Thing #12

Google Calendar

 

Google Calendar is a great tool offered through Google. It's very helpful for teachers, and anyone in general. It allows you to add events and reminders in the calendar. This would be great for classroom activities and even special school ceremonies. You could post weekly or monthly schedules and make them easily available to students and parents. I figured out that there's an option that allows printing, so this would be great to just print off and send home with your student's newsletter. Schedules are very helpful. I would be a jumbled, forgetful mess without a schedule and its' reminders.

 

https://www.google.com/calendar/render?tab=mc  (Google Calendar)

 

Google Translate

 

How cool is Google Translate? You type in words...whatever you want...and it translates them into any language you choose.This would help teachers out with students in their classroom whose first language is not English. It will definitely smooth things out and make the transition for the student easier and more comfortable...which is important. Also, I have a great idea of another way to incorporate Google Translate in the classroom: I will use it once a day in class to teach my students a new word from a random country. Starting off, we'll focus on the word "hello." It's important for students to be introduced to various cultures and ethnicities. This will help them with acceptance of those different from them...which I plan to always place importance on!

 

http://translate.google.com/?hl=en&tab=cT#en/el/hello  (Hello in Greek)

Thing #11

More RSS

 

After exploring some more links in regards to RSS, I discovered even more about them! I found the Google Blog search the easiest! I just type in key phrases and so much goodness pops up! It was easy to understand and follow. I LOVE that it keeps up with blogs in a single location...how convenient! I also enjoyed Edublog Awards. It listed a bunch of blogs that were nominated and that won awards. I enjoyed the Lifetime Achievement award won by Linda Yollis. Her blog has a ton of information geared for teachers...great resources too! The most confusing search tool was probably Topix.net. It didn't directly search for blogs...and I was lost, to say the least. All though, were good references for teachers to use. I'm sure you'll find something to your liking if you just...search!

Thing #10

RSS & Newsreaders

 

RSS and newsreaders are great tools, and very helpful, I must add! In the beginning, I, was indeed, questioning "how am I going to keep up with all these subscriptions?" This makes it easy. When using these tools, it keeps track of what you're subscribed to and informs you about a new post or information when it becomes available. So, you don't have to search around like a maniac! It's all there and organized, ready for you to access it. As teachers, we will more than likely end up subscribing to multiple blogs and websites in search for tools, ideas, and advice. With this technology that is available, teachers can multi-task much better.The tools at hand will keep us organized and we can prioritize what "news" we want to read. This can also work very well outside of the classroom. I just love the fact that it keeps track of everything for us...it definitely makes life much easier and more manageable!

Thing #9

ImageChef

 

 

Above are two images I created using ImageChef. The first involves a spooky shadow template. This would be great to use as a border for images of students and class activities to display (around the classroom or hallway, or even to send home to parents) during the month of October. I think it's cute and fun!

The second image from ImageChef was created through a sticky note template. You can alter the background and text colors of the note. This would be helpful to add in PowerPoints and other lessons on the board. It can help apply emphasis to specific, important points that are being made. What a great reminder to have!

 

Both image templates are great for classroom use and ultimately, any personal desires. Get creative!

 

Thing #8

Color Field ~ Macro ~ Purple Phalaenopsis Orchid

Photo by Mikaku

 

Flickr Color Pickr

Flickr Color Pickr can be a great tool to use in the classroom. It gives you options of photos to choose from based on specific colors. From the image above, I chose the color purple, browsed through purple photos that popped up, and selected thee picture og the orchid. In my head, I'm already thinking about ways to use this with my young students. This would be great to use when teaching colors. Whatever color is the focus for the day, I can have multiple images of that color available for my students to view -fairly helpful!

Thing #7

By Cast A Line, Heather

http://www.flickr.com/photos/58754750@N08/5685991596/

 

My Flickr experience was the first time using a public photo hosting service. I was familiar with some of them (by name), but had never really used them. Flickr would be a cool tool to use in the classroom. Pictures make great learning tools. There are thousands of photos to look through and the copyright restrictions are readily available and visible on the site. So, we know our limits and we can take caution. This is a great safe-proof function. I also like the option that photos added can be set as a private -a great personalization tool.

 

I chose to post a picture of yellow flowers. Yellow flowers are my favorite!There's something very peaceful about the picture above and nature, in general. 

Thing #6

 www.pandora.com

Pandora



Pandora is such a great site for music! Music definitely gets me through the day and this Web 2.0 tool is awesome! Did I mention that it's free, too? Think of Pandora as being your own personal radio station. You start by selecting an artist or genre and then it formulates songs that relate to what you have chosen. You also have the option of skipping songs you don't like, giving a thumb's up (which will replay the song in the near future), or giving a song a thumb's down (which knocks it out of your play list). You can create multiple stations, which I don't believe are limited. Also, this would definitely liven up a classroom. You can select "school appropriate" songs to play in the morning when students first arrive and also, use a particular song you find to go along with a lesson. I believe music is a stress reliever, so even playing some "light" music in the background throughout the day could help with tension -and it would make it a fun environment for learning in general! We need to intrigue are students and music can have that affect.

Thing #5

From Web 2.0 " A Guide for Educators"

"The Web has replaced libraries, classrooms, bookstores, yellow pages, telephones, even paper."

From the 2008 "Horizon Report"

"The Horizon Report reflects the focus of the Horizon Project, which centers on the applications of emerging technologies to teaching, learning, and creative expression."

So, what does "school 2.0" mean to me? And what does it mean for schools of the future?
School 2.0 means to involve an environment that is relatively familiar with the web 2.0 tools and to use them to their full potential. When these tools are integrated, an overwhelmingly, large amount of new learning possibilities arise. The Internet and the web tools are becoming very prevalent, more and more, in our daily lifestyles. The need for innovation is growing stronger as technology expands. We have to get on board the technology train today before we fall too far behind! Web 2.0 is "the way" of the future.

Thing #4

It's true, every blogger loves to see that their posts were read and have comments. This shows that their topics are of interest and the audience (the readers) are engaged. Commenting is a great tool of interaction that helps communicate ideas. Communicating and sharing ideas, concepts, and common interests, creates an elaborate community overtime.
From Drape's Tasks I learned that it is not good "blogger etiquette" to ignore someone's comment on your blog..."a message of elitismm may be exuded." A simple thank you, if not any other response, will suffice.
From the Blue Skung Blog I took away an important statement -"make your comment relevant." It's best if you add to, or expand on an idea pertaining to the blog.

The 7 "special" blogs I commented on (also with brief points I agreed with) are:

1. Tammy's Tales #4: I agree that commenting is a must and that negative comments should be kept to yourself. Constructive criticism is a good thing, but there's no reason to be ugly about it!
2. Ashmiller's 23 Things #5: I, too, was clueless about 2.0 in the beginning. Technology has a come a long way and it's constantly evolving and expanding -we need to jump on the boat!
3. Douchane's 3040 Reflections #3: Blogging is a social interaction site, but more geared towards our future endeavors. It's a great tool for communication.
4. L. Oliphant's 23 Things #12: Google Translate is a great tool! It's awesome for translating and extremely helpful to have on hand in a classroom.
5. Foster's 23 Things #1: The easiest habit for me was also #7 "to teach/mentor others." I feel like this is a great habit to have mastered, since we are going to be future teachers!
6. Maultbay's Blog (outside class 3040-04) #7: The Flickr image of the ballet was awesome! I'm definitely appreciative of the fine arts, and yes, dance is beautiful!
7. Twenty Three Things (outside class 3040-07) #6: I love Pandora myself! It's a great, free tool, that can bring music into the classroom and liven everyone's day up a little.