Thing #12

After looking at each of Google tools, choose two of them to explore further. Try setting up an alert, calendar, translate, picasa album or iGoogle page and using it. If sharing is an option for the tools you choose, make them public. Blog about your experience with both tools and include a link to your creation. Be sure and include possible educational uses.


I set up my very own google caldar. This calendar could be used by my students to input homework assignments (students wouldn't have to worry about losing their planner since it would be online.)

Likewise, I used google translate! Say I had a class with students who did not speak English. If I was not familiar with their language, I could use google translate for basic help! EX: http://translate.google.com/#auto|fr|Hello%20class!

Thing #11

1. Explore some of the search tools noted above that can help you locate some RSS feeds.
   
2. Add any feeds you like to your RSS reader.
   
3. Create a blog post about your experience that answers these questions:
   *Which method of finding feeds did you find easiest to use?
   *Which Search tool was the easiest for you?
   *Which was more confusing?
   *What kind of useful feeds did you find in your travels?
   *Or what kind of unusual ones did you find?
   *What other tools or ways did you find to locate newsfeeds?

I found that browsing worked best for me. I clicked on different blogs that were listed through the main APSU 23 things page and added blogs that I liked to my RSS feed. It was confusing when I had to input them directly because I wasn't sure what I was searching for. Some useful feeds I found were specified towards teaching; unusual included just about everything under the sun!! Other tools or ways to locate newsfeeds could be something as simple as a search engine or word of mouth.

Thing #10

• What do you like about RSS and newsreaders?
• How do you think you might be able to use this technology in your school or personal life?
• How can teachers use RSS or take advantage of this new technology?
• Optional: If you're up to the challenge, create a public page with Google Reader. Why have a public page? To share your blogs with others!

I really like RSS and newsreaders as I now have a set place to read my blogs, newsletters, etc. It's very organized. I can use this technology in school to show students updates from sites I really like, and I could use it in my personal life for personal blogs and sites I enjoy. Teachers can take advantage of this in the ways I mentioned--- sharing pages with students, giving students an online checklist of sorts!

Thing #9

My process for creating these images was really simple-- just browsing around for fun ideas and adding my own text. I've link all the images so that you can click on them to visit the site where they were created. These images could be used to add visual interest to any projects!!

Have fun!

Thing #8

In your post, talk about some ways Flickr and/or Flickr mashups could be used in your future classroom or personal life. What are your feelings about sharing photos online?

Flickr and mashups could be used very effectively in the classroom! Students could design aesthetically appealing photos, phrases, etc for assignments, and I could use these tools to keep my presentations visually interesting. I'm comfortable with sharing photos online so long as you aren't exposing anything too private to a student or yourself.

Thing #7

a. Take a good look around Flickr and discover an interesting image that you want to blog about. You can explore Flickr photos, search the tags, view various groups, and more without a Flickr account.


b. Use any keyword(s) you wish to find photos with those tags. When you find an interesting image or group, write a blog post describing your experience finding images, using Flickr, and anything else related to the exercise. Upload an image to your blog, being sure to credit the photographer. Don't forget to include a link to the image in your post.

Upon my exploration of flickr (a website I absolutely adore), I found pages upon pages of creative photos tagged with various subjects (many of which would be directly applicable to lectures, powerpoint presentations, and providing visual interest to any presentations I may show to my class).

Finding the images was incredibly easy, and I'm definitely a flickr fan. Since I plan on teaching English and poetry, I did a search for book images on flickr.

I linked the image to go to the flickr page when clicked.

Thing #6

1. Select any site/tool from the list of Web 2.0 Awards nominees.
2. Explore the site you selected.
3. Create a post about your discovery. Be sure to create a link back to the site where you found your tool. What did you like or dislike about the tool? What were the site’s useful features? Could you see any applications for its use in a school or library setting?

Of the Web 2.0 Award nominees, I decided to explore Skype. I created an account and found out that many of my friends have a skype themselves! I really liked the personal aspect of the tool-- I was able to make phone calls and speak 'face-to-face' via a computer screen with friends that have moved very far away. Useful features include sharing files, photos, text, etc., and allowing people to speak to eachother rather than simply type (though that, too, is an option).

While I cannot see it being used to its full ability in a library (with the exception of sharing text, documents, etc.,), using video chat in classroom can allow teachers to have specialists or those who can add stories, perspective, points, etc., to lessons speak to the class via video and allow students to speak back and ask questions!

Thing #5

Create a blog post on your reactions and thoughts regarding the articles you chose. In your post, make sure you include the answers to these questions:

• What does "School 2.0" mean to you?
• What does it mean for schools of the future?

As I read the articles provided on 'Web 2.0', I was honestly very impressed. I feel that school should be so much more interactive and agree with the opinion that learning takes place so much further outside the spectrum of a typical 8 hour day. We learn when we do, when our education is integrated into our daily lives.

School 2.0, to me, is the next step, the next level. To me, 'School 2.0' is discussing your studies with your parents, your peers, making assignments fun and relevant. For schools of the future, it means a further understanding of content and a feeling of relevance towards assignments.

Thing #4

• explain why commenting helps create a sense of community and interaction
• discuss two other points from the readings about commenting that you found important
• give the names of the seven blogs (5 from our group + 2 others of your choice) you selected to read and comment on and tell why you selected them

discuss the comments that you chose to make and why you made them

Commenting helps create a sense of community interaction because the person receiving the comments is getting direct feedback from his or her peers on his or her work. Likewise, the person receiving the comments may feel a sense of relevance about his or her work. Receiving feedback brings out the best in people and makes them strive to do their best work. Knowing that someone has read what you've posted motivates.

Likewise, the person doing the commenting gains a sense of authority, importance, etc., since he or she is providing direct feedback.


Two other points from the reading that I found important were listening for the voice of readers and replying to comments (to the best of your ability) to avoid a sort of elitism.


FIVE FROM OUR GROUP
3040 Section 34


Laura-- I chose to comment on this blog because I could relate very much to what she was saying about accepting responsibility for her own learning.


Zack-- I chose to comment on this blog because we both shared the same difficulty in accepting and viewing obstacles as challenges rather than viewing them in a negative light (my most difficult feat yet!).

Bridgtte-- I chose to comment on this blog because I really related to what she was saying about beginning tasks with an end in site and 'saving the best part of the cake as your last bite'!!


Kelly-- I chose to comment on this blog because I found it interesting that her classroom used blogs before as mine never did!


Er'nyce--  I chose to comment on this blog because in my high school classes, we really didn't make the most use of the available technology so I was able to relate to what she was saying. Likewise, I feel that there is no substitute for human interaction.


TWO OTHER GROUPS:
3040 Section 4
ADuchscher-- I chose to comment on this blog because he, like me, has difficulty viewing obstacles as challenges and I could very much relate.


3040 Section 8
MHillenberg -- I chose to comment on this blog because she was discussing the possibility of starting another blog outside of her 23 Things blog. I have my own separate blog, so I wanted to encourage her!

Thing #3

For your Thing #3 post, write about ways that you might use a blog in your teacher education program or your future classroom.

Several ways in which I might use a blog in my teacher education program or future classroom include but are not limited to:

• daily essay questions for students (one post per essay response as I plan on teaching English)
• requiring students to comment on two, three, etc of their peers' posts/responses to provide constructive criticism or feedback.
• allow students to create a virtual time capsule of sorts.
• allow students to reflect on past work.   
• provide my teaching insights and teaching methods/exercises, making them accessible to other teachers.
• share ideas.
• allow parents to be interactive with classwork.
• link my classes with other classes in the school, state, or elsewhere! 

Thing #2

For Thing #2, post about your experience creating your blog and your avatar. In your post, consider answering these questions:

• How did you decide on your posting name and the name of your blog?
• What was your experience in creating the blog? Was it hard for you or easy? Why?
• How does your avatar reflect your personality? Did you create an avatar that looks like your real self or someone totally different? Why?

My experience in creating my blog was a bit confusing at first though generally pleasurable. I decided to use my own name for posting and keeping things simple when naming my blog-- Amber's 23 Things.

I feel that my avatar reflects my personality in that she is wearing a silly hat and that she is smiling (she is, I promise! The graphics just didn't have as much flexibility with the mouths as I would have hoped. I love dressing up (I even have my own fashion blog!), so since the outfit of the avatar wasn't entirely visible, I had to settle for a fun hat. Likewise, my avatar does look like my real self--- she has thick bangs, brown hair, and blue eyes! One might say I was not creative in the creation, but really, I just wanted an accurate representation of myself!