SlideBoom Presentation

I feel that having students view the PowerPoint as a video would be more effective. It moves continuously with sound. This can be linked to my site where students can also view this from anywhere there is Internet access and repeat/pause the video as necessary. I tried to select images that reinforced what I was saying in the narration. They would give students a visual, and hopefully a better understanding of right triangles. Students can use SlideBoom to upload their own PowerPoints and make videos from them for projects as well as view mine and others to gain information.

I plan on definitely adding more relevant images and sound (narration) to my PowerPoints. I also plan on showing students good and bad examples of PowerPoints before they create one. That way students can use PowerPoints as a tool to aide in their presentation, rather than a teleprompter for their presentation.

Ragin5618Module7-Right Triangles

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Thing #18: Social Networking

I decided to create an account on Facebook. Facebook seemed more user-friendly than MySpace. I also felt it would be much safer than MySpace. I wanted a site that had more security features, since I am a teacher. I don't want my students trying to link to my information. There have been too many horror stories about teachers and students in connection with social networking!! Here is my page. I am still exploring, so it is really plain. I've made friends with my cousin and my best friend, and have sent several requests to other family members and friends.

It is important for teachers to connect with other educators to share ideas and experiences. It is an opportunity to grow as a professional. I can see how these sites can be used this way. I also realized that it would be easier to keep in touch with friends & family using social networking. It is a one-stop place to check on updates from others and share updates. If these sites were even more secure and maybe only used by students, I could definitely see them being used by students to communicate with students at other schools on school-related topics.

Thing #17: Tagging & Social Bookmarking

I currently have Del.icio.us linked to my school website for parents and students to access websites that I feel are of usefulness to the class. Here is my page. I think this is a wonderful tool! It takes away the discrepancies/tediousness of students writing down URLs. I also bookmark sites that interest me, but are locked where others cannot view them. I like the tag feature. It allows me to see sites others have found that they labeled with a tag that matches the ones I have or are interested in. There are some modifications I plan to make to some of the items I've bookmarked, and I also plan to incorporate more websites that students can use in projects.

Thing #16: Organizing Web 2.0 Tools

I chose iGoogle as the start page I wanted to explore. I already have a G-mail account, and enjoy all things Google. It was very easy and fun to create (see my post on Thing #12). I plan on definitely making it my homepage.

The online calenders are definitely useful. I can print them out or upload to iCal on my mac. I can also view the calendar anywhere there is Internet access. I like the idea of the to-do lists being online, because you can bring it up at another location, including your cell phone. It would be quicker for me to just write my to-do list, since I do not use the Internet on my cell phone.

I would definitely recommend the MyStickies site. This site allows you to put sticky notes on web pages, so that when you go back to them, you would know what interested you the first time. I could use this and bookmark those sites using social bookmarking. My students can then pull up those sites, and read the sticky notes, as well as post their own. This feature has to be downloaded to the computer in order to be used.

Thing #15: Wikis

Wikis allow you to display information and, depending on the settings, others can edit and comment on that web page. I like the idea of a page where others can edit, especially if students are working on a project together or are providing feedback on a topic. I would use wikis as a part of my website, where students can add comments to assignments, etc., but I would probably not allow them to change what I originally post. I added some comments to the APSU 23Things Wiki. It was very easy to add comments and to edit pages. I see wikis as a place where the amount of information provided is on-going and ever-changing.

Thing #14: Flow Charts & Mind Maps

On Gliffy, a flow chart creating website, you can create flow charts of any type as well as scale drawings. This would be great for my students to show connections between topics and to enhance their ratio and proportion skills by creating scale drawings of their room, the classroom, etc. The site was confusing at first, but the more I played with it, the easier it became. I saved what I created to my desktop, but when I opened it, some of the words were shifted. Here is my creation of a quadrilateral flow chart:

I used several of the basic shapes, flow chart shapes, line tool, and connectors to develop this chart. Those shapes are the actual figures being described, so it also provides a visual for students.

At Bubbl.us, a mind-mapping site, students can brainstorm a topic. This can aide in writing a paper or developing ideas for a group project. The site is very easy to use. The shapes that you type in are only in bubbles, and there are only 3 branching levels including the main topic in the middle. This is very limited compared to the flow chart site. I created a map of things I need to consider when setting up a school fall festival:

Thing #13: Web-Based Applications

I explored Zoho Writer's features. This site allows you to create items such as spreadsheets and documents online, without having the applications downloaded to the computer. I like that there are tabs and pull down menus above the document. I use the equation editor feature a lot in documents since I teach math, so I explored it here. It seemed to provide several more options, but at the same time, was complex in it's use. I was also unable to get what I created to show up on the screen. I had to drag it to my desktop, then copy & paste it in the document. Below is what it looked like:

Formulas

Here are a few formulas you should know:

There was also not a selection of clip art to choose from, but there were smiling face icons that you could choose. There was also a limited number of fonts to choose from. To me, the available options seemed more appropriate if you were developing a document to post online, rather than to print. It does provide an alternative for those who have Internet access, but are unable to afford the package that includes documents, templates, powerpoints, and spreadsheets.

Thing #12: More About Google

iGoogle is a web page that you can make your homepage. It can contain RSS feeds, e-mail updates, and any topics you are interested in. I created an iGoogle homepage. I like this MUCH better than my Yahoo homepage! I was able to incorporate my 'likes'-music, comics, and games-as well as even view the Google Reader on this page. I could use this as a classroom links page, where students could easily find sites that I recommend, as well as the latest information. I can also grow professionally by having quick access to sites that provide resources and ideas.

Google calendar allows you to enter in important events with times, dates, and details. You can decide whether you want pop-ups or e-mail alerts and at what time you want to receive them. The calendar also allows you to select who is able to view it, and provides different views that are all printable. The one I have linked here, shows some of the activities that I have planned at work for this month (click on the Month tab on the right-hand side). Using the calendar is very easy, and it picks up on details you type and adds them to the right place. I could create a calendar linked to my school website, so parents and students can view & print upcoming events. I could also use Google calendar to keep up with personal and work commitments. Google is very intriguing to me!

Thing #11: Finding Good Feeds

I explored blogs on Edublogs' Award Winners and chose one of the best resource sharing blogs. Edublog was easy to navigate since the feeds were divided into groups. In the Google Blog search, you have to make sure you are specific or several blogs will appear that just contain the word, but are not about what you need. Syndic8's layout was very confusing to me. I like sites that are not cluttered and where I can easily find the search tool bar, directions, etc. I also checked out sites I frequently visit to see if they had RSS feeds. Some did, while others did not. Of those that had the feeds, some had error messages when I went to subscribe.

I found several feeds that I was interested in. What's New @ Scholastic.com, shows different activities and ideas that can be incorporated in the classroom. About.com: Mathematics, provides resources, formulas, and tutorials that I can use to help my students. I also use quotes to inspire my students and to help them branch out their thoughts, so subscribing to Motivational Quotes of the Day will allow me to have quick access to meaningful quotes.

Thing #10: RSS Reader & Add Feeds

I set up an account with Google Reader to receive RSS feeds. I like the idea of being able to quickly view updates at different sites without having to go to those sites individually and sort through information that is not of interest to me. I can use this when my math students are to comment through a discussion board/blog or are to work on a project using Google Docs. This will allow me to have one place to look for progress. I currently have an RSS feed for the local newspaper, which allows me to keep up with the latest news, and view articles that are of interest to me. Teachers can subscribe to websites and blogs that will help them in their subject and grade level to gain and share ideas. They can also use the RSS feeds to grow professionally. It is somewhat easy to set up; it helps if you are on a reader site that has a search option to find sites that you would want to look at if you are unsure where to begin.

Thing #9: Online Image Generators

I created the following images from ImageChef:








I had so much fun creating these images! The first one is called a word mosaic. You can type in any word, phrase or initials and select a symbol for them to form to. You can also select the text color, background color, and the font. I chose the phrase "God is Love" and set it within the symbol of a cross. I am a Christian, and that is what I believe. The love of God is shown by Jesus dying on the cross, so there is symbolism in this image.

The second image was selected from the work category. You can select the font and the message for the background image that you choose. I went with a keyboard button saying "transport back home" because some days when I am at work, I wish there was a button that could do just that. ;)

I would use this and other generators to make meaningful as well as fun images for my house and classroom and to share with others. Students could develop fun images that convey their personality or relate to the content.

Thing #8: Flickr Mashups

I decided to create a movie poster using Big Huge Labs. It was rather easy. It took me several edits to decide which font and colors work the best on the picture I chose. It was very fun to create, and I can see how using these tools can be addictive! Here is the movie poster I created about my boyfriend and me:I can definitely see using these tools with students. It would provide a fun way to take what they are learning and make it into a visual. Students could take a story they are reading and make a movie poster advertising the main characters and the scenes they thought were key. They could also make one for a story they wrote themselves. Geometry students could develop a mosaic of certain polygons or geometric figures they find in the real-world.

I think sharing photos is great, as long as there is a way to keep them protected and have privacy as needed. For instance, I wouldn't want everyone on the web to have access to family photos.

Thing #7: Flickr

Flickr is a free web tool where you can post and share pictures. Viewers can leave comments on the actual picture, which I thought was neat. It is very easy to navigate through the site, and I like that you can view pictures of a common theme. I plan on definitely signing up to Flickr so that my family in different states can view pictures without me mailing them or waiting until I see them.

I chose this photo titled "Feathery Friday is Having a Party" by Birdyboo, because the expression on the dog's face is priceless! As the ducks are swimming in the pool, the dog is looking at the camera, and one can imagine he is thinking 'you have got to be kidding me!'. Too cute.

Thing #6: Web 2.0-Delicious

I chose Del.icio.us. It one first place in social bookmarking on the Web 2.0 Awards List. It allows you to bookmark sites that you find of interest and create tags for them, which groups them into categories. This service is free. :) You can also type a description of each site. This site allows you to pull up your bookmarked sites from any computer. You can also view others' bookmarks and find sites that are of interest to you. Del.icio.us can be linked to your own website, where others can have access to your bookmarks. If you have a site you would not like to share, you can hide it where others' will be unable to view it.

I definitely like this website, and have it linked to my school website. So far, I have no dislikes. I provide links to sites that are relevant to my students, such as sites on mathematicians, certain geometry topics, free calculators, and free graph paper. I also have other sites that are of interest to me, but I have those on the hide feature, since they do not relate to the students. Using this social bookmarking tool allows my students to use information I recommend on safe sites from their home computer. It saves from mistakes being made by writing a URL down by hand.

Thing #5: Web 2.0 vs. School 2.0

To me, School 2.0 is the need for education of various forms of technology that is currently available, such as social networks, blogs, and wikis. The web now provides an outlet to communicate with others in different ways, allowing expression of opinions and ideas and learning more about how others' feel. This education is on-going and ever-changing as technology is ever-changing. The purpose of this is to prepare people for the now and the future, which will incorporate this technology. That means schools will have to shift from the traditional methods of instruction and assessments to incorporate the different forms of technology. The students must be totally involved with the technology and how it is used in the world, not just briefly introduced.

I read Web 2.0: A Guide for Educators, and the writer said that education needs to step up and take control of this opportunity to provide students with what is needed for their future, which I totally agree. She also stated that these web tools are already 'second nature' to children. It is our goal as educators to prepare our students, by providing them with the resources and developing their skills through the use of technology. Why not incorporate what students already love to do, which is communicate with each other through technology tools?

I also looked at New Literacies: Enrichment or Essential?. The writer was posing the question to educators whether it is just enough to have students do research on the web and create a PowerPoint presentation, or can we (as educators) do more. He then discusses blogs, wikis, and digital storytelling. He says that these are web tools students are already engaged in personally that we can use effectively and meaningfully in the classroom to help our students grow through technology. Again, taking what the students know and do online and using it in a relevant manner in lessons, will definitely help students to be productive adults in the 21st century.

Thing #4: Importance of Commenting

Commenting on others' blogs is important. Comments provide the person that created the blog feedback, and allows the commenter to gain more knowledge about others. This interaction ties people together with common interests and ideas can be shared.

I learned from the readings that it is key to make meaningful posts. Comments that are made carelessly or in a hurtful manner are not beneficial to the person who created the blog nor to those that are reading it. I also learned that when I make posts, I should encourage others to make comments/provide feedback. That would help me to see others' perspectives.

So far I have commented on 2 blogs. I plan to comment on more as I go along. I chose Baning Hatchett's and Mindy Engle's blogs. I just randomly selected them and found that I really liked both of their avatars and wanted to let them know. I also agreed with their post about blogging and found that I had common interests with Mindy.

Update: On Ursula Price's blog, I commented on her Thing #9. The image she selected was true of how some people treat others while they are working. I agree that it is important to be respectful of others. I also agreed with Stephen PaulkMcGinley that the web opens doors for higher learning, and that we have the opportunity to be more interactive with the web. Kim Morrow made a comment that the use of RSS feeds would allow them to find articles and other forms of news readily available for use by students, and I agree. I commented that it would also be eco-friendly if the students view them online.

I commented on blogs on The Leaf Chronicle- the local newspaper and Deb's Mathematics. I selected these 2 blogs because they were of interest to me. I posted a message to the family that lost their daughter in a car accident. I know the family, and wanted them to know they are in my prayers. On Deb's blog, I posted that humor is needed in the math classroom, and thanked her for sharing jokes, but each time I went back to see if I did it correctly, it does not show.

Thing #3: Registering Blog

The registration for the blog for this class was very easy. I had to provide my basic school information and the URL of the blog in order to receive credit in the class.

I feel that using blogs would help my students to collaborate more and see others' view points. It would also allow them to be exposed to the diversity of technology.