All of my favorite Things! Done.

 
I wasn't excited about this assignment at first. I knew that I have a hard time keeping up with things (like the pun?) like this. I did lag behind at the end but I found that I learned some things along the way. I have a hard time blogging because I talk way too much. You'll notice at the beginning my blogs were very lengthy. This took up a lot of time to make sure that what I wanted to say was said and was understandable. I realized that reading the same kind of activity from everyone in class gets old even if they have something different to say. I don't feel as though this was a true outlook on how blogging can be in someone life. Blogging and Google Reader has opened me up to reading other friends blogs, instead of just logging in when they post it to Facebook. Some people have a lot more to say than what other social networking sites give them time to say. I just might try blogging about something more interesting after all. 

I learned that while there are many sites out there to help you accomplish things I like to keep one site that I use the most for many different things. Have you heard that I love Google? I also learned that I am knowledgeable in quite a few things and was able to complete with ease. Some assignments kept me searching for more info. Web 2.0 was one of those. I just couldn't grasp how it worked and how it was different. Then once I understood I couldn't help but keep learning about it. I also found that I like the Common Craft guys. I even follow them on YouTube now. 

I hope to take away some of the learning objectives from the blogs, like how to find good resources and how to store them for easier access. My goal in all of this is to not be overwhelmed by all that I find and keep the good stuff and know how to find it when I want it, instead of searching over and over and repeating myself. 
 
Blogging didn't turn out to be to bad after all. What an experience to say that I had to do all of this my first year of Master's classes. I'm sure I can now impress my husband the IT professional with some technology knowledge.

Thing #23

This statement taken from the about page of the apsu23things blog clearly shows how creative commons is used:

Learning 2.0 - 23 Things for Teachers is based on Learning 2.0 - 23 Things. That program is based on the Learning 2.0 program that was designed by Helene Blowers, Technology Director at the Charlotte Mecklenburg County Public Library system, with the support and assitance of several staff. Helene's program was loosely based upon Stephen Abram's article, 43 Things I (or You) might want to do this year (Information Outlook - Feb 2006) and the website 43Things.

So there is a lot of things about Creative Commons to follow. I like that there is an organization putting the info out there about the rights of original work and that they are providing a way for people to put it out and allow other to use it. It does however begin to limit what a person might use for their work. I do find that this is something we need to teach students as they grow up because they need to understand the importance of the rights to other's work as well as their own. It begins by having them put their name on their work. They need to be taught to have pride in that it is theirs. They can begin to understand what those rights are and how to use them. I would hope the end result is a lot less cheating and plagiarizing. I think this also begins to open educators minds to be sure their own work is original or used work credited correctly. If we begin to appropriate everyone's personal ideas and creativity as well as our own maybe the world will begin to have a little more meaningful life.

That last paragraph is from my own writing on Livetext.com. I wonder if I need to give myself creative commons? 

Thing #22

Please tell me this is the last account I have to set up? I don't know if I can remember any of these sites, although there is no excuse for that with all the organizing sites we have researched.

This site looks pretty cool. I don't know if I need another place to keep a list though. I think that it would be helpful to create the different folders and embed into a wiki page or blog for parents or other educators to access, instead of having multiple links listed everywhere. This would allow them to search for what they are interested for.

Feel free to check out what I have added to my binder. LiveBinders by Sabrina Watson
This is by far just a start so be sure to check back in the future to see what else I come up with.

Thing #21 When the dog bites

Thing  "Thing was too cute." Although it is sad that I would have to pay for more services. If I can't get it for free I'm probably not going to use it. Here is what I did create:

 I like embedding the video this way which is so easy between the blogger and You Tube vs just having the link as through using it with Animoto:       My Animoto Video

I like all the options and what they had to offer, but I like the options I have through movie maker on my computer of which I can do a lot with and upload just as easily for FREE. In the end I don't think this site is for me because I see just as easy other sites and programs to use that won't charge me anything.

Thing #20 ...Dancing!

So this is my chance to share some awesome new music that I have grown to enjoy and also feature some great dancing! I found this video one day while perusing through YouTube and couldn't help watching all of it and sharing. The music is a style called Dubstep. You can find great sample on Pandora if you would like to hear more.

I like watching YouTube. It is a lot to search through when you are looking for something sometimes, but every now and then something amazing comes out. I have a few channels that I follow so I can find things easily and see when new things come out.

This would be a wonderful educational use if it could be controlled a little more. Currently my school does not allow the use of YouTube because of the bandwidth requirement, although I heard a dirty rumor that since Google (what do you know) bought them there are ways to get on and view.

I hope you all enjoy watching this video. Let me know how you like it and if you would like to know more about what I like to listen to.

Thing #19 ...that melt into Spring!

Not sure if I did everything I was suppose too. There is a  lot going on on that page. It is nice to have a place that APSU has for teachers to meet and connect without having to search all through other sites. I will have to take more time and see what else is available though TeacherPop. I used my real name so feel free to look me up.

I'm a little resistant to other networking sites. Not because I don't want another way to connect. I just spend so much time on the other one and I have so many people there that I know that I don't want one more place for me to spend time trying to keep up with everyone and their lives. I know that it is nice to keep work and personal separate so many this is something to look into for connectivity purposes.

Now I already worked ahead and am excited about Thing #20, so I'm going to move on for now.

Thing #18 Silver White Winters

At what point is using the word "love" to much in a blog. I probably should not say that I love Facebook, but I admit that I am a fan. I love the idea of social networking. I keep it private so when you link to it you should be able to see anything, but feel free to send a friend request. There are some things about Facebook I don't like. For instance, Timeline, when they make changes that you have no choice over. Sometimes you have to use the most popular option though if you want to be in touch with the most people. I enjoy staying in touch with Military friends and Family. I have some relationships that have grown that would never have had it not been for social networking.

I created a twitter account for this class. I don't use it very often because I cannot load it at work on my phone and I don't dare tie up the bandwidth at work. So that leaves me at night to page through everything. Not about to try that. I get a little overwhelmed with all the comes through and sometimes it is best for me not to hear everything everyone has to say.

I believe it is very important for educators to know about social networking and how it works even if they tend to not use it very much if at all. Its okay to not be comfortable with it or know how to use it expertly, but it is important to know how kids are using it. Teachers are the second (parents hopefully being the first) influence on students and have the opportunity to educate students to the correct usage of time and energy on the internet. If students don't have a lot of parental supervision with this subject I believe that teachers need to make them aware of what a student is capable of.

I know that CMCSS has a Facebook and a Twitter, I do not know about the school my child will attend though. I know that DoDEA schools has a Facebook page and the school I work at has a PTO page, but not sure about Twitters. The biggest problem with having those sites is that they have to be strictly controlled for proper language and use. They are great for putting out information for those people that use those sites but they are hard to manage when other people decide to cause drama.

Thing #17 ...Nose and Eyelashes

When you mention "Tagging" I think back to the days of running around a playground being chased by some kids. Getting into an argument about whether someone was "tagged" or not.

Oh the days have changed and we are talking about "tagging" on the internet. I like the idea of saving websites that I like on a site that I can access anywhere. Are we sure Google doesn't do that? It saves me from having a Facebook site or Google reader feed that I don't really want to follow but want to remember the site. I'm going to keep working on this and see how it turns out. I like the idea of the tags so I can weed through them easier as well.

I am interested in the publicity of this though. I don't mind sharing information but does everything have to be out in the open for everyone to see? I don't want to hind things but a little privacy about what I do in my free time would be nice. I would like to maybe have it so that I can share teacher stuff with teacher, but have my own things private. This way I don't have to have to accounts.

Now about that game..."Tag! You're it!"

Thing #16 Back to loving Google!

Seriously? You want to know which productivity site I would choose? I feel as though if you have read this blog long enough you should already know the answer to this question. Google! I could say it a million times.

As I have said before I use almost everything of Googles. Now I'll admit that maybe not everything they offer is the best of all the opportunities (How dare I!) but I find it easier to use one than 8 different sites. I have my calendar and tasks synced to my phone and I can add deadlines to tasks so with school I know when assignments are due. I can color code everything so I know who has to be where and my husband and I are not mixing up each others work and what importance it plays in my life.

Now about the tools I find helpful. What don't I find helpful? I mean I really love Google! (But not more than my husband and kids) 

Thing #15 Snowflakes

Wikis are cool. I think that there is a vast amount of people that don't know about them let alone know how to use them. It is hard for me to have a site that is edited because I want to know who changed it and when they changed it and I feel as though I have lost the control. For a project that I don't mind giving up some of that control (Good Luck!) I might find some uses for. I also like that I can limit who is able to make those changes as with small groups or classes (I knew I could find control). I however find it hard to not go in and change things just because I can...Go ahead, I dare you to change something on wikipedia.com! 

As a teacher I plan on teaching younger grades so there will not be as much need for a Wiki within the classroom, but I could foresee using it with the parents or fellow educators within the school. I feel that is it another way for people to connect that are not always able to do so in person. Some are just more responsive when they can do it on their own time and easily access.

Thing #14 Blue Satin Sashes

I was immediately drawn to Gliffy.com. I glanced at the other sites to do the task and found that mindmeister.com was also a nice site to use. However easy these sites are easy to use and offer an ultimate amount of uses it is going to take some work to get use to using them. I found that Gliffy.com had an array of items to create over and above this assignment that could come in handy for other projects a teacher might have for themselves or the students. These however seem to be tools that take some work to learn all that is available and make work for a teacher’s advantage and ease.  

I have seen teachers draw mind maps and flowcharts out on Power Point, Word, and on projectors or smart boards, but I think the advantages of using the technology are wonderful. These sites offer more than just giving an example or creating a teaching lesson, but providing the students with a more in depth learning opportunity. A teacher could create and customize a mind map or flowchart specifically for a lesson and have it in the classroom when needed.

Thing #13 Girls in White Dresses

I starting using Googledocs for my online document application for everything when I started school here at APSU. I love it! I'm already on this site for my calendar, so I find that it is easy to use. I don't have to use my email and try by that inbox and have to search through everything. I also don't have to keep track of a portable devise. When I am in class and have to present I just pull on this site and view. 

The only down fall is that I much have online access to view or create anything. The other issue I have been battling and working on is that when I type a document on Googledocs it does not keep the document in the format that I need. This may be happening because I use my Ipad to create and then open in Word on a Dell computer. ​​​

This is my first time using ZOHO writer. I figured since I'm creating the document and I had no idea what to type what better way to create the blog post. I like the way the layout of the tab bars. They seem a little more user friendly than Google. 

While this site is easy to use and easy to access. Old habits are hard to break. I just don't see me using this as much because I already have a site that I use. I will however keep this for the day Google crashes....yea, like that will ever happen!

Thing #12 Google is one of my Favorite Things!

GOOGLE! 

I heart Google! I really do. I use Google all the time. If Google ever crashes I am done for. Allow me to indulge.  

I am a current user of Google calendar. It allows me to color code my calendar so I know what is my schedule, my husbands and generic things (for example birthdays and holidays) are all in one place. I also can sync the calendar with my husbands. He can even push his to his outlook and iPhone calendars. I can access it anywhere, including my phone and idevices. As a teacher I can add school calendar updates and have it linked to my class blog. I can have all my calendars in one place but still limit what other people see when I so choose. 

I also use Google email…Gmail. I have so many email addresses to count, but what I love about this email is my contacts list. Remember back in the day when you bought a new phone and had to either pay to have your contacts pushed to the new phone or reenter them one at a time. I don’t have to do that now that all of my contacts are in Google. Whenever I get a new devise I can sync it will Google and everything in loaded in. As I said before, If Google ever crashes and I’m done for.

Another wonderful Google tool that I currently am using and think is wonderful for teachers to use is Google documents. Here I can create and/or store documents in an online database. I am able to load created documents onto here and then access them from anywhere. I can then download to that computer and edit if needed. I can also share the document with other people. As a teacher I can put documents on here and other teachers can view them. I can also use this and create documents when a Microsoft program is not available at the time such as when I’m using my iPad.

You see how I love Google right? Of course I’m using the Blogger and the Reader features and the search engine. What else? I have a wiki (Google Sites) that I created for this class and a Google+ (but honestly I’m still on Facebook more than it). 

One last discovery. Did you know about Google Scholar? It is basically a search engine for scholarly articles. Now I know that we, as APSU students have access to anything the library has to offer. But what do you do when you just can’t find what you want? What do you do when you graduate? This engine allows you to search for scholarly articles. Now a downside is you must pay for prints, sometimes you have to register on the site and still other time you may have to be a subscribing customer. I think it is pretty neat feature regardless. I think Google is pretty neat! (Wow, what a nerd!)

One last thing, I swear. Check out Google Books! The revolt against Kindle :: Gasp:: ::Shocked face::

THing #11 Wild Geese that fly...

When it comes to searching for a blog I want to consider what I want to read. Blogs are not something you want a whole bunch of tying up your RSS feed if you aren't truly interested in reading it. I think in the beginning search for them was hard, although after a while I got the hang of changing up my key terms and began getting results that I wanted. I began to find more than plenty to read. I just don't like weeding through all of them. I kept thinking of the blog by Cool Cat Teacher I read on how to choose a blog. I found what she had to say very helpful in minding what I choose to follow. I even asked fellow teachers who and what they are reading these days. A penny for your thoughts on favorites?

I liked using Google (like you didn't see that coming) to search for the blogs. I also liked using Technorati.  I did not like Topix.net! It was hard to search for things and I kept getting these pop up ads. After the 3^rd time I stopped using it altogether.

Some blogs I choose to follow are EducationWeek, Inside Pre-K, and The Innovative Educator. Right now I am choosing blogs that mainly are organization driven and news worthy. I believe as I read and follow that other blogs with extra curricula topics will come along.

Thing #10 Schnitzel with Noodles

When I first wanted to know about RSS feeds I simply asked my husband. To be honest it didn’t sound like something I wanted to have filling my email inbox, or having another feed of things to read. I already am a “fan” of most of the sites I like and I can easily see what they are posting. As this assignment came up I thought I wasn’t going to enjoy it. I went ahead and watched the video and realized that I had missed the entire point of RSS feeds! It isn’t about getting the same data in a different place, it’s about getting everything in one place firsthand. I can easily have sites that are blocked at work send their RSS feeds to my reader and see what is going on them. I can also have access to all my favorite sites with the advertisements that are extremely annoying to me these days. I can see all my favorites and what has been posted on them all in one place. There is no need to keep a favorites folder on my internet tabs or skip from site to site. I can go to one online reader and have everything in one place. While I do enjoy it I am finding that old habits die hard. I still am getting into the habit of reading them and using the reader effectively and efficiently. This will cut down on so much work during the day with trying to stay up to date on the world when I spend most of my day with students and no time to play.