April 28, 2010
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!
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