Downloading my creative from Thing 8

I had trouble with my computer at home so I am trying another computer to download my collage from Montager.    It worked I  am so pleased.  Again, What a great class. 

Thing 23

As I reflect on my journey of 23 Things, I am amazed at all of the "Things" I learned.  I started this class in the winter and didn't finish.  I wanted to finish, but had a huge time set back with two major issues with my computer so I decided to try it again.  Actually it was good for me to re-do the first things as it just helped me move along as I had done them previously.  Some of my frustrations were alleviated this time. Of course, there were new ones, but all in all I enjoyed it and feel like I have a deeper understanding of Web 2.0.  am so excited to use my collaboration Wiki.  I love delicious and will frequent it a lot.  I am so pleased to learn how to embed video into presentations and plan to do just that. 

I love the Web 2.0 possibilities. I think about how quickly things change and how technology advanceds faster than the speed of light, and wonder how will I ever keep up to date with all of this.  So I am hoping that RESA will continue to offer such valuable classes.  Honestly, I have been working with "things" my 25 and 28 year old children have no clue about.  That made me feel oaky! 

I also must tell you that the last video embed by Michael Wesch on Digital Ethnography was enlightening for me.  As I was watching it, I kept seeing in the tool bar the mascot for KSU, the purple powercat, (which is where I received my undergraduate degree).   I was trying to figure out if this video was connected with KSU somehow and at the end where the credits were listed, sure enough, Kansas State University.  I was so excited to see that. 

I take with me many great experiences and enough knowledge to be dangerous.  I am keeping up with my blog just because it was fun and I can refer back to what I have done.  I also madea notebook of 23 things and filed all my notes under each thing so I can refer back as needed.  Thank you  for offering such a valuable class.  I think we as educators must sty in touch with technology and use it when we can in our classrooms to engage students.  This is how they operate.  I think Web 2.0 generates some new issues that were mentioned in the video clip in Thing 23.  Thank you for letting me finish this course.  I was so upset that I didn't get it done in the winter session.  Again, I look forward to more technology classes from RESA.          

Thing 22

Ny new wiki is:  http://pcepctewiki.wikispaces.com/
I developed this wiki for my collaboration team which meets about three times a month.  I embedded a calendar and a discussion section.  I have invited all of my team members to join.  (Right now they are most likely wondering what I have done now), but I see this as a valuable tool for us.  I am excited to explain how it works and have them begin using it. This particular thing took me a long time.  I had a difficult time getting the calendar embedded until I realized my enable cookies was off - then when I fixed that, life became much less frustrating.  I like the wiki for my collaboration team as all will be able to edit, add and discuss and will be more efficient than cc'ing  and forwarding tons of emails.  I like blogs because no one else can edit but they can add comments and not change your work.  You can control who sees either of them which is good.  I think each has their place and you have to decide how you will use it and how you want your viewers to be able to use it as well.     For example, I wouldn't use a wiki to provide parents with class information or students with assignment information because I wouldn't want it to have the editing capacity. I like the idea of a blog for students to comments on topics and share their ideas.  I would use wikis for group projects since they could all work from home and still be able to work together.  I would never have dreamed I could figure out a wiki.  I am pleased with my accomplishment.

Thing 21 Thoughts about Wikis

Who knew there were so many wikis out there and all the possibilities.. I loved one that compared the two hemispheres and two different schools corresponded an took pictures talking about the differences between the northern and southern hemispheres.  The one I really was inspired by was: http://arborheights.wikispaces.com/   This was a school wide wiki but different classes and teachers had their own  posts.  They had a  great deal of information on the wiki and it is interactive so dates can be changed at any time by anyone who need to edit something.  It was inspiring because I could visualize a class wiki where students could  make study guides, post notes,  do group projects, etc.  I think you would be wise to control who could edit the wiki.  I think it would need to be monitored and you would really have to discuss appropriate posts etc.  Another wiki that I saw was a collaboration of assignments from students.  There were some incredible entries on that wiki.  They were very professional.  I think it might be an interesting experience to try.  Making sure entries were accuarate and appropriate might be time consuming and teachig students how to navigate the wiki would take some time.  I think I would most likey need to check with administration and  make sure to follow any district requirements but I think it would be worth a try.    

Thing #20 Podcasts

Well, I have thoroughly enjoyed this exercise.  I do like using the itunes podcasts - seem much easier to me.  I subscribed to two different ones.  One was "Delicious TV Veg EZ".  I am teaching a foods class this year and thought this would be a great healthy way to get some new ideas for cooking vegetables which is one of our units.  I also subscribed to Scrap Time which is a podcast on scrapbooking which I love to do but often need ideas to get me started.  I enjoyed watching them and will continue following them.  I can see using this in the classroom as well.  EPN would be my second choice for obtaining podcasts and podcast alley would be my last choice.  I tunes was easy to use and it made mroe sense to me.  

Thing 19 Podcasts

I sat and listened to several  podcasts.  I heard several that I think might be beneficial for students,
The grammar girl is a good one for students.  Merriam Websters, Word of the day is another good one.  The word of the day today was "fester", not exactly what I wanted to  hear this early in the morning but I do think it would be a good podcast for someone wanted to expand their vocabulary.  Not being much of an auditory learner, I found this difficult to just sit and listen to.  I noticed on Grammar girl that you can get a text copy of the podcast, which I would find helpful. 

http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/default.aspx
  
http://www.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/mwwod.pl

Thing 18

I chose this powerpoint because it is about web 2.0 and good resources for classroom use.  Many of the tools on the presentation are "things" from 23 things. I thought it would be a great reminder for me.
I can see using this in the classroom for many uses, but I also seeusing it with my collaboration team as well. 

Top 100 Tools for Learning 2008

View more presentations from Jane Hart.

Thing 17 Online productivity

Well this was a great experience.  I created an acct on flashcard db.  I created a set of flashcards of terms my students need to know for one of the foods classes I am teaching this fall.  I actually played with it.  Students can take quizzes, study.  It is awesome.  I created this set for them, but they could actually create their own so they could study.  I think they might be more apt to study on the computer than with an actual set of flash cards.  It is certainly worth the try.  I also belileve they would be studying while they create.  I am hoping that by doing one set for them and showing them how it is used, they might be more apt to try it again in the future.   This was a great find. 

Also played with 30 boxes because the title intrigued me.  This is a calendar site which can remind you of birthdays, schedules, etc.  It was easy to use and will send reminders out via email messages.  If you get your email on your phone or check it daily, this could be very helpful.  Outlook will do somethig very similar if you use outlook.  I did like that it will print a calendar by the week or by the month for you.   I want to go back and play with bubbl.us  as I think this woul be a great help in working with students.  It was about concept mapping and free to use.  I will be exploring this one as well, just need to move on with 23 things.    Great assignment.  I know I will use this a lot. 

Thing 16 Google Docs

Last year I needed to upload something on my Zangle account and it wouldn't upload.  Someone suggested Google docs and walked me through it.  Whn I logged in today, there it was....I spent some time searching through the educationoptions.  Rubrics, report time lines, forms of all types.  Wow there is a lot of information here.  This has great potential.  We have a program at school for uploading documents so they can work on them at home, but I see this as great in that you can edit and make comments back and forth.  This would be wonderful for group projects as well.  I can see huge benefit in working with my collaboration team as well.  Sending them an email and having them peruse a document makes so much  more sense than sending an attachment and reviewing all the attachments people send back.  This is awesome.  I plan to use it right away with my collaboration team. 

Thing 15

RSS is a  great way to manage links that you want to follow routinely.  I try to check on it when I check my email but it is one of those things that I skip if  I am in a hurry.  I do think it is effective and will try to do a better job of  following it more closely.  I love all the information out there, but I find myself spending hours sitting in  front of the computer screen.  I am going to set a timer and allow myself only a certain amount of time on the computer.