Thing 15 How might you use this tool in your personal and professional life? This is a great tool for collaborating with peers. I really see it being useful for working on all the NEASC reports we will be focusing on during the next school year. A bonus is it allows us to keep older versions so we can see how the thoughts progress through the process and if necessary go back to an earlier version. It would also be great for sharing curriculum documents as we continue to revise all of them.
What issues come to mind about using this tool with students (ie, they need email addresses to log-in)? The fact of students needing email accounts continues to be an issue for both access and legalities. Again, that's why with younger students I like epals. It is totally secure and the teacher can create "imaginary" accounts that the students can log in with. Wikispaces also allows teachers to set up logins for students without email accounts. This was also helpful when I did the Wiki Spice it up a Notch with students.
I have attempted to post a power point presentation on google docs for all to enjoy and add to. Here's hoping I did it right. I think that collaboration is a valuable tool for all and look forward to seeing my presentation grow and improve.l
Friday, July 16, 2010
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Thing 14
What did you join? I joined Ning. Why? I joined this one because it had an educational tie and because I didn't have any experience with it.
Has your opinion about social networking changed since working on this Thing? I see some value as I can easily add video, photos, apps, and comments. I don't like the ads and don't know if I could keep up with all the elements.
What do you see as the educational possibilities (if any) for social networking? I think for the grade levels with whom I work I prefer blogs and wikis. I will need to explore the tool more before I can comment on its value in the classroom.
What did you join? I joined Ning. Why? I joined this one because it had an educational tie and because I didn't have any experience with it.
Has your opinion about social networking changed since working on this Thing? I see some value as I can easily add video, photos, apps, and comments. I don't like the ads and don't know if I could keep up with all the elements.
What do you see as the educational possibilities (if any) for social networking? I think for the grade levels with whom I work I prefer blogs and wikis. I will need to explore the tool more before I can comment on its value in the classroom.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Thing 13
Where did you create your account - Diigo or Delicious? Why?
I chose Delicious for now as I had started an account there a few years ago at a CREC workshop. Since I was able to "sync" it with Firefox as well I thought it was a good start. I would like to investigate Diigo upon completion of my remaining 23 things.
Okay, I couldn't wait. I created an account with Diigo. This is awesome! I not only got to add links but an image as well. Then I created a community to which I added some staff but also some imaginary students. My next step is to simulate the experience of the student. What a great way to share resources!! Reminds of the student logins for Discovery Education. I'm hoping I can convince a staff member to share his/her students with me to really try this resource out. Cindy??? Magie? Are you game?
Reflect on how you think social bookmarking can be used in your teaching. This is a phenomenal way for me to share resources with teachers, parents and students. In my role as a resource teacher, I am often asked about good sites for students to use in school and at home and places teachers can access to find lessons, worksheets, and project ideas. Since Newington at this time doesn't have a portal that I can post to this is a great resource for me to use to share "my resources." . I plan to create a CMT section with sites for help with LA and Math that students and parents can use at home as well as sites for other disciplines. The hardest thing for me will be limiting the number of sites and coming up with appropriate tags.
Where did you create your account - Diigo or Delicious? Why?
I chose Delicious for now as I had started an account there a few years ago at a CREC workshop. Since I was able to "sync" it with Firefox as well I thought it was a good start. I would like to investigate Diigo upon completion of my remaining 23 things.
Okay, I couldn't wait. I created an account with Diigo. This is awesome! I not only got to add links but an image as well. Then I created a community to which I added some staff but also some imaginary students. My next step is to simulate the experience of the student. What a great way to share resources!! Reminds of the student logins for Discovery Education. I'm hoping I can convince a staff member to share his/her students with me to really try this resource out. Cindy??? Magie? Are you game?
Reflect on how you think social bookmarking can be used in your teaching. This is a phenomenal way for me to share resources with teachers, parents and students. In my role as a resource teacher, I am often asked about good sites for students to use in school and at home and places teachers can access to find lessons, worksheets, and project ideas. Since Newington at this time doesn't have a portal that I can post to this is a great resource for me to use to share "my resources." . I plan to create a CMT section with sites for help with LA and Math that students and parents can use at home as well as sites for other disciplines. The hardest thing for me will be limiting the number of sites and coming up with appropriate tags.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Thing 12
Is tagging a useful way to organize your digital resources and why?
Tagging is absolutely a valuable time saving tool. The best example I can give is when placing items in the my content folder on the Smartboard. This allows teachers to have the content they want students to use by defining the "tags" or search strings that will make sure the image, file, or other object will be available for use. As an example, if I wanted the students to get a picture of a Labrador retriever I could specify which tags would bring my image to the results box. I could include - dog, lab, retriever, 4 legged animal, etc. The sky is the limit. A great vocabulary activity -
What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages? I think tagging is a great way to allow sharing of content. It will save time for the younger students who won't have to just search "willy nilly." They will get to where you want them to be quickly and efficiently. They will have more time to work on the task. The disadvantage is that if others using your links aren't aware of the syntax you are using they might miss out on valuable resources.
What is important to think about before assigning tags to bookmarks or other Internet content? Make sure the tags are relevant and that others using your list are aware of your protocol. A possible solution would be to formulate a common set of rules for how to tag resources you want to share. As an example - all lower case, when or when not to use punctuation, etc.
Is tagging a useful way to organize your digital resources and why?
Tagging is absolutely a valuable time saving tool. The best example I can give is when placing items in the my content folder on the Smartboard. This allows teachers to have the content they want students to use by defining the "tags" or search strings that will make sure the image, file, or other object will be available for use. As an example, if I wanted the students to get a picture of a Labrador retriever I could specify which tags would bring my image to the results box. I could include - dog, lab, retriever, 4 legged animal, etc. The sky is the limit. A great vocabulary activity -
What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages? I think tagging is a great way to allow sharing of content. It will save time for the younger students who won't have to just search "willy nilly." They will get to where you want them to be quickly and efficiently. They will have more time to work on the task. The disadvantage is that if others using your links aren't aware of the syntax you are using they might miss out on valuable resources.
What is important to think about before assigning tags to bookmarks or other Internet content? Make sure the tags are relevant and that others using your list are aware of your protocol. A possible solution would be to formulate a common set of rules for how to tag resources you want to share. As an example - all lower case, when or when not to use punctuation, etc.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Thing 11
Review the widget you selected. Are you getting comfortable with embedding code? How can widgets enhance your instructional practices?
Yes, I am comfortable with embedding code a process I've used before. I think some widgets are an enhancement to instruction as they provide quick ways to motivate kids - those schemas that hook kids. This one seems like a good one for LA classes.
Review the widget you selected. Are you getting comfortable with embedding code? How can widgets enhance your instructional practices?
Yes, I am comfortable with embedding code a process I've used before. I think some widgets are an enhancement to instruction as they provide quick ways to motivate kids - those schemas that hook kids. This one seems like a good one for LA classes.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Thing 10
What is the value of Twitter? For me personally I don't think I could religiously keep "posting" the events of my day which honestly are not that exciting. I could see this as a great way for someone to relate their travels in real time. Sort of like an instant travelogue that I could live through vicariously. Or imagine the students in a language class who could follows someone's visit to the country they are studying as they are there - no details to remember - instant thoughts; instant pictures. Or a soldier's comments on a day in battle as it happens.
Select one of the sites that you explored from The Best of the Web 2008 or Time's 50 Best Websites of 2009. What did you like or dislike about the tool? What were the site’s useful features? Could you see any educational applications for it?
I like two different sites. One is the Wayback Machine. It is described as , "Browse through over 150 billion web pages archived from 1996 to a few months ago. To start surfing the Wayback, type in the web address of a site or page where you would like to start, and press enter. Then select from the archived dates available. The resulting pages point to other archived pages at as close a date as possible. Keyword searching is not currently supported." This allows teachers to find a site that he/she used to use successfully but can no longer access as the original host can no longer maintain it on the server. First Grade Backpack is one example, I have used this site for.
The other site is drop.io. it is described as "a private file-sharing service where you can stuff your stuff. There's nothing to learn, just open drop.io, select the files you want to take with you, and when you arrive home — or anywhere with a Web connection — there they will be. It's a great way to share a lot of data with other people too: just upload your files and then e-mail or text people the URL "key." There are tons of other features for working with groups, but you don't have to learn about them to start using the service. " How many times have we emailed to ourselves or others or carried around several USB drives?This would be a great way to have students comment on a question or problem that you propose without you having to copy or email anything. Or to allow you to finish that document that you start at home and need to finish in school. I think the features for working with groups will have lots of educational uses. Something for me to explore.
What is the value of Twitter? For me personally I don't think I could religiously keep "posting" the events of my day which honestly are not that exciting. I could see this as a great way for someone to relate their travels in real time. Sort of like an instant travelogue that I could live through vicariously. Or imagine the students in a language class who could follows someone's visit to the country they are studying as they are there - no details to remember - instant thoughts; instant pictures. Or a soldier's comments on a day in battle as it happens.
Select one of the sites that you explored from The Best of the Web 2008 or Time's 50 Best Websites of 2009. What did you like or dislike about the tool? What were the site’s useful features? Could you see any educational applications for it?
I like two different sites. One is the Wayback Machine. It is described as , "Browse through over 150 billion web pages archived from 1996 to a few months ago. To start surfing the Wayback, type in the web address of a site or page where you would like to start, and press enter. Then select from the archived dates available. The resulting pages point to other archived pages at as close a date as possible. Keyword searching is not currently supported." This allows teachers to find a site that he/she used to use successfully but can no longer access as the original host can no longer maintain it on the server. First Grade Backpack is one example, I have used this site for.
The other site is drop.io. it is described as "a private file-sharing service where you can stuff your stuff. There's nothing to learn, just open drop.io, select the files you want to take with you, and when you arrive home — or anywhere with a Web connection — there they will be. It's a great way to share a lot of data with other people too: just upload your files and then e-mail or text people the URL "key." There are tons of other features for working with groups, but you don't have to learn about them to start using the service. " How many times have we emailed to ourselves or others or carried around several USB drives?This would be a great way to have students comment on a question or problem that you propose without you having to copy or email anything. Or to allow you to finish that document that you start at home and need to finish in school. I think the features for working with groups will have lots of educational uses. Something for me to explore.
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