WOW!!!!
I can't believe how much I have learned while going through these "Things". Some of them are much more applicable for my uses than others, but very interesting. Let me take a look back at some of the highlights in this journey.
Blogging...
I never thought that I would be interested in blogging. I have never been a fan of writing, or anyone to keep a journal, but I have seen how useful this can be as a way to process and respond to information. I could definitely see having my science students us a blog to record their reflections on the material, and as a way to complete some of their assignments. I could also see using a blog to keep a reflection on my own teaching. I could write about what I think I am doing well, and where I have gone wrong. I think that blogs can be helpful even if no one else reads them (although the comments, and feedback would be helpful).
Photos and Images...
I had so much fun finding, and playing with the images from Flikr. The possibilities are endless. Students can find and post pictures related to their subject area. As I mentioned in an earlier blog, I would love to have my geometry students, when studying the quadrilaterals, go out and find "real world" examples of each type and post them on Flikr.
Online Video...
At first I thought this would be wonderful to use in the classroom if only I could access YouTube at school. Then we learned how to save the videos and embed them into our blogs, websites, and wikis. There now are so many math and science videos that I can go find and show them to my students. I could see my students making their own video presentations as an alternative to the boring old typed research papers.
Social Bookmarking...
This is probably the "Thing" that I will use the most. What a wonderful tool that is accessible from any computer. I can't wait to get back on my computer at school so that I can upload all of my bookmarks. This also provides an easy way to share bookmarks with your colleagues and friends.
Podcasting...
I really liked looking for, and subscribing to, various podcasts. I am always looking for something to listen to on my 45 minute drive to work. Now I can download some podcasts onto my mp3 player and listen to anything from educational topics to crafting discussions. I know I will be finding some podcasts to have my students listen to too.
Final thoughts...
I have learned so much about how the web has grown. I'm sure my husband is sick of me telling him all about every new "Thing" I have learned about. I would like to continue to explore Web 2.0 by creating a class like this one for my computer lit students. These topics may be more useful (although I'm sure they already know much of this stuff) to the students of the future than spending at least two weeks each on programs like excel or access. Just give them the nuts and bolts of the basic programs they will use, and then advance to how they can make a bigger impact on the world around them.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
Thing 22
Making my own Wiki...
As I was afraid of, I didn't like creating, or using WikiSpaces. I did however follow directions, and mine can be found here.
Here is what I didn't like about this experience. Let me start off by saying that I chose to start a website for my algebra class. I included a math comic, and my school Google Calendar (I did like that it could be incorporated). I found that I could not get the layout that I wanted without messing with tables, and I thought it was more difficult to set the font size and color than it should have been.
I'm not sure how or what I would have students post to the site. Possibly they could ask questions, but couldn't a social networking sit work just as well as that? Couldn't I just have shared documents? Maybe my thinking is too narrow on this topic, or I don't know how to serve my student population by using a wiki.
As I was afraid of, I didn't like creating, or using WikiSpaces. I did however follow directions, and mine can be found here.
Here is what I didn't like about this experience. Let me start off by saying that I chose to start a website for my algebra class. I included a math comic, and my school Google Calendar (I did like that it could be incorporated). I found that I could not get the layout that I wanted without messing with tables, and I thought it was more difficult to set the font size and color than it should have been.
I'm not sure how or what I would have students post to the site. Possibly they could ask questions, but couldn't a social networking sit work just as well as that? Couldn't I just have shared documents? Maybe my thinking is too narrow on this topic, or I don't know how to serve my student population by using a wiki.
Thing 21
Wikis...
I'll start off by saying that I'm not that all excited about wikis. I can see where they might be useful for some of the examples given, but for the things that I found interesting in the few examples, I think I can do it another way using one of the "Things" we already talked about .
I liked the Examples of Educational Wikis wiki, but couldn't the same idea be accomplished using Delicious and bookmarking or tagging the wiki sites? Also, couldn't the example of the camping list have been solved using a Google Document that was shared with the group of friends?
I will be fare, and take a moment to look again for a few examples of math classes and see what they have done. (I'll be right back...)
I was looking through the educational wiki site, and it is a wonderful long list of wikis, but you can't search them (at least I couldn't get it to work). Let me try searching just on Google...
Ok, based on what I found, the math wikis I found looked like a webpage that the instructor created. Couldn't I just make a website at Google Sites to do the same thing, enbedding the Google Docs into it for collaboration?
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I don't see wikis, as of now, as something that would enhance my teaching or interaction with my colleagues. I'm not sure how it would be better than a website for my high school algebra class, and my Alt Ed kids wouldn't use it either.
Looking ahead, I will go on to try to make a wiki, and maybe my thoughts will change. Here is hoping so...
I'll start off by saying that I'm not that all excited about wikis. I can see where they might be useful for some of the examples given, but for the things that I found interesting in the few examples, I think I can do it another way using one of the "Things" we already talked about .
I liked the Examples of Educational Wikis wiki, but couldn't the same idea be accomplished using Delicious and bookmarking or tagging the wiki sites? Also, couldn't the example of the camping list have been solved using a Google Document that was shared with the group of friends?
I will be fare, and take a moment to look again for a few examples of math classes and see what they have done. (I'll be right back...)
I was looking through the educational wiki site, and it is a wonderful long list of wikis, but you can't search them (at least I couldn't get it to work). Let me try searching just on Google...
Ok, based on what I found, the math wikis I found looked like a webpage that the instructor created. Couldn't I just make a website at Google Sites to do the same thing, enbedding the Google Docs into it for collaboration?
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I don't see wikis, as of now, as something that would enhance my teaching or interaction with my colleagues. I'm not sure how it would be better than a website for my high school algebra class, and my Alt Ed kids wouldn't use it either.
Looking ahead, I will go on to try to make a wiki, and maybe my thoughts will change. Here is hoping so...
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Thing 20
Subscribing to podcasts...
Of the two sites to search for podcasts, I definitely preferred The Education Podcast Network. I found Podcast Ally to be complicated. What I liked about EPN was the list of categories on the side of the page and when you clicked on one, such as mathematics, the podcasts related to math were listed right there. Very user friendly.
To complete this "Thing" I only used iTunes to subscribe to a few podcasts. When I do further searching I might try using Bloglines because I don't have iTunes on all of my computers. Also, since I've never used iTunes before, do you have an iTunes account that you log into, because I didn't need one or see one on my husband's laptop. If I subscribe to something at home will I see it at school? That is why I am thinking that I might try using Bloglines instead.
A couple of podcasts that I subscribed to were "This American Life" and "The Math Factor". Next, I need to learn how to load them on my mp3 player so that I can listen to them on the way to school, or when I'm out for a walk.
Of the two sites to search for podcasts, I definitely preferred The Education Podcast Network. I found Podcast Ally to be complicated. What I liked about EPN was the list of categories on the side of the page and when you clicked on one, such as mathematics, the podcasts related to math were listed right there. Very user friendly.
To complete this "Thing" I only used iTunes to subscribe to a few podcasts. When I do further searching I might try using Bloglines because I don't have iTunes on all of my computers. Also, since I've never used iTunes before, do you have an iTunes account that you log into, because I didn't need one or see one on my husband's laptop. If I subscribe to something at home will I see it at school? That is why I am thinking that I might try using Bloglines instead.
A couple of podcasts that I subscribed to were "This American Life" and "The Math Factor". Next, I need to learn how to load them on my mp3 player so that I can listen to them on the way to school, or when I'm out for a walk.
Thing 19
Podcasts...
I really like podcasts. I have looked at a few of these before (my favorite being CraftSanity), but I have not thought about it recently.
While I was searching through some of the podcasts, it was nice to have one playing in the background while I was looking for others. I love to listen to audio books while I am working on the computer, and this would be just as easy.
The two that I found I would like to follow are mathgrad.com and the state superintendent's podcast. I think that the math site offers interesting "shows" on various math topics. I found the math behind sudoku particularly interesting. I would also like to follow what is going on with the state of our schools here in Michigan.
One of the assignments that I have assigned in the past for my environmental science students is to have them find science in the news. Having students use podcasts to find examples of science in the "real world" would give more variety and could become more interesting and relevant to themselves. I found the WWF site to be a good example.
Now, I'm off to find some podcasts to subscribe too.
I really like podcasts. I have looked at a few of these before (my favorite being CraftSanity), but I have not thought about it recently.
While I was searching through some of the podcasts, it was nice to have one playing in the background while I was looking for others. I love to listen to audio books while I am working on the computer, and this would be just as easy.
The two that I found I would like to follow are mathgrad.com and the state superintendent's podcast. I think that the math site offers interesting "shows" on various math topics. I found the math behind sudoku particularly interesting. I would also like to follow what is going on with the state of our schools here in Michigan.
One of the assignments that I have assigned in the past for my environmental science students is to have them find science in the news. Having students use podcasts to find examples of science in the "real world" would give more variety and could become more interesting and relevant to themselves. I found the WWF site to be a good example.
Now, I'm off to find some podcasts to subscribe too.
Thing 18
Slideshare
I found this site interesting, but difficult to post from. I found a great slide show to share right off but am having a heck of a time trying to get the code to embed into it...
Ok, I finally got something posted in my blog. I guess it has it's own spot somewhere around this blog. Honestly, more pain than I think it was worth. Maybe I will just need to play with it more.
Am I understanding this correctly? This is not a site to create presentations, but a place to post them for the world to see and use? While I think it will be useful to see what others have done, and I know how to download them (they send you an e-mail with the file on it), I may see what is out there to use. I really need a site that I can create new presentations since I don't have PowerPoint at home. I'm glad then we were introduced to Zoho Show in the last "Thing".
I think this would be useful for students who would be creating presentations for projects and when they are finished they could post them here. Other students could then go and make comments on them too. I'm not so sure it would be helpful for my students to use though. They don't make many presentations for my class.
I did find the "Shift Happens" slide show very interesting, and I think I would like to show it to my students for a great topic of discussion some day.
I found this site interesting, but difficult to post from. I found a great slide show to share right off but am having a heck of a time trying to get the code to embed into it...
Ok, I finally got something posted in my blog. I guess it has it's own spot somewhere around this blog. Honestly, more pain than I think it was worth. Maybe I will just need to play with it more.
Am I understanding this correctly? This is not a site to create presentations, but a place to post them for the world to see and use? While I think it will be useful to see what others have done, and I know how to download them (they send you an e-mail with the file on it), I may see what is out there to use. I really need a site that I can create new presentations since I don't have PowerPoint at home. I'm glad then we were introduced to Zoho Show in the last "Thing".
I think this would be useful for students who would be creating presentations for projects and when they are finished they could post them here. Other students could then go and make comments on them too. I'm not so sure it would be helpful for my students to use though. They don't make many presentations for my class.
I did find the "Shift Happens" slide show very interesting, and I think I would like to show it to my students for a great topic of discussion some day.
Thing 17
More Online Productivity...
When told we were to look for online tools to use, I first thought of all of the stuff I use in Google. The tool that I use the most is Google Calendar. I can keep track of my stuff, my husband's stuff, and school stuff all in the same place easily and in different colors for each one. I also like that it updates in all of the different locations I use the calendar such as my (soon to be made) website and phone. I can even make a calendar for my high school algebra class with the assignments for the week on it and share it with my students and parents.
I looked at 30 Boxes and Remember the Milk (I love the name), and I found that these tools were already in Google so I'm sticking with them. I did like the Zoho Show site. Since we haven't looked at slide shows yet (see next Thing) I found this very interesting. I often want to make presentations to use at school but I don't have PowerPoint on my computer at home. This would be very helpful so I can make something at home and use it at school.
I did also find the Knowtes site great. I could see my students using this a something different for their vocabulary lists. It would also be an interesting way to present some new material. I could also see my environmental science students using bubbl.us to make concept maps of the biomes they study.
With all of the new online tools in the future (or now for that matter) will we even need a computer of the past that has all of our "stuff" saved on it, or will these new netbooks (I think they only go online) that are so small, be all we would need? If we didn't need the large keyboard, maybe our phones will be all that we will need? What will they think of next?
When told we were to look for online tools to use, I first thought of all of the stuff I use in Google. The tool that I use the most is Google Calendar. I can keep track of my stuff, my husband's stuff, and school stuff all in the same place easily and in different colors for each one. I also like that it updates in all of the different locations I use the calendar such as my (soon to be made) website and phone. I can even make a calendar for my high school algebra class with the assignments for the week on it and share it with my students and parents.
I looked at 30 Boxes and Remember the Milk (I love the name), and I found that these tools were already in Google so I'm sticking with them. I did like the Zoho Show site. Since we haven't looked at slide shows yet (see next Thing) I found this very interesting. I often want to make presentations to use at school but I don't have PowerPoint on my computer at home. This would be very helpful so I can make something at home and use it at school.
I did also find the Knowtes site great. I could see my students using this a something different for their vocabulary lists. It would also be an interesting way to present some new material. I could also see my environmental science students using bubbl.us to make concept maps of the biomes they study.
With all of the new online tools in the future (or now for that matter) will we even need a computer of the past that has all of our "stuff" saved on it, or will these new netbooks (I think they only go online) that are so small, be all we would need? If we didn't need the large keyboard, maybe our phones will be all that we will need? What will they think of next?
Thing 16
Google Docs...
I have used Google Docs before. I have needed to work on my resume in different places and this was an easy way to rather than e-mail it back and forth. I do wish I had know about Google Docs about 4 years ago when I was finishing my Masters Degree and I was working on my final project. I kept everything on my flash drive, but I carried it around like it was priceless. I don't know what I would have done if I had lost it. Had I known about (was it invented yet?) online storage of documents as easy as Google Docs it would have been SO much easier, and safer.
I think this would be great tool for my students to use for their work in my science classes. They are always asking me if they can type their vocabulary lists, and section reviews (I like it because I can read their writing). The problem comes when they say they didn't save it or they forget to print it off until the last minute. I could have them make them in Google Docs and check them as they go along. It would also be easier for me to provide feedback for them so they can fix mistakes. I would also think this could cut down on the large amount of paper used in schools.
The only concern I have about sharing documents is students coping each other's work. Is there a way to see who all a document is shared with? Copying is a real problem I have in my Alternative Ed classes.
I am interested to learn more about the different tools in Google Docs like the spreadsheet. This last spring my math department was e-mailing a spreadsheet back and forth to fill in failing students and their grades. It would have been so much easier to to this online, and we could all just go and update the spreadsheet. I will have to share these ideas with the department for next year.
I have used Google Docs before. I have needed to work on my resume in different places and this was an easy way to rather than e-mail it back and forth. I do wish I had know about Google Docs about 4 years ago when I was finishing my Masters Degree and I was working on my final project. I kept everything on my flash drive, but I carried it around like it was priceless. I don't know what I would have done if I had lost it. Had I known about (was it invented yet?) online storage of documents as easy as Google Docs it would have been SO much easier, and safer.
I think this would be great tool for my students to use for their work in my science classes. They are always asking me if they can type their vocabulary lists, and section reviews (I like it because I can read their writing). The problem comes when they say they didn't save it or they forget to print it off until the last minute. I could have them make them in Google Docs and check them as they go along. It would also be easier for me to provide feedback for them so they can fix mistakes. I would also think this could cut down on the large amount of paper used in schools.
The only concern I have about sharing documents is students coping each other's work. Is there a way to see who all a document is shared with? Copying is a real problem I have in my Alternative Ed classes.
I am interested to learn more about the different tools in Google Docs like the spreadsheet. This last spring my math department was e-mailing a spreadsheet back and forth to fill in failing students and their grades. It would have been so much easier to to this online, and we could all just go and update the spreadsheet. I will have to share these ideas with the department for next year.
Thing 15
RSS Again...
I understand how this whole RSS thing works, I just need to remember to go and check out what I have saved. I did have difficulty subscribing to the Delicious tag. I think I finally got it to work, but I'm not sure how useful it will be. Maybe it will be just another thing to get used to doing and checking.
I found that it was very easy to edit the list of feeds also. I would agree that it is important to go back and clean up the list of feeds. There may have been something that looked interesting one day, and not at all important the next. I could see this as happening when, for example, you are doing research for a given topic and you want all of the news feeds, or tags related to the topic. Once the paper or project is over, you may not need the information, so it would be a good time to go and clean it up.
On to be more productive online....
I understand how this whole RSS thing works, I just need to remember to go and check out what I have saved. I did have difficulty subscribing to the Delicious tag. I think I finally got it to work, but I'm not sure how useful it will be. Maybe it will be just another thing to get used to doing and checking.
I found that it was very easy to edit the list of feeds also. I would agree that it is important to go back and clean up the list of feeds. There may have been something that looked interesting one day, and not at all important the next. I could see this as happening when, for example, you are doing research for a given topic and you want all of the news feeds, or tags related to the topic. Once the paper or project is over, you may not need the information, so it would be a good time to go and clean it up.
On to be more productive online....
Thing 14
Delicious... (I am kbreagan)
Yes, this site is actually delicious. I couldn't believe how easy it was and is to use. I must go and put the buttons on all of my computers! I just had a thought though. I need to see if I can add the Delicious buttons to my student computers. They are usually so locked down that you can't add much of anything. Something to look into I guess.
After I completed Thing 13, I was a bit overwhelmed at the proper way to add tags, and I was concerned I wouldn't be able to give the sites adequate tags. I was pleased to see that when the box opens to make the bookmark, it lists tags that others have used to describe the site. This was very helpful in coming up with a few tags I wouldn't have thought of.
I feel that having a Delicious account would be helpful for our staff to use at school. In the math department, we are always e-mailing links to each other to check out. This would be easier for us to use. We could just assign a tag that would identify our school related sites (maybe we could use fhn-math). These would be easy for us to find then.
I also think this would be useful for students who are doing research papers. I want them to have a list of bookmarks to use, and contribute to. I could assign specific tags for them to find the ones I posted rather easily. I like the idea that tags are little code words to help find the sites.
I definitely believe that using Delicious will improve my productivity because I don't have to go and re-find the same sites I found at home when I am at school. I also think it will be helpful to see what others have already found and can help narrow down my choices. So far, this may be the most helpful, and useful thing I have learned in these 23 Things.
Yes, this site is actually delicious. I couldn't believe how easy it was and is to use. I must go and put the buttons on all of my computers! I just had a thought though. I need to see if I can add the Delicious buttons to my student computers. They are usually so locked down that you can't add much of anything. Something to look into I guess.
After I completed Thing 13, I was a bit overwhelmed at the proper way to add tags, and I was concerned I wouldn't be able to give the sites adequate tags. I was pleased to see that when the box opens to make the bookmark, it lists tags that others have used to describe the site. This was very helpful in coming up with a few tags I wouldn't have thought of.
I feel that having a Delicious account would be helpful for our staff to use at school. In the math department, we are always e-mailing links to each other to check out. This would be easier for us to use. We could just assign a tag that would identify our school related sites (maybe we could use fhn-math). These would be easy for us to find then.
I also think this would be useful for students who are doing research papers. I want them to have a list of bookmarks to use, and contribute to. I could assign specific tags for them to find the ones I posted rather easily. I like the idea that tags are little code words to help find the sites.
I definitely believe that using Delicious will improve my productivity because I don't have to go and re-find the same sites I found at home when I am at school. I also think it will be helpful to see what others have already found and can help narrow down my choices. So far, this may be the most helpful, and useful thing I have learned in these 23 Things.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Thing 13
Social bookmarking...
I started this "Thing" with the thought that this was a great idea!! There are so many sites that I have bookmarked at home and at school, and I can never remember where I have them marked. In the past, when I was at home looking for school stuff I would keep an e-mail in-progress that I just kept loading with URLs for the sites I wanted at school and then when I was done, I would send the e-mail to my school account. The same for searching stuff at school for home use (although I would never use school time to look for something other than school stuff ;) ).
So, I watch the video, and read the first article and think this will be easy. I can do this. I love the idea of tags to help sort the links. It is all great until I read the 13 Tips for Effective Tagging. I found the information to be interesting and useful, but it made the whole idea of tagging the sites sound way more complicated than was previously described. I am hoping when I explore the next "Thing" that I will get a better feel of how to do this.
I would agree that it is important to put some thought into the tags you make for your found sites. Not only do they need to be helpful to you (so you can find them later) but so they will be useful for others who may be looking for the same things you are. I would hope that when I am using other's tags they would have put in as much thought too.
Like I said, I love the idea of having an open list of websites that others can see, and I will be able to see what others have found. Sometimes I have a hard time searching because I have an idea of what I want to find, and I know it must be out there somewhere (everything is, right?), but I can't seem to come up with the right terms to search for. I hope that using tags will help me narrow my search to what I am really looking for.
On to the next "Thing"...
Thing 12
Widgets and Gadgets
These are fun to play with, and search for. I liked the Google site the best, but I think it is because I am used to using it. I have tons of these gadgets on my iGoogle page. I was surprised that I had difficulty embedding the gadget I originally chose, so I used one from this site. I still like it so that is fine.
I think it is important to consider where you want to place a widget before you find that widget. For fun sites like this (while educational) and personal sites some of the jokes of the day, and games would be more appropriate. For school use, I think it would be important to stick to school related stuff. For example, on my math and science web page a scientific calculator, or Einstein quote of the day would be appropriate. Games where you have to race around a track, or political jokes would not be appropriate. Since this is a fun (and yes, educational) blog I found something that made me laugh.
As far as other social networking sites, yes I have a facebook page and I even have a MySpace page (but I don't go there much at all any more). I love facebook because I can keep up with what my family is doing. I even have a student or two that I am "friends" with, but I don't do much for school with it. I suppose that there are groups of math teachers and alternative ed teachers that I could join, and maybe I will now that I have thought about it.
I think these social networking sites are so popular with students because they feel that if they have many online "friends" then they have lots of "real" friends. I think it is more important for teenagers to have real friends that are there, in their life, without the computer. They are the true friends that will help them get through the difficult years of being a teenager.
Thing 11
Comments...
When looking at blogs and different news sites that allow people to write comments, I prefer to read what others have to say rather than leave my own comments. I think it is because I feel that I don't have much new to say other than "good point", or "I never thought of doing it that way".
According to the articles, these are not worthy comments. I know it is important to provide feedback for people, and I love getting feedback (although I have not gotten any comments from others yet), as a way to build communities. Maybe I have not found the right place or haven't read anything that has gotten me fired up enough to respond to.
When it comes to students posting their writing online I think it would be important to screen the comments first, but the students need to know that not all comments are positive, and some of them are just trying to make them a better writer. Also, comments about other comments made, whether answering questions asked or making new comments, should be scrutinized as to the validity of their responses. For example, it you go to an "expert's" blog and ask a question, the answer given back in another comment may not be from an expert too. Consider the source.
Given the nature of my classes, I don't think I would be having students post something, and requiring other students to respond. I may only have one or two students in the same subject area. I think I would be helpful for me to respond to their writings though.
Thing 10
Embedding videos...
Ok, I was a little ahead with the last blog and already did this, but I'll be happy to post or share another video with you. First of all, I was searching for something my sister would have done because she is a choir teacher and when I searched her last name, I found a video that my cousin must have made of my grandfather who died a year ago. What a pleasant shock.
This is not subject related, I just thought I would include it because I talked about this a few blogs ago.
I really like how we can download videos to the computer so we will not need to be able to connect to YouTube at school. This just opened up lots of possibilities. I could make a different folder of videos for each class that students can go and watch. Since most of my students will be learning through independent study this would offer them a better way to see them when they get to a certain point in the unit, and they can go and watch the video they need to on my student computer.
I also just found on KeepVid, that there is a button to hit to make a link on the browser and you can keep the video you are watching just by clicking on it. It is like the Bloglines link. Of the three sites discussed, I think KeepVid is the easiest to use. I don't really like having to go and change the text in the URL after coping and pasting it in the box. It is just one more step. I also don't think I would like to have to wait 45 - 60 minutes to receive an e-mail that I can now download and save the video I wanted.
I think this will be quite useful for me and my students and I look forward to spending more time looking for videos to use in my classroom. (I will also save the video of my grandfather!)
Thing 9
Online videos...
Ok, I have been looking at videos of songs singing the quadratic formula. My favorites include singing to the tune of pop goes the weasel, but the following original is my absolute favorite!
I would love to use YouTube in class to show how to do math problems, and ways to remember the water cycle, but of course YouTube is blocked at my school too. I will have to do a better search at SchoolTube because I do think that is available.
Just this week, I was in a department meeting and another math teacher was showing us how to incorporate videos into our school website. If I can do that, then I wouldn't need the students to go to the actual YouTube site, they could see them from my site. I guess it would be mainly for them to get extra math homework help, and they would be viewing this from home where they could go and watch YouTube anyway.
I think it would also be great to give the option for students to do video reports, whether it be of them or drawings like are shown on the 23 Things site to explain the different topics learned in class. I know the students could just as well make the videos out of school and post them on YouTube for me to grade at home where I could watch YouTube, but is it right to require students to complete projects that they cannot do at school because it is blocked of forbidden?
How do we encourage our students to use these wonderful technological tools in school (because they will use them outside of school) and still keep it "clean" and appropriate? On SchoolTube, who chooses if the videos are deemed appropriate, and how long does it take for something to be "out there" after it is posted?
And just as with blogging, it is important to teach what are appropriate videos to make and post.
Ok, I have been looking at videos of songs singing the quadratic formula. My favorites include singing to the tune of pop goes the weasel, but the following original is my absolute favorite!
I would love to use YouTube in class to show how to do math problems, and ways to remember the water cycle, but of course YouTube is blocked at my school too. I will have to do a better search at SchoolTube because I do think that is available.
Just this week, I was in a department meeting and another math teacher was showing us how to incorporate videos into our school website. If I can do that, then I wouldn't need the students to go to the actual YouTube site, they could see them from my site. I guess it would be mainly for them to get extra math homework help, and they would be viewing this from home where they could go and watch YouTube anyway.
I think it would also be great to give the option for students to do video reports, whether it be of them or drawings like are shown on the 23 Things site to explain the different topics learned in class. I know the students could just as well make the videos out of school and post them on YouTube for me to grade at home where I could watch YouTube, but is it right to require students to complete projects that they cannot do at school because it is blocked of forbidden?
How do we encourage our students to use these wonderful technological tools in school (because they will use them outside of school) and still keep it "clean" and appropriate? On SchoolTube, who chooses if the videos are deemed appropriate, and how long does it take for something to be "out there" after it is posted?
And just as with blogging, it is important to teach what are appropriate videos to make and post.
Thing 8
Playing with images...
This first option shown in Thing 8 was to spell with Flickr. I think this would be fun to use to make headings (math and science) for my website for school. I think it would be fun, and might take a while, but to have somehow math symbols/tools be the letters in math and the same for science. This may be a project for later when I have some time to kill. I thought it would also be fun to show a few of the things I came up with.
Color with Flickr was very cool. I could see interesting ways to use this in my quilting, but I'm not sure that I would use it much for school. Since you can print images onto fabric it would be really cool to make a quilt this way using these images.
This first option shown in Thing 8 was to spell with Flickr. I think this would be fun to use to make headings (math and science) for my website for school. I think it would be fun, and might take a while, but to have somehow math symbols/tools be the letters in math and the same for science. This may be a project for later when I have some time to kill. I thought it would also be fun to show a few of the things I came up with.
Color with Flickr was very cool. I could see interesting ways to use this in my quilting, but I'm not sure that I would use it much for school. Since you can print images onto fabric it would be really cool to make a quilt this way using these images.
I think Montager would also be fun to play with for an art project, but as I think about it, it would be cool to make montages for science. Lets say you were discussing the classification of species. You could make one using all images of the same kingdom, family, or species.
The sudoku with Flickr was interesting to see, but I am very number oriented, and I had a hard time with the photos. I think I was too distracted by what the different pictures were. I also think this would be something that would be great for younger kids to do, but as of now, I'm not sure that I would use it much for my high school kids. The same would be true for the memory game. Fun to play with, but not for my HS kids.
At Big Huge Labs I created a picture of my cat Frankie, and thought it was fun. I agree that this site was easier to use, and I would suggest it for my students to use also. I think it would be interesting to make a magazine cover that would summarize a unit in science that we are working on. The name of the magazine would the main theme of the unit, and the "articles" included could be all of the sub-topics covered. It would also be an interesting way to put a cover sheet on a research paper or project.
Over all though, I think using these sites at school would or could be a problem with students "playing" with them too much to get just the right image or layout. I think it would be great to show these sites to the students and then say go home and play with these to make your creations.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Thing 7
Posting pictures to my Flikr account
The only annoying thing about Flikr was having to make another account. Oh well, such is life in the world of technology.
I found uploading pictures very easy! Now I will have to make time and upload all of my pictures. I know that my husband has started using it for work also. Check out the pictures of downtown Portland, MI.
The important question, how can I use this in my classroom? Well I think it would be easier to use it in science rather than math. Getting one idea from the video that showed us how to upload photos is to have students research scientists and put some descriptions about them including what they have contributed to the scientific community. They could also find pictures of examples of things each scientist studied. For example, say they were researching Galileo, they could include pictures of the tools he used, and pictures of different planets, and the sun.
I guess one use in math would be to have students take pictures of different objects in the "real world" that have particular geometric shapes. This would work great when studying quadrilaterals. They could then tag them with each of the specific shape it is in the quadrilateral hierarchy (square, rhombus, trapezoid...).
I would agree with what I saw some other people comment about. Students would need to be taught about copyright issues and what can be used and what cannot be used. I think it would also be important to talk about what are appropriate pictures to post on a site for the world to see. Even if you mark a picture private, and you let one of your friends see it, they could download it and share it with the world somewhere else.
I think it would be important to remember when sharing photos once you post it, it will ALWAYS be out there. Even if you delete it.
The only annoying thing about Flikr was having to make another account. Oh well, such is life in the world of technology.
I found uploading pictures very easy! Now I will have to make time and upload all of my pictures. I know that my husband has started using it for work also. Check out the pictures of downtown Portland, MI.
The important question, how can I use this in my classroom? Well I think it would be easier to use it in science rather than math. Getting one idea from the video that showed us how to upload photos is to have students research scientists and put some descriptions about them including what they have contributed to the scientific community. They could also find pictures of examples of things each scientist studied. For example, say they were researching Galileo, they could include pictures of the tools he used, and pictures of different planets, and the sun.
I guess one use in math would be to have students take pictures of different objects in the "real world" that have particular geometric shapes. This would work great when studying quadrilaterals. They could then tag them with each of the specific shape it is in the quadrilateral hierarchy (square, rhombus, trapezoid...).
I would agree with what I saw some other people comment about. Students would need to be taught about copyright issues and what can be used and what cannot be used. I think it would also be important to talk about what are appropriate pictures to post on a site for the world to see. Even if you mark a picture private, and you let one of your friends see it, they could download it and share it with the world somewhere else.
I think it would be important to remember when sharing photos once you post it, it will ALWAYS be out there. Even if you delete it.
Thing 6
Flikr
Ok, this "Thing" took longer to get through only because I got lost looking at all of the wonderful pictures of quilts that people had posted online.
I first found Flickr about a year ago when I was searching for information on how to do English Paper Piecing (a method for hand sewing quilt pieces together usually geometric shapes), and I found some wonderful pictures of what people have made, their progress at basting the pieces and the piles and piles of pieces ready to be sewn together (I am guilty of some of these piles since I am working on two different English Paper Pieced quilts).
When finding some photos to download and use for this blog I have found that many of the ones I was interested were a GIF file and all had the same name "spaceball". When I saved them, there wasn't an image when I went to open it later. It must be something to do with the copyright??? I was able to get the ones that were JPGs (did I write that correctly?) to work. So, I have included in this blog the pictures that I downloaded. They are hexagons that would traditionally be sewn together to make flowers that would then be sewn together to make the "Grandmother's Flower Garden" quilt. (I am working on one of these now and it requires a little over a thousand hexagons sewn together just for a twin size quilt.)
Now, just to get these "Things" done so I can get back to sewing my English Paper Pieces...
Ok, this "Thing" took longer to get through only because I got lost looking at all of the wonderful pictures of quilts that people had posted online.
I first found Flickr about a year ago when I was searching for information on how to do English Paper Piecing (a method for hand sewing quilt pieces together usually geometric shapes), and I found some wonderful pictures of what people have made, their progress at basting the pieces and the piles and piles of pieces ready to be sewn together (I am guilty of some of these piles since I am working on two different English Paper Pieced quilts).
When finding some photos to download and use for this blog I have found that many of the ones I was interested were a GIF file and all had the same name "spaceball". When I saved them, there wasn't an image when I went to open it later. It must be something to do with the copyright??? I was able to get the ones that were JPGs (did I write that correctly?) to work. So, I have included in this blog the pictures that I downloaded. They are hexagons that would traditionally be sewn together to make flowers that would then be sewn together to make the "Grandmother's Flower Garden" quilt. (I am working on one of these now and it requires a little over a thousand hexagons sewn together just for a twin size quilt.)
Now, just to get these "Things" done so I can get back to sewing my English Paper Pieces...
Thing 5
Using RSS
I was surprised to find that it was not as easy to subscribe the the feeds as your videos showed. I had difficulty with the first site you suggested that we link to. I finally did it the second way by coping the URL address. Also, how do you know what you should link to when you are given a list of choices and they all look the same? I just went with the one that had the most subscribers.
I did not like Google's search engine for this. It really didn't give me what I wanted. Honestly, I did not try the other one either. I just found it easier to, for now anyway, to go to the sites that I frequent and look for their RSS link. That was much easier, and really how I would do it as I find new things to make note of.
I think I would use RSS in my personal life if I can make a link on my BlackBerry and refer to it from there. It is usually when I'm killing time (waiting at the doctor, for my dinner when out with my husband, romantic right?) that I can sit and read the news and what is going on. When I have the chance to sit in front of my computer, I am usually there for a specific reason.
I definitely think I will use this. I just need to get used to looking at the RSS site (Bloglines...) rather than still going to visit each site I frequent.
I was surprised to find that it was not as easy to subscribe the the feeds as your videos showed. I had difficulty with the first site you suggested that we link to. I finally did it the second way by coping the URL address. Also, how do you know what you should link to when you are given a list of choices and they all look the same? I just went with the one that had the most subscribers.
I did not like Google's search engine for this. It really didn't give me what I wanted. Honestly, I did not try the other one either. I just found it easier to, for now anyway, to go to the sites that I frequent and look for their RSS link. That was much easier, and really how I would do it as I find new things to make note of.
I think I would use RSS in my personal life if I can make a link on my BlackBerry and refer to it from there. It is usually when I'm killing time (waiting at the doctor, for my dinner when out with my husband, romantic right?) that I can sit and read the news and what is going on. When I have the chance to sit in front of my computer, I am usually there for a specific reason.
I definitely think I will use this. I just need to get used to looking at the RSS site (Bloglines...) rather than still going to visit each site I frequent.
Thing 4
RSS
First of all I want to make a comment about the videos that are used on the 23Things site for instruction. I love them! I would love to learn how to make them and have my students make them for project ideas. I haven't looked ahead to see if they are mentioned, but I'm sure some of my students are able to figure it out.
I was interested to learn about this "Thing". It is so easy, so far, to use. I have to be honest and say that when this is over I will probably use Google for this application because I use it for so many other things.
I was talking to my husband about this and I asked him if he used anything for RSS because he is constantly reading many different news sites to see what is happening in the world. This would be so much easier for him to have it all in one place. I guess I can teach it to him before I try to teach it to my students.
I also think this will be useful for the times I find a site with new and useful information but forget where it was, and that I should go back and see what's new. I'm looking forward to learning more about RSS and how to use it.
First of all I want to make a comment about the videos that are used on the 23Things site for instruction. I love them! I would love to learn how to make them and have my students make them for project ideas. I haven't looked ahead to see if they are mentioned, but I'm sure some of my students are able to figure it out.
I was interested to learn about this "Thing". It is so easy, so far, to use. I have to be honest and say that when this is over I will probably use Google for this application because I use it for so many other things.
I was talking to my husband about this and I asked him if he used anything for RSS because he is constantly reading many different news sites to see what is happening in the world. This would be so much easier for him to have it all in one place. I guess I can teach it to him before I try to teach it to my students.
I also think this will be useful for the times I find a site with new and useful information but forget where it was, and that I should go back and see what's new. I'm looking forward to learning more about RSS and how to use it.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Thing 3
More about Blogs, and commenting on blogs.
I think it would be helpful to receive comments back on my blog to see if others are thinking the same as me or if they have any other ideas that they can add. Fore example, maybe I am looking for an online site that has dissections for my biology students. It would be helpful to get comments from other teachers that might include locations of good ones to use or maybe some to stay away from.
I have also always believed, even though I didn't always like the results, that if no one tells me that I am doing something wrong, how will I know? I guess that when it comes to blogs, even negative comments can be helpful.
Ok, this leads me to using blogs in the classroom. I think it would be easier to use in my science classes than my math classes, but even as I am sitting here typing this I am thinking about how I can make a post giving further explanation on math lessons, and links to sites that can give additional examples. Will we learn how to place videos in our blogs too?
I think that my science students could use this as a way to answer section review questions; maybe just reflect on their learning and why it is good for them to know the information. Maybe they could replace some review sections with blog posts. Definitely something to think about.
This also makes me think that perhaps it is good to go back and re-read your own posts to see what you were thinking and the ideas you had. Also, don't you have to go back to see what the comments were?
I think I would like to find some blogs by other teachers who are teaching in similar conditions. It would be helpful to see what they are doing, and I'm sure it would help them to respond to their thoughts and questions too.
Just more to think about on this journey through the 23 Things.
I think it would be helpful to receive comments back on my blog to see if others are thinking the same as me or if they have any other ideas that they can add. Fore example, maybe I am looking for an online site that has dissections for my biology students. It would be helpful to get comments from other teachers that might include locations of good ones to use or maybe some to stay away from.
I have also always believed, even though I didn't always like the results, that if no one tells me that I am doing something wrong, how will I know? I guess that when it comes to blogs, even negative comments can be helpful.
Ok, this leads me to using blogs in the classroom. I think it would be easier to use in my science classes than my math classes, but even as I am sitting here typing this I am thinking about how I can make a post giving further explanation on math lessons, and links to sites that can give additional examples. Will we learn how to place videos in our blogs too?
I think that my science students could use this as a way to answer section review questions; maybe just reflect on their learning and why it is good for them to know the information. Maybe they could replace some review sections with blog posts. Definitely something to think about.
This also makes me think that perhaps it is good to go back and re-read your own posts to see what you were thinking and the ideas you had. Also, don't you have to go back to see what the comments were?
I think I would like to find some blogs by other teachers who are teaching in similar conditions. It would be helpful to see what they are doing, and I'm sure it would help them to respond to their thoughts and questions too.
Just more to think about on this journey through the 23 Things.
Thing 1 and Thing 2
Hello all!!
I signed up for 23 Things because I wanted to learn how to incorporate the web and more technology into my classroom (and honestly I need the SB-CEUs). I teach mainly in an Alternative High School and my students are independent learners. This means that I may have up to maybe 5 or 6 different subjects (Algebra, Geometry, Biology, Earth Science, Computer Lit...) going on in my class at one time. I thought that by learning how to work "programs" like for example, blogging and web postings, my students could better interact with me during class and make learning more interesting.
This is where I really need help. I would really love to incorporate this into my science classes. There are so many great online activities such as labs, and experiments that they can do that I just can't provide the means to do in the classroom.
When I read through Thing 1 I was overwhelmed. Not because I had no clue what they were talking about, but because I want to do it all and I have no idea where to start. Also, I just had so many ideas going around in my head I need a way to organize my thoughts and see what I can actually start doing in my room and how to grow from there.
This leads me to Thing 2. While I have never been interested in keeping a journal, on paper or online, I think this will serve for me a way to organize my thoughts on to how to go about starting to use what we learn here.
I also must say that there is a reason that I am a math teacher and not an English teacher. I am not the best writer and trying to be all formal in this writing might turn me right off. So I guess I am just giving warning now that I will write this just as a way to get my thoughts and reflections down in regards to what I just learned. I am not expecting (or hoping that) anyone else (except the readers at 23 Things) will read this, which will I think help me write what I need to say.
I'll end this first official post by saying that I look forward to learning the remaining 21 Things, and I hope you all had a great summer!
I signed up for 23 Things because I wanted to learn how to incorporate the web and more technology into my classroom (and honestly I need the SB-CEUs). I teach mainly in an Alternative High School and my students are independent learners. This means that I may have up to maybe 5 or 6 different subjects (Algebra, Geometry, Biology, Earth Science, Computer Lit...) going on in my class at one time. I thought that by learning how to work "programs" like for example, blogging and web postings, my students could better interact with me during class and make learning more interesting.
This is where I really need help. I would really love to incorporate this into my science classes. There are so many great online activities such as labs, and experiments that they can do that I just can't provide the means to do in the classroom.
When I read through Thing 1 I was overwhelmed. Not because I had no clue what they were talking about, but because I want to do it all and I have no idea where to start. Also, I just had so many ideas going around in my head I need a way to organize my thoughts and see what I can actually start doing in my room and how to grow from there.
This leads me to Thing 2. While I have never been interested in keeping a journal, on paper or online, I think this will serve for me a way to organize my thoughts on to how to go about starting to use what we learn here.
I also must say that there is a reason that I am a math teacher and not an English teacher. I am not the best writer and trying to be all formal in this writing might turn me right off. So I guess I am just giving warning now that I will write this just as a way to get my thoughts and reflections down in regards to what I just learned. I am not expecting (or hoping that) anyone else (except the readers at 23 Things) will read this, which will I think help me write what I need to say.
I'll end this first official post by saying that I look forward to learning the remaining 21 Things, and I hope you all had a great summer!
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