Take a few moments to reflect on your journey. You've covered a lot of material over the past ten weeks. What does it all mean? How has your thinking changed between Thing 1 and Thing 23? Has this program changed how you view the Internet or how you view education in the digital world? What plans have you made for using these tools in and out of the classroom? How will you continue to learn about Web 2.0 tools? What are your big "take aways" from this experience?
Well, yes, it has been quite a journey! I have learned a mind-boggling amount and will now need time to process it all. As a first year SmartBoard user I know that I will be able to use much of what I have learned here in my classroom. I am now using Diigo regularly to bookmark sites. I have customized my homepage and am using it to better advantage every day. I know that I will reserve time to organize my pictures on Flickr this summer. There may be more wikis in my future as well!
I have bookmarked the last website you sent us to and will use it to explore more Web 2.0 tools. I hope your course will continue to be posted so that I can go back and review the material as I decide to further explore some of the things that I didn't have sufficient time to really master.
My biggest "take away" is that I am not all that technology challenged after all. Thank you, Joan, for encouraging me to stick with it when I was feeling defeated back around Thing 2! I do feel that I will be a little more prepared and knowlegeable for at least the next 6 months maybe...until every changes again...Web 3.0???
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Thing 22
In your blog post be sure to include the link to your wiki. Then discuss your feelings about using a wiki. How does a wiki differ from a blog? When is one more appropriate to use than the other?
I decided to create a wiki for my Helping Hands Helping Paws club. It was a bit of a challenge and a bit frustrating since the video I watched about how to include images and videos didn't have the same wikispaces icons as the ones that were actually on my page, and I had trouble navigating the ones that were there. I was able to create a couple of links, however, and I will fool around with the pages I created when I have more time. The link to my pages is http://www.helpinghandshelpingpawsnhs.wikispaces.com
I like the idea of a wiki for a class project or an extracurricular club where people can contribute ideas and edit the site. With a blog people can add ideas, but not necessarily edit other people's postings. This would be most appropriately used for a class when you want the unedited comments of participants.
I decided to create a wiki for my Helping Hands Helping Paws club. It was a bit of a challenge and a bit frustrating since the video I watched about how to include images and videos didn't have the same wikispaces icons as the ones that were actually on my page, and I had trouble navigating the ones that were there. I was able to create a couple of links, however, and I will fool around with the pages I created when I have more time. The link to my pages is http://www.helpinghandshelpingpawsnhs.wikispaces.com
I like the idea of a wiki for a class project or an extracurricular club where people can contribute ideas and edit the site. With a blog people can add ideas, but not necessarily edit other people's postings. This would be most appropriately used for a class when you want the unedited comments of participants.
Thing 21
Describe a wiki you found that inspires you to create one of your own. What hurdles might stand in the way of your using a wiki? What would it take to remove the hurdles?
That feeling of being somewhat overwhelmed is returning again! I have spent an inordinate amount of time exploring educational wikidom. I do understand the appeal and usefulness of a wiki, but I can't say that I found any particular wiki that inspired me. I am thinking about my after the AP exam end-of-year project with AP Spanish and am incubating an idea about using a wiki as a tool in the creative process. One barrier that might hinder jumping into the wiki world for me might be my own insecurity about what I am trying to do. The cure for that would be more wiki exploration until I could feel confident that this would be the best approach to achieve the objectives.
That feeling of being somewhat overwhelmed is returning again! I have spent an inordinate amount of time exploring educational wikidom. I do understand the appeal and usefulness of a wiki, but I can't say that I found any particular wiki that inspired me. I am thinking about my after the AP exam end-of-year project with AP Spanish and am incubating an idea about using a wiki as a tool in the creative process. One barrier that might hinder jumping into the wiki world for me might be my own insecurity about what I am trying to do. The cure for that would be more wiki exploration until I could feel confident that this would be the best approach to achieve the objectives.
Thing 20
Talk about what you found in your exploration of eBooks, the sites you visited and what each had to offer. Similarities? Differences? Share your experience with the NHS eBook collection. How could you use eBooks with your students?
The eBooks exploration was amazing. While it may still be in its early stages, this technology has potential. I was impressed with the types of resources available. While there are a number of free offerings, there were also many items for purchase. I found a wonderful Spanish resource in the World Book Online Specialty books called Enciclopedia Estudiantil Hallazgos. I will be able to use various pages from this resource with my lower level Spanish classes for vocabulary expansion. Textbooks could be offered as eBooks eliminating the need for students to carry their books home. This is another area that I plan to spend much more time exploring during the summer.
The eBooks exploration was amazing. While it may still be in its early stages, this technology has potential. I was impressed with the types of resources available. While there are a number of free offerings, there were also many items for purchase. I found a wonderful Spanish resource in the World Book Online Specialty books called Enciclopedia Estudiantil Hallazgos. I will be able to use various pages from this resource with my lower level Spanish classes for vocabulary expansion. Textbooks could be offered as eBooks eliminating the need for students to carry their books home. This is another area that I plan to spend much more time exploring during the summer.
Thing 19
Post a link to your screencast on your blog. Describe your experience creating the screencast. What applications do you see for this in your classroom?
I left this task for next-to-last because it required a bit of logistics. I managed to acquire a headset with a microphone, but, despite my best efforts, I don't think the audio came out this time. Here is the screencast:
I would definitely try this again and even get the audio to work this time. This could be very useful for brief grammar explanations in class now that I have a Smart Board and would give the students another resource that they could perhaps access from home.
I left this task for next-to-last because it required a bit of logistics. I managed to acquire a headset with a microphone, but, despite my best efforts, I don't think the audio came out this time. Here is the screencast:
I would definitely try this again and even get the audio to work this time. This could be very useful for brief grammar explanations in class now that I have a Smart Board and would give the students another resource that they could perhaps access from home.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Thing 18
Which podcasts did you find interesting? Identify one or two podcasts and describe how you would use them in your work. (Be sure to include links in your blog entry to the podcasts mentioned.)
I was already somewhat familiar with the concept of podcasting and have been using a particular site in the language lab for a couple of years now. The site is www.notesinspanish.com and it has proven very useful for students of all levels. I also discovered another interesting podcast site through the link to the site for educators. The link is www.spanishpodcast.org which I will definitely use with my students. These could either be used in the language lab or assigned for extra listening practice. I am a faithful NPR listener and was gratified to find a number of podcasts offered on their site.
I was already somewhat familiar with the concept of podcasting and have been using a particular site in the language lab for a couple of years now. The site is www.notesinspanish.com and it has proven very useful for students of all levels. I also discovered another interesting podcast site through the link to the site for educators. The link is www.spanishpodcast.org which I will definitely use with my students. These could either be used in the language lab or assigned for extra listening practice. I am a faithful NPR listener and was gratified to find a number of podcasts offered on their site.
Thing 17
What did you like about the presentation you embedded? How might Slideshare be useful in the classroom? out of the classroom?
This is a beautiful slide presentation that I would use in my classroom from Slideshare. I might also use it on Open House night as a background display on my SmartBoard so the parents would have something to look at besides me! The presentation does indicate that there is music to accompany the slide show, but it doesn't seem to play. Could I add music to it myself? Outside of the classroom I could use it at my next gathering to show pictures of family, friends, travel, events, pets, etc. that I have put together from Flickr.
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