Thing # 19

     TeacherPop seems like a great network for teachers and other education professionals to collaborate and share ideas.  This would be a great way to communicate with co-workers or teachers located throughout TN.  I look forward to being able to use this professional network in order to better prepare me for my job as an educator.
     The other social network which was appealing to me was the Open Source Food network.  This site allows its users to view millions of cooking recipes and also allows people to post and share their own favorite recipes.  This could possibly be used within the classroom when studying about different areas or cultures.  Teachers could use the Open Source Food site as a reference for different recipes and foods which are eaten all over the world.  I really enjoyed exploring the different forms of social networks and look forward to using them throughout my career as an educator.

Final Thoughts on 23Things!!

     YAY!!!  I never thought I would finish all of these Things!! :)  I started off this assignment scared and afraid of the internet and the web 2.0 tools, but this has been a wonderful experience and has definitely taught me wonderful things about the internet.  By navigating my way through all of the different applications, tools, websites, and assistive technology programs I have now gained a better understanding and appreciation for the internet and its amazing and numerous capabilities.  The internet provides us with unlimited amounts of resources, guides, and ways to communicate, learn, and express information and knowledge in various different ways and this program has provided each future educator with the experience in just about every area possible!  Going into this project I actually viewed it as a waste of time and energy, but as I made my way through this program I have noticed by using the tools within these "Things" tons of time can now be saved and used for other important tasks.  Also, technology and the internet provides educators with the latest knowledge and facts which could be crucial within instruction time; and by becoming educated on the "trendy" communication and social networking sites teachers can become better connected with each individual student and/or guardian.  Just becoming familiar with the various types of networks and communication has definitely been a favorite of mine, and also becoming educated on the wonderful benefits of Google and all of its many positive contributions to the education field.  This entire experience has not only better prepared me as a future educator, but also as a more technology "savvy" individual as well.  This program has had numerous positive effects and I can't wait to implement and share my new discoveries with friends and future co-workers.

Thing # 23

     Learning about copyright and Creative Commons has been extremely beneficial.  I always knew that there were laws which protected the original work of people, but I have never been completely informed on every aspect until now.  This activity and the Creative Commons exercise which we were to complete within our LiveText portfolio has given me total insight to all of the licenses and protection which can be achieved through the Creative Commons and Copyright laws.  By doing this activity I am better aware of what resources I will be allowed to use within my future classroom and how to better educate my students through the proper and legal way.  This entire program was a great example on how to take advantage of a particular license and adjust the work to fit to the user's particular needs.  The Learning 2.0-23 Things for Teachers as stated within the credits 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".  The Things for Teachers, which we APSU students participated in, was borrowed and duplicated with permission, under a Creative Commons License.  Also, this project was developed on the same basis in which the website 43 Things and the article 43 Things I (or You) might want to do this year by Stephen Abram.  This is a perfect example on the usage of a license from the creative commons, and provides future educators with an excellent guide on how to properly follow a copyright license.

Thing # 22

     Before this technology class and "thing 22" I wasn't quite sure what to think about podcasts or even knew exactly what one was.  After participating in this activity I am now fully educated on podcasts and how they operate and function.  This type of technology can be extremely beneficial to one while in the classroom.  This provides a wonderful way to connect with auditory learners and gives a creative spin to instruction.  After playing with the podcast directories I have found that Learn Out Loud best suited my technology needs.  This site provided me with easy access to numerous different educational podcasts on every subject possible, and also educated me well enough that I feel as if I would definitely enjoy creating one to use with my future classes.  Podcasts seem as if they would be a wonderful alternative to boring instruction, and I definitely can't wait to put them to the test! 

Podcast

Thing #21

     I absolutely loved playing and experimenting with the Animoto video making website! It was extremely easy to use and super fun too.  This is definitely a site which I will always remember and continue to share with friends and family members.  Animoto provides each individual with the opportunity to create a video about anyone, anything, and any desired subject.  This would be a great way to document an educational activity or an adventurous field trip through vibrant and interesting photos.  The videos would be a great way to present information not only to students, but to parents as well.  Educating the parents and guardians on what their children are learning and participating in within school is wonderful and Animoto allows teachers to do this successfully and with ease by using their website.  :)

My Animoto Video! :)

Thing # 20

     YouTube seems as if it would be an awesome tool to use during instruction.  This site has wonderful educational videos which can help with communicating each lesson more effectively, and will also aid in engaging each student.  YouTube was easy to use and navigate my way to needed material such as the habitat video attached below.  This video, along with many others which YouTube provides, would be a great way to introduce lessons and incorporate technology and other various learning activities within the classroom.  This was a great tool to experiment with, and I know I will continue to benefit from its numerous educational videos.


Habitat YouTube Video    

Thing #18

     Social networking is very important to become aware of when becoming an educator.  As teachers it is our job to become aware of the hottest trends or applications that the majority of our students will be interested and involved in.  I used to have a myspace account and I still have a facebook membership and I find them useful at times to keep up with distant friends and family members, but I also find them very distracting and time consuming.  Although such networking sites can take away from study time and homework they could also be a tool in which teachers could inform parents and their students on appropriate classroom assignments and daily activities.  After researching social networking accounts I still am not so sure about their effectiveness within the classroom settings, but maybe if implemented in the correct manner and fashion. 

   
My Facebook Link!! :)

Thing # 17

     The delicious tool was so easy and seemed as if it would be extremely effective to use as well.  I loved how easily accessible this bookmarking tool was and how you could find sites and pages to use within your classroom anywhere.  Being able to search and gather resources while at home, vacation, or where ever else one may be and then having the capability to use such sources back within the classroom is exciting and I can't wait to put this tool to the test.  Bookmarking tools and apps such as delicious seem as if they would definitely benefit teaching and instruction time, therefore I will definitely be utilizing their wonderful tools within my future classroom.

Thing # 15

     When attempting to edit an entry in the APSU 23 Things Sandbox wiki I found it extremely difficult and not very "user-friendly".  I joined the APSU wiki group and still was not successful in editing and using the wiki tool.  I'm not so sure that the wiki tool is for me, but if I would have been successful I believe it might just be an effective tool to use within a teaching career.  Collaboration and the sharing of information among various professionals seems to be a wonderful method to use within the education profession and wiki would be a great tool to aid this process.

Thing #16

     The start page which I chose to experiment with and use was the iGoogle page.  iGoogle seemed to fit my sense of organization the best and I loved the way it was set up.  The convenience of this page was wonderful and really attracted me to it.  Being able to access all my favorites things in one place is an absolutely wonderful thing to be able to use and I will definitely continue to use this as my start page.  Being able to make my page custom to me and my everyday needs is great and I will make this my permanent start up page!  Also, the online calendars were an awesome tool!  I must have a calendar to keep up with and organize all my activities, due dates, meetings, and appointments and having it with me everywhere I go (online) is extremely convenient and easy.  I love knowing what I have to do and what I have done in the past and this tool enables me to do so in an organized and efficient way.  The customized calendars and start up pages will be great to use with keeping up with inservices and meetings which I will be having in the future within my education profession and I am looking forward to doing so.  These two applications are great and I will definitely recommend them to anyone!  As for the online to do lists I was not a fan.  I prefer a "hard copy" of the list of things which I need to complete or accomplish and this way just was not efficient for me personally, however I am looking forward to the usage of the calendar and start up page! :)

Thing #14

     Bubbl.us (mind map) was a great tool to explore and "play" with.  Mindmaps seem like they will be a great asset within classroom instruction time and provide the students with an alternate form of learning.  I believe that having numerous forms of educating individuals is extremely important being that every person learns differently and at different levels.  Mindmaps from Bubbl.us and flowcharts from Flowchart.com will provide me with better forms of education tools which will definitely be beneficial to not only my students but also to me as an educator.  The colorfulness and pleasant visual instruction which comes from these tools seems like a wonderful way to better communicate and break down any subject; especially ones which many students may struggle with.  These wonderful charts will definitely be used; Bubbl.us and Flowchart.com will most definitely aid me within classroom instruction.

Thing #13

     Exploring the user-friendly site of Zoho Writer was a very enjoyable and educational experience.  Sites such as these which provide users with the ability to create and share documents with others all over the world are wonderful and are great to use within fields such as education.  These web-based applications provide people with a wonderfully convenient way to distribute and share information with anyone, while also allowing them to edit and contribute additional thoughts as well.  This method allows people to collaborate no matter where the location may be.  Zoho writer is a great application which will be extremely beneficial throughout my teaching career and I am looking forward to using its tools to better educate my future students.

Thing #12

     When exploring the wonderful tools in which Google has to offer I found that creating a Google alert and calendar to be the ones in which I would utilize the most.  Both of these tools were extremely easy to make and also seem as if they would benefit me the most.  I must have an organizer/calendar in order to keep up with all the activities that I am involved in, and the electronic one on Google seems like it will definitely help me to become a better organizer.  This calendar would be a great way to keep tract of parent meetings, evaluation scheduling, and other extra curricular activities in which I may be involved in when I become an educator.  The alert system also seemed like it would be "handy" within the education profession as well.  As most people know, being a teacher requires work constantly, and sometimes there might not be time left over to check updates on educational websites.  The Google alert system provides people, like teachers, with instant updates, therefore saving time and energy.  Both the calendar and alert system will definitely be useful during my professional and personal activities.        https://www.google.com/calendar/render?settings=0

Thing #11

     When first viewing the four search tools that were listed I was not familiar with any except the Google Blog Search.  The other three (Topix.net, Syndic8.com, and Technorati) were all a little difficult to navigate through, but out of the three Topix.net seemed to be the most user-friendly.  Topix.net was also my favorite because it took me to sites which contained accurate information about my specific area.  This information is good to share within a classroom because interest will be created instantly, being that instruction is on the area in which the students live. 
     The Technorati and Syndic8.com search tools seemed hard to use and were not providing me with good RSS feeds.  These two sites will not be ones in which I will use in the future.  However, the Topix.net tool will be one that will hopefully provide me with educational and interactive activities in which my future students will be able to benefit from.         

Thing #10

     The entire blog process has been a new concept and tool which I have enjoyed learning about.  There are so many "handy" and useful tools that come from using and having a blog.  The RSS tool seems as if it will definitely be beneficial to use within my career as an educator and also in my personal life.  Keeping up with many different sites and educational references can be time consuming and challenging to do, but not anymore thanks to RSS.  This tool will enable me to provide my students with up to date resources and information, while also incorporating fun and interactive games and videos within daily instruction.  I am looking forward to gaining experience with my blog and RSS and improving my use of technology within a classroom setting.

Thing #9

                  

 When I first began to use the online image generator I found the process to be a little difficult, but after experimenting and navigating my way through each site I realized that it really isn't that hard.  After finding out which site was the easiest and most fun to work with (the Custom Sign Generator), I quickly became a fan of the online image generators.  Their fun and creative visual objects are very eye-catching, and would definitely develop an interest for learning within a classroom.  By using such signs like the one posted to this "thing" children will want to learn within this fun and creative learning environment.  The custom sign generator which I chose to use, ( http://www.dangersigngenerator.com/ ), is very creative, fun, and a great way to accessorize any learning environment. 

Thing #8

  Using Flickr mashups was a very enjoyable thing to do.  I had so much fun looking through flickr photos again and enjoying their beauty and exquisiteness.  Flickr along with the mashup tool would definitely be beneficial to use within the classroom.  This use of technology would allow students to visually gain knowledge and concepts.  Being able to see what is being taught is crucial to some learners and through flickr mashups this type of learning style may be accommodated.  Not only will the photos provide the students with a visual, but they will also bring curiosity to the individuals through their wonderful colors and quality.  Sharing photos online through sites such as Flickr is a wonderful way to gain knowledge visually, and should be used within the classroom.  One way which I have thought to incorporate Flickr within instruction is by projecting a Flickr photo upon the board before class begins.  For example, if one were to be discussing organisms and habitats that teacher could project a Flickr photo of a dolphin in the ocean.  By being able to visually see the discussion topic students may acquire a better understanding to what is being taught.

Thing #7

     This was my first time to explore and actually use Flickr.  I enjoyed navigating my way through and being able to view such amazing photographs.  At first I doubted Flickr and its connection to education and research, but as I began to explore I saw how people can be educated through such detailed photos.  This would be a great tool to use within instruction and a great way to draw attention and interest to a lesson.  Flickr was also extremely easy to use.  After entering in the subject/topic, photos immediately come up and become available for use.  I found it easy to find photos of various different types of objects.  The photo which I chose to add to my blog is this beautiful star gazer lily picture, photographed by audreyjm529.  Flickr Photo by: audreyjm529

Thing #6

      The tool/website which I chose to explore and educate myself on was Diigo.  I had never even heard about this site until I saw it on the Webware 100 list which made me curious to find out just what it was.  After navigating my way through this site I learned that Diigo is a tool which allows its users to bookmark, share, and retrieve information about any desired topic.  Not only does this site allow people to research subjects, but it also enables people to share any information throughout the world at any time.  Diigo lets individuals annotate and edit the desired section of any document.  This would be a wonderful tool to use within the classroom or library setting.  Diigo would work well with research, papers, and just exploring the Internet to find new educational activities to share with others.  You can see all the "handy" tools in which Diigo has to offer by visiting http://www.diigo.com/ .

Thing #5

     Going into this assignment I was unaware of what Web 2.0 actually was, but after reading some of the perspectives and watching the informative video I feel much more comfortable discussing what it consists of.  Web 2.0 is what people today know as the current internet system.  It is a highly advanced operation which can perform several different tasks and answer just about any question.  Web 2.0 can serve as an electronic form of education, social networking, and can even connect students and scholars all over the world through online collaborative workspaces.  This highly advanced system is familiar to almost anyone and is becoming a common tool throughout many, and if not all, schools.  Children have traded in chalk for pencils and are now beginning to switch from writing on notebook paper to typing all needed information into highly advanced computers.  The transformation from poster boards to powerpoints, and paper textbooks to online e-books is School 2.0.  Technology is constantly developing and changing and schools along with its curriculum and the way in which it is taught must adapt.  It is extremely important for educators today to be equipped with the latest forms of technology and curriculum in order to better prepare students for their demanding futures.  Schools and its faculty must be provided with the most current technology as possible in order to prepare its students to the fullest, and enable them to reach their maximum potential.
     Children today are entering school systems already knowing how to use most technology such as iPods, computers, and cellphones.  This previously earned knowledge must be used to inform them on how all technology can be used in order to better improve their education.  In the near future schools must improve all forms of instruction and be willing to incorporate all kinds of technology based instruction within the classroom.  This upgrade to a new and improved curriculum is school 2.0, and it must be used in order to better prepare each child.

Thing #4

      Commenting on a blog is another aspect in which I had not been educated on until now.  After reading all of the four blog posts, which list the importance of blog commenting, I became aware of how blogs actually work and thrive.  By leaving a comment on an individuals blog you are showing them that their opinions have actually been read and shared with others.  Comments can provide the author of the blog with information and/or thoughts that he or she had not yet thought of or considered.  They provide wonderful insight and according to The Blue Skunk Blog, "they can also make a blogger's day".
     When reading the blog from ProBlogger, I found it important that this blogger observed the fact that not everyone is familiar with blogs and the way in which they operate.  ProBlogger stated that, "keep in mind that new readers that are unfamiliar with blogging don't always know about comments or how to use them"; this statement caught my attention immediately because I am a first time blogger and am not aware of how everything works.  I believe it is absolutely necessary to invite comments and educate your readers on how your particular blog works.
     After becoming educated on how effective and user-friendly blogs can be I definitely see this type of communication as being beneficial within a classroom if used correctly.  I will try to make my classroom blog as user-friendly as possible with directions for parents who may be first-time bloggers.  The blog will serve as an interactive community with all the updated classroom information which may be needed on a daily basis.
     The bloggers which I have chosen to comment on and regularly keep track of are as follows: Mallory Morris, Tina Tucker, LlieAnna Traughber, Monica Sears, Lindsey Cotton, Anna Hall, Jennifer Tolleson, and Amber Carver.  I chose these eight women because I felt as if we all shared some of the same opinions, but also had wonderful insights on new ideas as well.  Each blog seemed well organized, well written, and had a great deal of thought behind each post.  Most of my comments seemed to agree with each person's posts, but I also tried to offer some new, fresh ideas to each as well.  I enjoyed being able to compare my ideas with the thoughts of others and also learning from their blog posts too.  Commenting and reading other blogs has been a wonderful experience and has taught me many new things.

Thing #3

     When first starting this blogging process I was very scared and had fears of not being able to use it very well.  After navigating and gaining some experience with this online form of communication I have become aware of how user-friendly and "neat" this type of online communication actually is.  This would be a wonderful way to keep in touch with fellow education classmates and also a way to share instruction techniques, lesson plans, and other classroom information with colleagues, parents, and administrators.  Being able to view everything in an online form such as this blog provides information to more people in a faster and more efficient manner.  This would definitely be a wonderful tool to use throughout the remainder of my education program and profession.

Thing #2

     For my posting name and the name of my blog I just decided to go with something easy and rememberable.  Creating this blog took me quite a while and at some moments was rather difficult for me so when it came time for a name to be picked I just decided to pick something easy, but I might decide to get creative with it later on throughout this process.  This was my first blog to create so this entire process was very new to me, and therefore took some time to master.  The avatar which is displayed at the top of this page does reflect my personality and most of my physical features as well.  I try to be a happy person most of the time.  A smile is on my face the majority of the time unless I am stressed over school or just having a bad day.  Creating this avatar was a very enjoyable experience and adds a lovely touch to my blog.

Thing #1

     The 7 and 1/2 lifelong learning habits list was very interesting.  I found that the first habit, "Begin with the end in mind", stood out as being the easiest for me.  This habit seemed the easiest because I am always starting something with the mindset of completing it right then.  I have a hard time beginning a task and then leaving it unfinished.  The hardest learning habit would have to be "Use technology to your advantage".  Computers, along with the several different forms of technology, have always been a difficult task for me to master.  It seems as if technology has always given me more problems than it has relieved and that tends to be an issue for me.  By not being technology "savvy" I hope that by playing with Web 2.0 tools that I will eventually learn to love and enjoy using it within my education.  The procedure of setting this blog up was a little difficult for me.  I will definitely have to explore this and become more comfortable using all of its wonderful tools.