The Web 2.0 journey..... it's certainly not a destination! This course presented a lot of material in a well structured way. I have used my experiences from this course to offer professional development opportunities to the teachers in our district. I have found many tools that I was previously unaware of. These tools can be used both in and outside of the classroom. It is my intent to continue to offer professional development opportunities to our teachers using these tools and the many others that I have explored.
My big takeaways from this course are Blogger and Wikispaces. These two tools are essential to understanding and utilizing many of the other Web 2.0 tools. Without the opportunity to use these tools to "play", I would not have gained experience with them. By using them through this course, it provided a safe way to "play" and learn without having a classroom or "professional" audience of your colleagues....it was a classroom experience and a safe way to learn.
Thank you for putting this course together. This by far is one of the best professional development courses that I have been involved in and would recommend this to anyone with a desire to learn about Web 2.0!
April 29, 2010
Thing 22
My wiki can be found at: http://kassubat.wikispaces.com/
I have really enjoyed learning how to use Wikispaces. I really like this tool versus others because you can embed HTML code and utilize other Web 2.0 tools with it.
Wikis should be used for one of two reasons (or both):
I have really enjoyed learning how to use Wikispaces. I really like this tool versus others because you can embed HTML code and utilize other Web 2.0 tools with it.
Wikis should be used for one of two reasons (or both):
- As a website in the event that the educator doesn't have one. The teacher could use this to post lessons, policies, and other communication to the parents and students.
- As a collaborative project for students
Thing 21
Wikis are a fantastic way to assign collaborative work. I didn't find just one wiki that inspired me, however, it was more of a compilation. I spent a lot of time searching through the educational wikis to gather ideas on how educators were using them.
Here are some of the hurdles that I found and solutions to overcome:
Here are some of the hurdles that I found and solutions to overcome:
- students need email addresses - not true... Wikispaces allows you to create user names and passwords if you have an education account
- the ads on the side of the wiki - again, you can email Wikispaces and request they remove the ads - or you can pay to upgrade also
- in collaborative projects, only certain students actually do the work - Wikispaces keeps revision history so you can see exactly who does what and when
- parents may not want their student to publish their work online - gain permission slips or come up with an alternate assignment for those students that can't participate
Thing 20
My preference of tools for locating podcasts is iTunes. Personally, I find if much more appealing and useful than using EPN or some of the other sites. Perhaps it's because I'm familiar with the interface, but I find EPN to be very sterile and hard to navigate. I also prefer iTunes since that's the program that I use for everything else (music, movies, apps).
I have several subscriptions, but my favorite podcast is Apple Quick Tips (though they haven't created a new episode since Sept 09).
I have several subscriptions, but my favorite podcast is Apple Quick Tips (though they haven't created a new episode since Sept 09).
Thing 19
Podcasting is a very powerful tool that I hope more of our educators will utilize in the future. I gained several ideas on how other educators are using Podcasts in Education by watching the movies.
I listen regularly to the following podcasts:
Radio WillowWeb
Apple Quick Tips
Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing
Professionally, only the Apple Quick tips helps me by showing helpful tips with the MAC OS. However, I'm forever searching for great podcasts that show how other educators are using them to take back to our teachers to replicate.
I listen regularly to the following podcasts:
Radio WillowWeb
Apple Quick Tips
Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing
Professionally, only the Apple Quick tips helps me by showing helpful tips with the MAC OS. However, I'm forever searching for great podcasts that show how other educators are using them to take back to our teachers to replicate.
April 28, 2010
Thing 18
Slideshare is a wonderful tool! I really like the idea of being able to share your presentations online. This enables users to benefit from other authors' knowledge. I have been using Slideshare to find additional popular Web 2.0 tools.
Slideshare is also a great way to share your presentation if you are a presenter at a conference or a teacher in the classroom. Another use would be for Professional Development whether it's school-wide or district-wide. Slideshare would eliminate the need to email the presentation that could be quite large in size.
If you are using Slideshare as part of your curriculum, it eliminates software requirements for the students, as well as opportunities for remediation at their convenience.
Example of an embedded Slideshare:
Slideshare is also a great way to share your presentation if you are a presenter at a conference or a teacher in the classroom. Another use would be for Professional Development whether it's school-wide or district-wide. Slideshare would eliminate the need to email the presentation that could be quite large in size.
If you are using Slideshare as part of your curriculum, it eliminates software requirements for the students, as well as opportunities for remediation at their convenience.
Example of an embedded Slideshare:
Thing 17
The online productivity tool that I chose is iGoogle. When you log in to Google (say, for your Google Docs), you can also set up a iGoogle home page. I highly recommend this tool to organize your "online resources" for personal and professional use.
Your iGoogle home page can incorporate your RSS feeds (instead of Bloglines), Google docs, your gmail account, a date/time gadget, news stories and so much more! Google offers gadgets that you can embed on your home page that assists in your productivity.
I personally have my home page set up to view my RSS feeds, my google docs, google calendar, a weather gadget, as well as other personal "fun" items such as a horoscope, etc. I use this tool on a daily basis to keep myself organized and up to date with the RSS feeds.
Your iGoogle home page can incorporate your RSS feeds (instead of Bloglines), Google docs, your gmail account, a date/time gadget, news stories and so much more! Google offers gadgets that you can embed on your home page that assists in your productivity.
I personally have my home page set up to view my RSS feeds, my google docs, google calendar, a weather gadget, as well as other personal "fun" items such as a horoscope, etc. I use this tool on a daily basis to keep myself organized and up to date with the RSS feeds.
Thing 15
I absolutely love RSS feeds! Bloglines makes it easy, but I still prefer Google reader since I have the gadget on my iGoogle home page. I am able to check it regularly because it's one less place "I have to go". It simply comes to me when it's updated!
Thing 16
Google Docs - I love them! Although I didn't have the 23 Things spreadsheet shared with me, I've been using Google docs for Documents, Spreadsheets and Presentations. I recently started dabbling with the Forms and I love them!
Google docs can prove very useful in the classroom by assigning collaborative projects with students. Students can access it anytime, anywhere, and best of all, it tracks revision history. Another favorable aspect is that students do not need to have the software the teacher has to be able to complete an assignment at home. The downside is the accessibility of the students' internet as well as lack of email address. One way to get around this is to create a permission slip for the parent's consent to create an email address for younger students. If the student does not have access to the Internet at home, perhaps the teacher could schedule a visit to the computer lab or make some time during class for that student to go to the library to use a computer.
Professionally, we use Google docs to share files between co-workers. It drastically cuts down on paper, as well as confusion on who has the latest revision.
Google docs can prove very useful in the classroom by assigning collaborative projects with students. Students can access it anytime, anywhere, and best of all, it tracks revision history. Another favorable aspect is that students do not need to have the software the teacher has to be able to complete an assignment at home. The downside is the accessibility of the students' internet as well as lack of email address. One way to get around this is to create a permission slip for the parent's consent to create an email address for younger students. If the student does not have access to the Internet at home, perhaps the teacher could schedule a visit to the computer lab or make some time during class for that student to go to the library to use a computer.
Professionally, we use Google docs to share files between co-workers. It drastically cuts down on paper, as well as confusion on who has the latest revision.
April 25, 2010
Thing 14
My Delicious contact name is kassubat.
Since I'm not a classroom teacher, I use Delicious to store my bookmarks, but more importantly, find other sites that are interesting to me. In the world of Web 2.0, there are millions of sites out there. I utilize Delicious to find the "best of the best" according to other Delicious users. This is definitely a tool that enhances personal productivity, but I also see it as a resource for classroom teachers as well!
Since I'm not a classroom teacher, I use Delicious to store my bookmarks, but more importantly, find other sites that are interesting to me. In the world of Web 2.0, there are millions of sites out there. I utilize Delicious to find the "best of the best" according to other Delicious users. This is definitely a tool that enhances personal productivity, but I also see it as a resource for classroom teachers as well!
Thing 13
Tagging....just do it! While working on projects, it is tempting to not tag and just say, "I'll come back and do that later... I don't have time right now." Resist that temptation!
It is vital to tag your resources so they may be easily located to others. The one thing that I suggest to our teachers when tagging their resources is "Think like a kid....if they had to do a "google" search to find this, what would they type in?" Take the time to tag each resource. It will pay off down the road.
Delicious is a fantastic way to find content and also to create a network. It's also a great way to bookmark and store your bookmarks if you work between more than one computer. :)
It is vital to tag your resources so they may be easily located to others. The one thing that I suggest to our teachers when tagging their resources is "Think like a kid....if they had to do a "google" search to find this, what would they type in?" Take the time to tag each resource. It will pay off down the road.
Delicious is a fantastic way to find content and also to create a network. It's also a great way to bookmark and store your bookmarks if you work between more than one computer. :)
Thing 12
Gadgets!!! I love them. These are what jazzes up you blog or wiki or website. I had previously embedded my Voki as an example before I can upon Thing #12..... so I will have two. I've embedded my Google Gadget's turtles in the post - they crack me up! The only thing that is a drawback is the advertising at top takes up the majority of the screen since I made the gadget a little smaller.
The voki is embedded in the layout. I did have to modify the size of the voki even if you get the "small" size embed code.... it's still too big and was cut off. It's a little tricky because you need to edit the code, but if you're willing to play... it's well worth the risk!
It's my belief that students like MySpace and Facebook because they can personalize their work and write for that authentic audience. They are allowed the creative freedom to express their personalities, needs and wants. With that being said, we as educators need to adapt to how they are wired..... and engage them with the technology that is available to us in our classrooms.
The voki is embedded in the layout. I did have to modify the size of the voki even if you get the "small" size embed code.... it's still too big and was cut off. It's a little tricky because you need to edit the code, but if you're willing to play... it's well worth the risk!
It's my belief that students like MySpace and Facebook because they can personalize their work and write for that authentic audience. They are allowed the creative freedom to express their personalities, needs and wants. With that being said, we as educators need to adapt to how they are wired..... and engage them with the technology that is available to us in our classrooms.
April 24, 2010
Thing 11
Commenting.... I hate being forced to leave comments as an assignment, but I understand that we need to gain the experience. I liked receiving some comments on my blog posts that were constructive or engaging. It does make one feel like they are part of a community and not alone in Cyber Space.
I like the use of Blogging in the classroom because it provides the student an authentic audience to perform for. I have witnessed more detailed and edited work from students when it's posted online versus handed in on paper. The students know they are judged by their peers, their teachers and the rest of the world... of course they are going to perform better! Another reason why I like online comments/blogging is that it provides an avenue for interaction for those voiceless students that do not like to engage with other people face to face. It finally gives those students a voice! It also extends the learning outside of the classroom's four walls.
I like the use of Blogging in the classroom because it provides the student an authentic audience to perform for. I have witnessed more detailed and edited work from students when it's posted online versus handed in on paper. The students know they are judged by their peers, their teachers and the rest of the world... of course they are going to perform better! Another reason why I like online comments/blogging is that it provides an avenue for interaction for those voiceless students that do not like to engage with other people face to face. It finally gives those students a voice! It also extends the learning outside of the classroom's four walls.
Thing 10
This video is called Did You Know 2.0
It's been around a couple of years, but definitely worth the watch! Embedding YouTube videos is super easy using the embed code option. Downloading is just as easy using a third party app. I personally like Zamzar....it also converts files as well as being able to download YouTube movies!
It's been around a couple of years, but definitely worth the watch! Embedding YouTube videos is super easy using the embed code option. Downloading is just as easy using a third party app. I personally like Zamzar....it also converts files as well as being able to download YouTube movies!
Thing 9
To YouTube or not to YouTube? A question that many districts are in a quandry over. Sure, there is a lot of educational content on YouTube, but there is also inappropriate content as well. YouTube is very easy to use for both students and educators. When using the Internet, we continue to run into the same problem.... how to keep our students safe!
As an educator, I like YouTube for its popularity and ease of use for the students. However, I dislike it for the same reasons. Our district has chosen to block YouTube for students, but keep it accessible for teachers. Our district also offers an alternative to our staff called TitanTube (our own version of YouTube) that our staff can upload videos, as well as download videos from YouTube and repost them on TitanTube. This provides a safe alternative for our students and staff.
If you have time, check it out at www.southgateschools.com/titantube
As an educator, I like YouTube for its popularity and ease of use for the students. However, I dislike it for the same reasons. Our district has chosen to block YouTube for students, but keep it accessible for teachers. Our district also offers an alternative to our staff called TitanTube (our own version of YouTube) that our staff can upload videos, as well as download videos from YouTube and repost them on TitanTube. This provides a safe alternative for our students and staff.
If you have time, check it out at www.southgateschools.com/titantube
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