It is important to be aware of all the technologies available at our fingertips. This class has led me to many new and important websites, apps, blogs, and organizational tools that will make my life as an educator far more easy. I will admit that I probably will not use any of this information outside of the classroom. I will not suddenly become a cheerleader for a completely online life. I am 26 years old and feel that personal communication has deteriorated. I miss face-to-face conversations that don't involve my friends or co-workers checking their phones every 5 seconds. I will miss the world that I grew up in. I know what I will have to adapt to ensure that my students know that I am not a dinosaur.
Overall, this class was a continual learning process. Certainly it was necessary to be aware of what is going on in technology today and how we can apply it in a professional manner.
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Thing 23: Creative Commons
Gee. We already accessed the website and information for another assignment in this class.
Learning 2.0 - 23 Things for Teachers is based on Learning 2.0 - 23 Things, a staff development program for the Mesquite Independent School District. That program was based on the Learning 2.0 program that was designed by Helene Blowers and adapted by the California School Library Association and others. Content and style for Learning 2.0 - 23 Things for Teachers has been borrowed and duplicated with permission, under a Creative Commons License.
This is the credit found on the APSU 23 Things posted by Anne Wall for use by students taking the technology course.
One of the most important things for our students to understand is that the internet is not a free for all for information. They have to give credit where credit is due. They have to understand the concept of plagiarism and its consequences. It is important that we continue to pound this information into their heads at every grade level. We need to be able to provide them resources to help them, especially when assigned papers or projects where we want them to give us a resource list. It is practical information that they will use throughout their entire school life.
Learning 2.0 - 23 Things for Teachers is based on Learning 2.0 - 23 Things, a staff development program for the Mesquite Independent School District. That program was based on the Learning 2.0 program that was designed by Helene Blowers and adapted by the California School Library Association and others. Content and style for Learning 2.0 - 23 Things for Teachers has been borrowed and duplicated with permission, under a Creative Commons License.
This is the credit found on the APSU 23 Things posted by Anne Wall for use by students taking the technology course.
One of the most important things for our students to understand is that the internet is not a free for all for information. They have to give credit where credit is due. They have to understand the concept of plagiarism and its consequences. It is important that we continue to pound this information into their heads at every grade level. We need to be able to provide them resources to help them, especially when assigned papers or projects where we want them to give us a resource list. It is practical information that they will use throughout their entire school life.
Thing 22: Keeping it Together: Livebinders
Livebinders is kind of like Livetext. Same principle at least.
I don't like this site. It is not easy to use. I understand the concept and can understand its usefulness. Possibly, I can see this being used by students to compile information for reports that they can share with me.
So. I am linking "Binder 1". I haven't done much beyond the basics because I really don't like this website. It's functionality is limited for me.
http://www.livebinders.com/play/play?id=1336649
I don't like this site. It is not easy to use. I understand the concept and can understand its usefulness. Possibly, I can see this being used by students to compile information for reports that they can share with me.
So. I am linking "Binder 1". I haven't done much beyond the basics because I really don't like this website. It's functionality is limited for me.
http://www.livebinders.com/play/play?id=1336649
Thing 21: Animoto
Preview of Aquarium
So. This was fun. It's really easy to use, especially when you link it to your Facebook. Of course, I am not a huge fan of doing that but it was expedient. I would like to do more of this but more on a personal basis than for professional. Although, I can see using this for motivational videos or videos to show my student's successes.
So. This was fun. It's really easy to use, especially when you link it to your Facebook. Of course, I am not a huge fan of doing that but it was expedient. I would like to do more of this but more on a personal basis than for professional. Although, I can see using this for motivational videos or videos to show my student's successes.
Thing 20: YouTube and Beyond
I use YouTube on a regular basis for research and for entertainment purposes. There are many great uses for this website and that's probably why it's so popular. Not to mention that it's so easy to use. That is always an excellent feature.
I don't like any of the other video websites or apps. I'm not downloading or allowing it to access my other accounts to "personalize" my experience. I don't have an IPhone or IPad so some of them wouldn't even work for me. Another reason why YouTube is so popular.
As far as the classroom is concerned, of course this would be useful. Students love videos and you can find some really educational ones that are entertaining as well. There are so many uses and teacher's can certainly take advantage.
Thing 19: Beyond Facebook: Other Social Networks
I have already admitted to Facebook and Pinterest. I also already use IMDB and GoodReads.
Social networks have many advantages. The main one being that we live in a technology bound world with a generation of students who are more technologically advanced than most adults. We have to be at least familiar with social networks in order to take advantage of communicating in this forum with our students. Also, as previously mentioned, it is a good way to connect with fellow professionals to keep track of useful information. It's most advantageous to be current with information and know that it allows for us to create a depth and wealth of knowledge that we might otherwise not know to access.
Social networks have many advantages. The main one being that we live in a technology bound world with a generation of students who are more technologically advanced than most adults. We have to be at least familiar with social networks in order to take advantage of communicating in this forum with our students. Also, as previously mentioned, it is a good way to connect with fellow professionals to keep track of useful information. It's most advantageous to be current with information and know that it allows for us to create a depth and wealth of knowledge that we might otherwise not know to access.
Thing 18: Explore Social Networking
I will respectfully decline to make use of Twitter. I do have a Facebook page and use it regularly but I will never use Twitter. I have friends and co-workers that have it and I have seen it, but quite frankly, I don't see it being something that I'll use as a professional. It's possible that I can link in with my students in the future with it but considering I plan to teach in the SPED department in a severe/profound classroom...I doubt it. Once again, I will reiterate my technophobe status and have created accounts that I think would be useful to me or show you the things I already use, however, I cannot accept Twitter.
Thing 17: Tagging and Social Bookmarking with Delicious
As far as Delicious is concerned...I'm not a huge fan.
I use Pinterest on a regular basis and I find this to be similar to what we are discussing here. I do like "pinning" and use it regularly to share likes/dislikes with family and keep track of what other teachers are doing in SPED classrooms all around the country.
These social bookmarking and tagging sites are useful for teachers the same way that RSS feeds are because it allows to you to simplify sharing information.
Granted, this is set up more for social sharing of information more than a professional use but social websites tend to be more popular and can lead to more professional sources of information. Plus, the best information that you can get as a teacher typically comes from professionals already in the field sharing their knowledge and previous failures and successes.
I use Pinterest on a regular basis and I find this to be similar to what we are discussing here. I do like "pinning" and use it regularly to share likes/dislikes with family and keep track of what other teachers are doing in SPED classrooms all around the country.
These social bookmarking and tagging sites are useful for teachers the same way that RSS feeds are because it allows to you to simplify sharing information.
Granted, this is set up more for social sharing of information more than a professional use but social websites tend to be more popular and can lead to more professional sources of information. Plus, the best information that you can get as a teacher typically comes from professionals already in the field sharing their knowledge and previous failures and successes.
Thing 16: Get Organized with Web 2.0 Tools
UStart - None of them appealed to me so I just picked one.
I understand it's advantages and certainly can see it's appeal. However, I will not make this a permanent page change.
The only reason an online calendar would be more useful than a handwritten one is that it can send notifications to you for upcoming events or assignment due dates. Also, it can expand days that have a lot more coming up as opposed to days that have less going on.
There are a lot of tools that can be useful in both schools and at home. We've already talked about a majority of them and their usefulness.
As much as I use technology, I am still a technophobe at heart. I much prefer notebooks and pens. I like calendars that are in my hands.
My only concession is my smart phone. I do have sticky notes for keeping track of upcoming dates and keeping track of anything that I need to remember.
I understand it's advantages and certainly can see it's appeal. However, I will not make this a permanent page change.
The only reason an online calendar would be more useful than a handwritten one is that it can send notifications to you for upcoming events or assignment due dates. Also, it can expand days that have a lot more coming up as opposed to days that have less going on.
There are a lot of tools that can be useful in both schools and at home. We've already talked about a majority of them and their usefulness.
As much as I use technology, I am still a technophobe at heart. I much prefer notebooks and pens. I like calendars that are in my hands.
My only concession is my smart phone. I do have sticky notes for keeping track of upcoming dates and keeping track of anything that I need to remember.
Thing 15: What in the world is a Wiki?
I can see the benefit of Wikis in the world but I really have no use for them. I don't find them to be any different from a blog or any public information forum. It certainly has it's place but as someone who does research on a regular basis, they don't do anything but possibly point you to better and more reliable source of information. I'm just not a fan.
Thing 14: Go with the flow...
Flow chart
<script src="http://www.gliffy.com/diagramEmbed.js" type="text/javascript"> </script><script type="text/javascript"> gliffy_did = "5706840"; embedGliffy(); </script>
Mind map
https://bubbl.us/?h=204253/416fa4/21zP2yPhaBFiU&r=1940087975
I really like the mind map function. It's easy to use and easy to follow. I would use this to delineate ideas while writing a paper or formulating a project.
The flow chart would be better, however, if you're presenting major topics for note taking. It's a lot more linear and streamlined for presentation purposes.
<script src="http://www.gliffy.com/diagramEmbed.js" type="text/javascript"> </script><script type="text/javascript"> gliffy_did = "5706840"; embedGliffy(); </script>
Mind map
https://bubbl.us/?h=204253/416fa4/21zP2yPhaBFiU&r=1940087975
I really like the mind map function. It's easy to use and easy to follow. I would use this to delineate ideas while writing a paper or formulating a project.
The flow chart would be better, however, if you're presenting major topics for note taking. It's a lot more linear and streamlined for presentation purposes.
Thing 13: Google Drive
Google Drive Document
Students would be able to work collaboratively using Google Drive because they'd be able to access the same document without having to sign in to the same account. These users would be able to edit and work on it as if it was saved on their computer. I do know that in the MAT program I have used it in two of my classes to share and work on major group projects.
As far as Zoho is concerned, it isn't bad. I prefer Google Drive but due to the fact that I'm already familiar with it and use it on a regular basis.
Students would be able to work collaboratively using Google Drive because they'd be able to access the same document without having to sign in to the same account. These users would be able to edit and work on it as if it was saved on their computer. I do know that in the MAT program I have used it in two of my classes to share and work on major group projects.
As far as Zoho is concerned, it isn't bad. I prefer Google Drive but due to the fact that I'm already familiar with it and use it on a regular basis.
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