. My RSS went crazy with tons of feeds. Most of them were junk feeds that had nothing to do with the tag I was looking for. RSS just has me frustrated!
I still do not like RSS. I get it, but I'm ok with missing some posts. I already feel my inbox is overwhelming. It is just one more thing to do. When I added the tag feed with the delicious site. My RSS went crazy with tons of feeds. Most of them were junk feeds that had nothing to do with the tag I was looking for. RSS just has me frustrated!
Thing 14
Does Delicious seem to be a tool that can enhance your productivity?
I like that I can label my websites into categories I choose. I also think the stacking to is very effective. The only drawback I currently have is that it is another username and password to remember. It is getting hard to keep them all straight.
I like that I can label my websites into categories I choose. I also think the stacking to is very effective. The only drawback I currently have is that it is another username and password to remember. It is getting hard to keep them all straight.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Thing 13
Share your thoughts about tagging. Is tagging a useful way to organize your digital resources and why? What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages? What is important to think about before assigning tags to bookmarks or other Internet content?
I definitly think tagging will be useful for organizing my favorites. Sometimes I think I have a website saved as a favorite, and go to find it but then realize that I have it saved on my home computer instead of my work computer and vice versa. It will definitly be an advantage to only have to organize it once.
I definitly think tagging will be useful for organizing my favorites. Sometimes I think I have a website saved as a favorite, and go to find it but then realize that I have it saved on my home computer instead of my work computer and vice versa. It will definitly be an advantage to only have to organize it once.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Thing 12
Review the widget you selected. Are you getting comfortable with embedding code? Do you belong to other online communities? Are relationships formed online as meaningful as face-to-face relationships? Why do you think Facebook and other social networking sites are so popular with kids today?
I definitely think I am more comfortable embedding code. If I would have known that it was as easy as copying and pasting I wouldn't have waited this long to try it. I do think it is hilarious that I just blogged a week ago about Voki and here it is as one of the 23 things. It is so cool. I already created one, so this time I tried something different. I embedded the map instead. It was easy to do, but now that I think about it I probably won't have many hits from around the world :) It was still fun though.
I am on Facebook, but I have to admit sometimes I am very active on there and then sometimes I go for weeks without checking. My friends and family know how to get a hold of me if they need to. This is why I think online relationships are not nearly as important as those I see face-to-face and make time for.
I think kids like Facebook and similar sites because they want to be "liked" and the want everyone to "like" what they are doing. They get instant approval from their friends
I definitely think I am more comfortable embedding code. If I would have known that it was as easy as copying and pasting I wouldn't have waited this long to try it. I do think it is hilarious that I just blogged a week ago about Voki and here it is as one of the 23 things. It is so cool. I already created one, so this time I tried something different. I embedded the map instead. It was easy to do, but now that I think about it I probably won't have many hits from around the world :) It was still fun though.
I am on Facebook, but I have to admit sometimes I am very active on there and then sometimes I go for weeks without checking. My friends and family know how to get a hold of me if they need to. This is why I think online relationships are not nearly as important as those I see face-to-face and make time for.
I think kids like Facebook and similar sites because they want to be "liked" and the want everyone to "like" what they are doing. They get instant approval from their friends
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Thing 11
What do you like / dislike about leaving comments? How did you feel when you received your first comment? Why do you think commenting is so important in online communities? What might this mean for students who share their writing online?
I like that when a fellow colleague was feeling frustrated with technology, I was able to post on her blog what was helping me and that I found useful.
When I received my first comment it was reassuring that someone was actually reading what I wrote. I think if students can post online they will take more pride in what they are writing because people are actually going to read their ideas. They may take more time in composing their writing.
I like that when a fellow colleague was feeling frustrated with technology, I was able to post on her blog what was helping me and that I found useful.
When I received my first comment it was reassuring that someone was actually reading what I wrote. I think if students can post online they will take more pride in what they are writing because people are actually going to read their ideas. They may take more time in composing their writing.
Thing 10
This is the song I currently use for order of operations. My students say that whenever they hear the actual umbrella song they can only think of these words instead of the original words. Love that!
I thought it was fairly easy to download. I used keepvid for the first time. I love that I won't have to worry about buffering everytime.
Thing 9
What do you like or dislike about YouTube? Did you find videos that would be useful for teaching and learning? Is YouTube restricted in your building?
I love YouTube! We used to spend money on videos for classrooms and have to save up for them. Instead now I have a huge variety of multimedia resources available in an instant. Sometimes I'm looking for a hook for a lesson and have found great resources on youtube. I have used the order of operations umbrella song in my class. The students love it and it is more up to date then some of the older songs we have used in Math classes. Just today when I was searching for that song I saw that there is a new order of operations song to the tune of a Bruno Mars song. YouTube is constantly updated so the students can relate to it. The umbrella song will be an oldie in a few years. Maybe I need to look at this Bruno Mars song to replace it. In 5 years I'm sure there will be a new rendition to the tune of a popular song of that time.
I love YouTube! We used to spend money on videos for classrooms and have to save up for them. Instead now I have a huge variety of multimedia resources available in an instant. Sometimes I'm looking for a hook for a lesson and have found great resources on youtube. I have used the order of operations umbrella song in my class. The students love it and it is more up to date then some of the older songs we have used in Math classes. Just today when I was searching for that song I saw that there is a new order of operations song to the tune of a Bruno Mars song. YouTube is constantly updated so the students can relate to it. The umbrella song will be an oldie in a few years. Maybe I need to look at this Bruno Mars song to replace it. In 5 years I'm sure there will be a new rendition to the tune of a popular song of that time.
Technology Conference
Day 2 of my Technology Conference. I am learning some amazing, quick new ways to use technology everyday in my class. Excited to try some of it this week! My favorite is Voki. I even tried it with my boys last night and they both created their own Voki. So much fun!
Friday, March 23, 2012
Thing 8
In the same post in which you placed your creation, briefly describe your experience completing Thing 8. Which of these tools intrigues you and why? Was it easy, frustrating, time-consuming, fun? Share some of your ideas for using the images you can create.
I have definitely had a few problems with Thing 8. I love all the tools given to us. However, I tried a few times to use them and had trouble with both the Suduko and the Puzzel Generator. I could create them, but had difficulty saving them so I could put them on my blog.
On a positive note, I did create a motivational poster of my son from when he was younger. I've seen a few of my friends making these posters on facebook, but I had no idea how they created them. Making this poster was so easy. Love it! I also love my adorable son who was enjoying the August sun a few years ago.
I have definitely had a few problems with Thing 8. I love all the tools given to us. However, I tried a few times to use them and had trouble with both the Suduko and the Puzzel Generator. I could create them, but had difficulty saving them so I could put them on my blog.
On a positive note, I did create a motivational poster of my son from when he was younger. I've seen a few of my friends making these posters on facebook, but I had no idea how they created them. Making this poster was so easy. Love it! I also love my adorable son who was enjoying the August sun a few years ago.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Thing 7
I would love to use Flickr to allow my students to see Math all around them. My advanced class did a project where they looked for right triangles around their house and had to draw the object and the right triangle. They then used the Pythagorean Theorem to solve for the hypotenuse. A few of my students took pictures instead of drawing them and then drew their triangle on it. Flickr would be a perfect use for this project.
My French students also made Buche de Noel over our December break. They emailed me their pictures, but the files were so large it would have been easier for all of us if they would have posted them to Flickr and to my Blog.
My French students also made Buche de Noel over our December break. They emailed me their pictures, but the files were so large it would have been easier for all of us if they would have posted them to Flickr and to my Blog.
Thing 6
This is not my picture, but it brings back great memories from when my husband and I went to Paris. We had a romantic carriage ride through Versaille Gardens. It was just the start of spring so the trees were just starting to get their buds. I remember loving the symmetry.
Thing 5
I found a great Blog called Math in the Middle. They had an idea for a snowball "fight" that I want to try in my class. The ideas on her blog are definitely geared toward us middle school teachers.
Thing 4
Thank you Jackie for helping me learn to copy and past to subscribe to blogs. It was so much easier than what I was trying! I have tried to follow blogs in the past, but I always lost track of them. I've never used RSS and it seems to be a perfect solution. I'm excited to start searching for other blogs I want to follow.
Thing 3
It appears to me that a blog is just a simplified website. I can see posting reminders on here for parents and students about upcoming quizzes and tests. I struggle with discussion topics to post for my Math students. I hope to gain more insight in that as I continue.
Thing 1 & 2
Yeah, I have a blog! Great way to share information and gather great ideas for my colleagues. I'm hoping to use this as one place to store things I've done in my classes or want to try in my class. Hopefully it will declutter my files and allow me to bring my ideas to the forefront of my memory.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)