After a busy end to the school year and the following week that flew by, culminating with family, friends, and a wedding, my mind is now clear and I am able to reflect on the journey that is 23 Things.
There is no doubt that this experience has been nothing but positive. I have been exposed to areas that I had only heard about, but not explored previously (e.g. podcasts, google docs, wikis, RSS). Other teachers at CMA have shared wonderful ideas and thoughts of how we can use technology with our students. All in all, 23 Things was an educational experience itself, along with the opportunity to learn from each other.
Exploring the 23 Things definitely reiterated that technology is a reality and in reality, it is not going anywhere. Preparing our students for the future, definitely involves use of technology. Of course there are concerns about technology, which each of us recognized throughout this journey. I like that in the last video we watched, it mentioned concerns about privacy, copyrights, authorship, ethics etc... I think that if they are issues that we are aware of, that in time with comfort and knowledge, they each will become less of an issue.
This upcoming school year, I would like to incorporate the use of a blog for sharing writing and ultimately, I would like to be able to include audio in these blogs so that students are able to share stories through audio as well. I also like the idea of google docs and a wiki in creating schedules for students and sharing information in the fall. Being the lover of photography that I am, personally, I'd like to use Flickr and Big Huge Labs more, which were two of my favorite "Things" to explore.
Overall the 23 Things journey has been just that, a journey. It definitely doesn't end here though. I personally need to go back and explore a few "Things" a bit more to become more comfortable with them. There are excellent resources on the web as well as with each other, so I'm looking forward to what the next school year brings.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Thing 22
My wiki is: http://specialed-hodgepodge.wikispaces.com/
It has a very rough start....more information is definitely needed!
I plan to use my wiki this fall as I begin setting student schedules. I think it would be wonderful if general ed. teachers would be able to sign in and see if the times I choose work with specials schedules or are good times in the classroom as well. If they don't work, they would be able to go in to make changes or let me know that there is a time conflict. I also think my hodgepodge wiki space would be a good place to put our gen.ed./sp.ed. meeting information (e.g. meeting times, time changes etc.). Overall, I hope the space would be a good place to go for new information, schedules, or even questions.
Wikis vs. blogs....both are beneficial. I think that wikis are an excellent resource for a group, be it students working on a project, reflecting, editing or teachers planning, scheduling, researching etc. In other words, I can see wikis being beneficial where outside input is needed and a necessary part of the process. Blogs, are usually one person orientated. One individual is sharing and others can respond, but they aren't able to edit the entry.
I really need to make sure I experiment with my wiki this summer because I would really like to be able to try it out this fall.
It has a very rough start....more information is definitely needed!
I plan to use my wiki this fall as I begin setting student schedules. I think it would be wonderful if general ed. teachers would be able to sign in and see if the times I choose work with specials schedules or are good times in the classroom as well. If they don't work, they would be able to go in to make changes or let me know that there is a time conflict. I also think my hodgepodge wiki space would be a good place to put our gen.ed./sp.ed. meeting information (e.g. meeting times, time changes etc.). Overall, I hope the space would be a good place to go for new information, schedules, or even questions.
Wikis vs. blogs....both are beneficial. I think that wikis are an excellent resource for a group, be it students working on a project, reflecting, editing or teachers planning, scheduling, researching etc. In other words, I can see wikis being beneficial where outside input is needed and a necessary part of the process. Blogs, are usually one person orientated. One individual is sharing and others can respond, but they aren't able to edit the entry.
I really need to make sure I experiment with my wiki this summer because I would really like to be able to try it out this fall.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Thing 21
I found the wikiHow to be an interesting one to check out. It provided many examples of how-to writing, which is something I have incorporated in writing with my students. It's a way to work on sequencing and writing skills together. If planning on using the WikiHow as an example, I would choose a few school appropriate prior to sharing with students.
I like the idea that writing can be edited by anyone in a wiki (e.g. in working on a group project), however, I can see two major hurdles with this unique possibility. The first hurdle being communication. The group members would beyond a doubt need to have open communication and also be open to others critiquing and editing their ideas. The second hurdle is the unique opportunity of editing itself. Unwanted editing could occur. I did notice, however, that there are options for allowing only members of the group to edit, so that could alleviate unwanted editing.
On a lighter note, in connection to a possible hurdle, or possible benefit (e.g. brainstorming) I can't help but share this quote from The Office: "Wikipedia is the best thing ever. Anyone in the world can write anything they want about any subject. So you know you are getting the best possible information." (Michael Scott)
I like the idea that writing can be edited by anyone in a wiki (e.g. in working on a group project), however, I can see two major hurdles with this unique possibility. The first hurdle being communication. The group members would beyond a doubt need to have open communication and also be open to others critiquing and editing their ideas. The second hurdle is the unique opportunity of editing itself. Unwanted editing could occur. I did notice, however, that there are options for allowing only members of the group to edit, so that could alleviate unwanted editing.
On a lighter note, in connection to a possible hurdle, or possible benefit (e.g. brainstorming) I can't help but share this quote from The Office: "Wikipedia is the best thing ever. Anyone in the world can write anything they want about any subject. So you know you are getting the best possible information." (Michael Scott)
Thing 20
As I mentioned in Thing 19, I am not that familiar with using podcasts. As a result, I actually had some difficulties with subscribing. I have an Mp3 player, but it is not an ipod, so iTunes is foreign to me. With the unfamiliarity, I have taken into account the positives, but I have also heard negative stories about the iTunes application. Due to these stories, I wanted to stay away from downloading the program onto my home computer. I was going to try the bloglines route and hit a road block when I realized that I needed some form of a player to play podcasts. Eventually, I successfully (with help) downloaded the podcast aggregator, Juice, and subscribed to the LD podcast found on Podcast Alley. I like Podcast Alley because it gives the option to search for specific topics. What I did notice, however, from trial and error, is that some podcasts did not actully have any podcasts to play, or I received error messages when clicking subscribe to this podcast. This thing is definitely something I need to feel more comfortable with and gain more experience with.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Thing 19
I had heard the word podcast many times, but honestly did not have much information about what they are. The videos and searching around definitely helped to open my eyes.
A podcast I want to subscribe to and explore further is devoted to learning disabilities: http://ldpodcast.com/ I liked that there are the interviews available for listening, but there are also additional resources (e.g. links, accommodation guides, info. on dyslexia and ADHD, books). Overall, it appears to be kept up to date (when searching through, I did find a few did not have recent podcasts available) and would be a beneficial resource!
Another podcast I found to be intriguing was Colonial Williamsburg Past and Present. They discuss various topics connected to Colonial Williamsburg (e.g. events that took place there) and offer additional resources to students after they listen, which I really liked. I thought it could be a neat supplement to social studies topics that students more often than not find to be "boring."
Finally, I noticed there are quite a few "book talk" podcasts. I especially liked Hopkinton High School Library Booktalks because each of the books is chosen by middle school aged students and is part of the Isinglass Teen Award Read Award project: http://www.hopkintonschools.org/hhs/library/podcast.html The books discussed are for older students (ideal for our 7th/8th graders) and some of my students are younger, however, I liked the idea that books are student chosen and that they are discussed. I'm sure that there are podcasts available discussing literature for younger students. I need to do some more searching! I overall like the idea of "book talks" because I feel that they could be a fun way to introduce a new book to students. If there are author podcasts available, I also think it would be another fun way for students to get into a book. Students could actually hear the author of the story share details and answer questions.
One last thought on podcasting.....not only could our students learn from others through listening to podcasts by adults and other students in different schools, but I also think that it could be very doable with the right resources for our own students to do as well...share with others through their own podcasts.
A podcast I want to subscribe to and explore further is devoted to learning disabilities: http://ldpodcast.com/ I liked that there are the interviews available for listening, but there are also additional resources (e.g. links, accommodation guides, info. on dyslexia and ADHD, books). Overall, it appears to be kept up to date (when searching through, I did find a few did not have recent podcasts available) and would be a beneficial resource!
Another podcast I found to be intriguing was Colonial Williamsburg Past and Present. They discuss various topics connected to Colonial Williamsburg (e.g. events that took place there) and offer additional resources to students after they listen, which I really liked. I thought it could be a neat supplement to social studies topics that students more often than not find to be "boring."
Finally, I noticed there are quite a few "book talk" podcasts. I especially liked Hopkinton High School Library Booktalks because each of the books is chosen by middle school aged students and is part of the Isinglass Teen Award Read Award project: http://www.hopkintonschools.org/hhs/library/podcast.html The books discussed are for older students (ideal for our 7th/8th graders) and some of my students are younger, however, I liked the idea that books are student chosen and that they are discussed. I'm sure that there are podcasts available discussing literature for younger students. I need to do some more searching! I overall like the idea of "book talks" because I feel that they could be a fun way to introduce a new book to students. If there are author podcasts available, I also think it would be another fun way for students to get into a book. Students could actually hear the author of the story share details and answer questions.
One last thought on podcasting.....not only could our students learn from others through listening to podcasts by adults and other students in different schools, but I also think that it could be very doable with the right resources for our own students to do as well...share with others through their own podcasts.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Thing 18
Key Reading Strategies
View more presentations from Michael Klingensmith.
I chose this presentation because I absolutely loved the content! It's what we all try to teach our students...to become active, independent readers who use strategies. It's my number one goal for my students to use these strategies and we work on building these pieces to the puzzle each day. It's an ongoing process as I learn and they learn, but my hope is that with practice the strategies will become more automatic for them as they grow. I also liked that the presentation was straight forward and to the point, without too much clutter.
I think Slideshare would be a beneficial tool for both students and teachers in sharing presentations and lessons. We could pull up a presentation in a classroom, the tech lab, the library etc without searching a flash drive. On another level, I think many good ideas could be generated and "ah ha" moments could be had through searching topics from others in education.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Thing 17
I explored 30 Boxes online calendar. It did require a sign-in, but you can limit the amount of information you want to share (e.g. location, blog urls, and privacy settings etc.), which I liked. I'm usually pretty on top of things date wise...I have a traditional calendar hanging in my kitchen and make lists all the time. The neat thing about the online calendar, however, is that it can be shared with others that are registered for 30 Boxes or it can be placed on blog sites. This could be a way to share important dates with family members and keep up with them as well.
I was initially drawn to the calendar because I thought it may be a possible way for students to keep up with assignments and activities online and for parents to as well. The only issue, however, which seems to be the looming issue, is student access to email.
I was initially drawn to the calendar because I thought it may be a possible way for students to keep up with assignments and activities online and for parents to as well. The only issue, however, which seems to be the looming issue, is student access to email.
Thing 16
I was a little nervous about getting into Google Docs because of one little word associated with it...spreadsheets. I'm not as proficient in using spreadsheets as I'd like to be. However, once watching the video tutorials and exploring Google Docs for myself, I feel much more comfortable with the options Google Docs offers.
In my personal life, Google Docs could be useful in sharing work with my sister who is in Pennsylvania. She sends me her college papers through email attachments to proofread and it's back and forth that way. With Google Docs, it'd be a time saver.
In regard to school, I could see Google Docs being beneficial for me when I am creating special education schedules at the beginning of the school year. I could share the individual schedules on Google Docs and teachers could log in to see if the weekly times I have scheduled for their students are suitable and do not interfere with their specials schedules. This would be a wonderful time saver instead of individually emailing each teacher back and forth or walking around to each teacher who is busy in her/his own classroom. Another benefit could be sharing the Wordly Wise or spelling lists on Google Docs. I either hand deliver the lists or send an email attachment. Once again, this could be a time saver. I'm really looking forward to testing this out next fall.
In regard to students, if email addresses/accounts are not an issue, I could see the peer editing process becoming more appealing (Could a school email somehow be incorporated for use with Google Docs?) I was working with a student yesterday afternoon who was reading about the benefits of the freedom of expression in her social studies book. One of the benefits involves individual growth....if others can share opinions, you may have an "ah ha" moment and learn/discover something you hadn't thought about yourself. I could see Google Docs providing that opportunity for students. Someone may offer a suggestion that students had not thought of themselves.
In my personal life, Google Docs could be useful in sharing work with my sister who is in Pennsylvania. She sends me her college papers through email attachments to proofread and it's back and forth that way. With Google Docs, it'd be a time saver.
In regard to school, I could see Google Docs being beneficial for me when I am creating special education schedules at the beginning of the school year. I could share the individual schedules on Google Docs and teachers could log in to see if the weekly times I have scheduled for their students are suitable and do not interfere with their specials schedules. This would be a wonderful time saver instead of individually emailing each teacher back and forth or walking around to each teacher who is busy in her/his own classroom. Another benefit could be sharing the Wordly Wise or spelling lists on Google Docs. I either hand deliver the lists or send an email attachment. Once again, this could be a time saver. I'm really looking forward to testing this out next fall.
In regard to students, if email addresses/accounts are not an issue, I could see the peer editing process becoming more appealing (Could a school email somehow be incorporated for use with Google Docs?) I was working with a student yesterday afternoon who was reading about the benefits of the freedom of expression in her social studies book. One of the benefits involves individual growth....if others can share opinions, you may have an "ah ha" moment and learn/discover something you hadn't thought about yourself. I could see Google Docs providing that opportunity for students. Someone may offer a suggestion that students had not thought of themselves.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Thing 15
I like the idea of RSS and the ease of using it. I was really excited to check out the news feed piece. I added some options that will be useful in our classrooms (e.g. headline news) as well as feeds I'm personally interested in (e.g. sports....I'm a life long Tiger fan). I also liked the ability to subscribe to tags through Delicious. I of course searched the tag "special education" and am excited to have that option available on my bloglines! I unfortunately have not been keeping up with my feeds on a regular basis. It definitely needs to become more of a habit because it is such a useful tool. I find that when at home and sharing a computer, my computer time at times is limited. I'm looking forward to having more time to explore through the summer months and having it become a habit, which in itself will be a time saver and idea generator :)
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Thing 14
My Delicious user name is meg79....I like that I will have all of my favorite websites at a few clicks of the mouse no matter where I am, be it at home or school. I think the site will be a useful organization tool as I discover more websites related to special education, reading, and math. It will be valuable to check out tags related to these topics because our fellow teachers may be able to introduce me/us to new sites. New sites may trigger new ideas. New ideas may inspire our students.
In regard to our students, the site may prove useful for students as they write reports or complete projects. I have worked with students who need to complete an activity and cannot remember which site they were on previously. If there are reliable sites for our students to bookmark through Delicious in regard to social studies, current events, science etc..., they may see the site as a beneficial organizational, time saving tool as well.
In regard to our students, the site may prove useful for students as they write reports or complete projects. I have worked with students who need to complete an activity and cannot remember which site they were on previously. If there are reliable sites for our students to bookmark through Delicious in regard to social studies, current events, science etc..., they may see the site as a beneficial organizational, time saving tool as well.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Lesson Learned
I learned a lesson this past week.....a very common sense lesson. I was unable to sign into my Yahoo account to complete Thing 14. My ID and password were not being accepted and I was unsure of the reason. I had used the ID and password to sign up for my Flickr account to complete Thing 7 so I was concerned. I emailed Yahoo customer care back and forth several times throughout the week to solve the mystery. When I registered with Yahoo on April 10th that was my 1st Yahoo experience. Yahoo is not my regular personal email account. In previous account experiences I have written down or printed security questions and have listed an alternate email account. On April 10th during my Yahoo registration I did not. Error number 1. Long story short, they could not verify the Yahoo ID and password as mine, even with creating a Flickr account using that ID and password on April 10th.
Error number 2 was just discovered when I signed into my gmail email and had a Yahoo email asking me to verify the new account I created yesterday. When I originally created an account I did not provide the alternate email address and I did not sign into my new Yahoo account because I honestly didn't think of it at the time. It was not my everyday email account and I just didn't sign in, which was a mistake. Had I signed into Yahoo immediately after creating my first account, this whole confusion would never had happened because I would have verified my account.
So with my lack of common sense, I bring you these important common sense things to remember:
~Always print/write down security questions
~Always provide an alternate email account to ensure easier communication and verification if needed
~Always check to see if an email needs to be verified to continue it's use
With my lack of Yahoo sense behind me and lessons learned, I'm ready to get into exploring Things 14-23!
Error number 2 was just discovered when I signed into my gmail email and had a Yahoo email asking me to verify the new account I created yesterday. When I originally created an account I did not provide the alternate email address and I did not sign into my new Yahoo account because I honestly didn't think of it at the time. It was not my everyday email account and I just didn't sign in, which was a mistake. Had I signed into Yahoo immediately after creating my first account, this whole confusion would never had happened because I would have verified my account.
So with my lack of common sense, I bring you these important common sense things to remember:
~Always print/write down security questions
~Always provide an alternate email account to ensure easier communication and verification if needed
~Always check to see if an email needs to be verified to continue it's use
With my lack of Yahoo sense behind me and lessons learned, I'm ready to get into exploring Things 14-23!
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Thing 13
As I've read in a few other blogs, I am also a fan of using "favorites" or "bookmarks." Even at home, I've experienced losing my sites when there were computer difficulties. After it's fixed, I have to try to get back those sites I've lost. I've also noticed that once more than one person on a home computer is using the favorites/bookmarking option, they do add up pretty quickly and then it can be a game of "Where's Waldo" or finding a needle in a haystack while scrolling down a long list. I like the idea that those sites will stay intact and can be accessed from any computer through social bookmarking.
I also like the idea of tagging. Instead of searching down that long list, a keyword can be typed in to bring up the relevant sites in mind. I very much like the organization aspect. Another positive aspect is sharing with our learning/teaching community. To be able to share and search worthy sites seems like it will be a time saver. A disadvantage to tagging, however, could be subjectiveness or a matter of opinion. Each individual may not choose the same tags, which could lead to sites that are not wanted. I'm not that familiar with tagging, so I think I will keep the Thirteen Tips for Effective Tagging in mind when I begin Thing 14!
I also like the idea of tagging. Instead of searching down that long list, a keyword can be typed in to bring up the relevant sites in mind. I very much like the organization aspect. Another positive aspect is sharing with our learning/teaching community. To be able to share and search worthy sites seems like it will be a time saver. A disadvantage to tagging, however, could be subjectiveness or a matter of opinion. Each individual may not choose the same tags, which could lead to sites that are not wanted. I'm not that familiar with tagging, so I think I will keep the Thirteen Tips for Effective Tagging in mind when I begin Thing 14!
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Thing 12
My widget is This Day in History found in Widgetbox: Education. I liked that if an event link is clicked on, a brief summary of the event is available. I had a difficult time choosing...I found myself surfing around and liking a few. I'm a fan of trivia and there are some fun and challenging interactive educational quiz widgets out there (e.g. Karooba Endless Educational Trivia Quiz). I also found a quote a day widget in Widgetbox (quotes are another of my favorite things).
Most everyone I know has a Facebook, but I have not caved just yet. I see that it has its positive points with connecting people, however, I have seen with those around me that it can be addicting and can take away from face to face contact. As an example, my sister who lives near Philadelphia, called me and mentioned something that she read on Facebook. I wasn't aware of the news and am close to the person in mention. This scenario has actually happened more than once and is now an ongoing joke that I need a Facebook to stay in the loop.
I think that the social networking sites are popular with kids today because they are in a way the "thing to do" and the sites allow them to communicate and share with friends in a fun way. I can't help but think of what the 6th grade student I was working with mentioned in regard to not using phones because he can email or send a message on Facebook.... I definitely believe it's important for them as well as us to keep up with technology and new ways to communicate, but I still believe that nothing can compare to the "traditional" face to face contact or "old fashioned" phone call :)
Monday, April 19, 2010
Thing 11
I have to admit that I am guilty of reading more blogs than leaving comments....I am most likely one of those people regular bloggers despise.
In spite of my passive reading, I do see the value in commenting to posts. Comments can spur additional thoughts in the professional and blogging community. We may be able to share new info. with others and gain info. as well.
In regard to our students, I think that some students may feel more comfortable commenting and it would allow them to share their appropriate thoughts more freely. For students posting their work or ideas, realizing that they have an audience that is viewable by many others may encourage them to do their best work more consistently.
In spite of my passive reading, I do see the value in commenting to posts. Comments can spur additional thoughts in the professional and blogging community. We may be able to share new info. with others and gain info. as well.
In regard to our students, I think that some students may feel more comfortable commenting and it would allow them to share their appropriate thoughts more freely. For students posting their work or ideas, realizing that they have an audience that is viewable by many others may encourage them to do their best work more consistently.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Thing 10
My embedded video is the early 90s game show, Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? I used to be an avid watcher of the show and at one point in time, actually wanted to be a contestant :) My 5th/6th grade teacher, Mr. Deforrest, introduced us to geography. This meant using our atlas to fill in maps of the world...countries, capitals, rivers, you name it.
To answer my own question from Thing 9...I just noticed that if you embed a video, the comments and extra video choices on the side are not there. That's a good thing.
To answer my own question from Thing 9...I just noticed that if you embed a video, the comments and extra video choices on the side are not there. That's a good thing.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Thing 9
YouTube is like our personal time machine :) I like that you can find videos of things from childhood and things from before childhood....old commercials, tv shows, music. Watching the videos can definitely stir up some nostalgia. What bothers me about YouTube and especially in regard to using videos found on the site in classrooms, are the inappropriate comments that you can stumble upon when you are least expecting them and the videos that are available on the side after you have chosen a video (some may not be appropriate). I did notice Kalyani said that videos can be downloaded and transferred to a DVD. When videos are transferred, is it strictly video transferred or are the comments included in the transfer? In any case, monitoring videos would have to be an important part of preparation before sharing anything with our classes.
In regard to useful videos for teaching, I searched 3 children's books authors, Patricia Polacco, Denise Brennan-Nelson, and Christopher Paul Curtis and found videos of them speaking and some videos with stories being read. I thought YouTube would be an interesting way to do an author study. I also searched Cab Calloway and The Four Tops to see if there were videos of performances and there were! I love that this is possible. I think videos of musical performers of the past, would be a really fun way to tie into social studies topics....students would not only hear, but see the music of the time period and how music has changed. On a personal sidenote, my history teacher in high school would tie in different components to the time period we were studying at the time. He made it fun. The ability for us to share videos of the past with our students makes things more concrete for them and I think would definitely peak their interest.
In regard to useful videos for teaching, I searched 3 children's books authors, Patricia Polacco, Denise Brennan-Nelson, and Christopher Paul Curtis and found videos of them speaking and some videos with stories being read. I thought YouTube would be an interesting way to do an author study. I also searched Cab Calloway and The Four Tops to see if there were videos of performances and there were! I love that this is possible. I think videos of musical performers of the past, would be a really fun way to tie into social studies topics....students would not only hear, but see the music of the time period and how music has changed. On a personal sidenote, my history teacher in high school would tie in different components to the time period we were studying at the time. He made it fun. The ability for us to share videos of the past with our students makes things more concrete for them and I think would definitely peak their interest.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Thing 8
Main Entry: 1ad·dict
Pronunciation: \ə-ˈdikt\
Function: transitive verb
Etymology: Latin addictus, past participle of addicere to favor, from ad- + dicere to say — more at diction
Date: 1534
1 : to devote or surrender (oneself) to something habitually or obsessively
2 : to cause addiction to a substance in (a person or animal)
I do believe that Big Huge Labs could be added to the Webster's definition of addict(ing). I've spent more time than I anticipated on this beautiful, spring Saturday exploring and playing with all of the fun options on Big Huge Labs. With options like movie poster, magazine cover, motivator, map maker, just to name a few that stood out for me, students could respond to books they've read, share places they've visited, add details to projects and activities, make pictures and ideas their own... I feel like my head is swimming with ideas and I honestly cannot wrap my head around everything at the moment.
Thing 7
On a personal note, I really enjoyed learning about Flickr and adding photos!
On a classroom level, Flickr could be used to share photos connected to social studies and science activities. They could explore the photos if a first hand experience is not possible. Another option I liked with Flickr is that photos can be connected to a geographic region, shown on a map. This could be a neat way for students to gain exposure to geography and images that are from that particular region....a cyber field trip of sorts. In a language arts activity, students could also share photos in their own biographies that they have written.
I think safety issues are always a concern when posting anything on the internet. Like Diane said in her post, there's a concern about what images students may be exposed to. If we want to share pictures connected to any of our activities with our students, we could ensure that those are the only images they are seeing. Also, if students post images, for a biography for instance, we could make sure that the images are not public for all to see.
On a classroom level, Flickr could be used to share photos connected to social studies and science activities. They could explore the photos if a first hand experience is not possible. Another option I liked with Flickr is that photos can be connected to a geographic region, shown on a map. This could be a neat way for students to gain exposure to geography and images that are from that particular region....a cyber field trip of sorts. In a language arts activity, students could also share photos in their own biographies that they have written.
I think safety issues are always a concern when posting anything on the internet. Like Diane said in her post, there's a concern about what images students may be exposed to. If we want to share pictures connected to any of our activities with our students, we could ensure that those are the only images they are seeing. Also, if students post images, for a biography for instance, we could make sure that the images are not public for all to see.
Thing 6
This is a picture of cherry-plum blossoms from Flickr user couregettelawn and it was posted April 4, 2006 and taken in Churchill Park in Salisbury (the state/country was not included). I initially searched keyword "peace" and found absolutely beautiful photos from nature, but they were copyrighted. I went into the advanced search and searched keyword "calm" with creative commons and found this photo.
I was drawn to it because one of my favorite things is photography and I'm always drawn to nature when I'm out and about snapping photos. The image makes me think of a spring day. The details of the flowers are nice and crisp and the background is somewhat blurred, which I think helps draw attention to the flowers.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Thing 5
I began Thing 5 last night and wasn't able to complete it, so tonight I went back and began searching and subscribing. I personally like the suscribe button (if available) and option 3 with bloglines in our favorites when subscribing. Like others, I didn't have the links option in my favorites, so I just clicked "add to favorites" and it seems to work.
With all the information out there, I feel like I could sit for hours and hours (with stretch breaks in between....I get restless) and add subscriptions both professional and personal. A question I do have concerns adding news blogs. I'm always checking cnn.com or the local clickondetroit.com for news updates, but they aren't blogs. Did anyone find interesting/factual local/national news blogs?
With all of the subscribing, like others, I feel I need to make time to sit down, take a breath, and read what's new.
With all the information out there, I feel like I could sit for hours and hours (with stretch breaks in between....I get restless) and add subscriptions both professional and personal. A question I do have concerns adding news blogs. I'm always checking cnn.com or the local clickondetroit.com for news updates, but they aren't blogs. Did anyone find interesting/factual local/national news blogs?
With all of the subscribing, like others, I feel I need to make time to sit down, take a breath, and read what's new.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Thing 4
Well, I just created my bloglines account and it was pretty painless. I was honestly a little nervous about it because I wasn't quite sure what RSS was before a few minutes ago. The videos helped ease my mind.
I'm excited to add to my folders. I think it's going to help out quite a bit time wise because everything will be organized and right there. I won't have to type everything in the browser each time I want to check out a blog or other information.
Onto Thing 5....adding some blogs!
I'm excited to add to my folders. I think it's going to help out quite a bit time wise because everything will be organized and right there. I won't have to type everything in the browser each time I want to check out a blog or other information.
Onto Thing 5....adding some blogs!
Thing 3
I am impressed with the infinite list of blogs for us to peruse and learn from. I don't feel like I've even made a dent in the list! It's definitely going to be an ongoing process :)
Thinking about my students, I feel that a blog would be do-able. Since I work with a wide range of students, I believe that a blog dedicated to sharing language arts could be done in different capacities attuned to student needs and levels. For my students that are just beginning to read and write, blog posts sharing their stories aloud, I'm familiar with the Audacity program which allows you to record vocals, as well as their illustrations and sentences could be shared. Students who are more comfortable with writing could share:
~Predictions and story reflections
~Creative writing and poetry
~Personal narratives and fiction writing
~Book, movie, music reviews
The possibilities are endless and there are a lot of things for me to think about!
In regard to concerns about educational blogging in connection to students, there is the question of computer access both at school and at home. If we are able to gain access to safe blog sites at school, however, students would have an opportunity to share in that capacity without hassle. Another concern I have is blogging etiquette. We would need to ensure that all students know what blogging is, although a majority might already know, and what appropriate commenting is as well.
Thinking about my students, I feel that a blog would be do-able. Since I work with a wide range of students, I believe that a blog dedicated to sharing language arts could be done in different capacities attuned to student needs and levels. For my students that are just beginning to read and write, blog posts sharing their stories aloud, I'm familiar with the Audacity program which allows you to record vocals, as well as their illustrations and sentences could be shared. Students who are more comfortable with writing could share:
~Predictions and story reflections
~Creative writing and poetry
~Personal narratives and fiction writing
~Book, movie, music reviews
The possibilities are endless and there are a lot of things for me to think about!
In regard to concerns about educational blogging in connection to students, there is the question of computer access both at school and at home. If we are able to gain access to safe blog sites at school, however, students would have an opportunity to share in that capacity without hassle. Another concern I have is blogging etiquette. We would need to ensure that all students know what blogging is, although a majority might already know, and what appropriate commenting is as well.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Things 1 and 2
Wow! Reading the article and watching the video definitely reiterates what I think we all are aware of....that technology provides so many options and honestly, our students are most likely aware of the options technology can provide. Beginning this, I feel a little overwhelmed thinking about options I'm not completely familiar with, but I'm excited to be able to learn and grow through this experience.
Here's a quick anecdote that I think is relevant. Last month during a quick writing topic from a book, Writing Down the Days 365 Creative Journaling Ideas for Young People, that has a writing topic a day usually connected to an important date or a holiday celebrated, one the 6th grade students I work with wrote/typed something that I think demonstrates how connected to technology our students are. The topic dealt with Alexander Graham Bell's invention, the telephone. The question posed was, what would your life be like without a telephone and how would you communicate with others if there were no telephones? The student wrote that his life really wouldn't change that much because he could just send an email or a message on Facebook to anyone he needed to talk to.
Reading the article, I found myself jotting down a few notes that came to mind. Being a special ed. teacher, I think the idea of blogs is wonderful. Being able to stay in touch and up to date on everything that is going on in the general education classroom can be a challenge. Telephone calls and emails do work, however, the idea of posting weekly plans in a blog format is neat. It provides another option for staying current with my students and the work they are completely (e.g. book reports, projects, tests). Blogging about what my students are working on or interesting articles connected to special education, could be beneficial for parents and gen. ed. teachers as well.
As I read, I also immediately thought of the Montessori philosophy and Gardner's multiple intelligences. So many options present themselves with blogging and students responding to blogs, creating own study guides etc. Students take responsibility for their learning (study guides), practice different forms of writing (e.g. persuasion), provide facts and details, not just a broad statements.
With the use of technology, students are not just providing back to us rote facts. It provides us an opportunity to provide them with experiences in thinking in other ways than paper and pencil.
Here's a quick anecdote that I think is relevant. Last month during a quick writing topic from a book, Writing Down the Days 365 Creative Journaling Ideas for Young People, that has a writing topic a day usually connected to an important date or a holiday celebrated, one the 6th grade students I work with wrote/typed something that I think demonstrates how connected to technology our students are. The topic dealt with Alexander Graham Bell's invention, the telephone. The question posed was, what would your life be like without a telephone and how would you communicate with others if there were no telephones? The student wrote that his life really wouldn't change that much because he could just send an email or a message on Facebook to anyone he needed to talk to.
Reading the article, I found myself jotting down a few notes that came to mind. Being a special ed. teacher, I think the idea of blogs is wonderful. Being able to stay in touch and up to date on everything that is going on in the general education classroom can be a challenge. Telephone calls and emails do work, however, the idea of posting weekly plans in a blog format is neat. It provides another option for staying current with my students and the work they are completely (e.g. book reports, projects, tests). Blogging about what my students are working on or interesting articles connected to special education, could be beneficial for parents and gen. ed. teachers as well.
As I read, I also immediately thought of the Montessori philosophy and Gardner's multiple intelligences. So many options present themselves with blogging and students responding to blogs, creating own study guides etc. Students take responsibility for their learning (study guides), practice different forms of writing (e.g. persuasion), provide facts and details, not just a broad statements.
With the use of technology, students are not just providing back to us rote facts. It provides us an opportunity to provide them with experiences in thinking in other ways than paper and pencil.
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