Blog Post: “Thing 16, Google Earth, Literature Stories”:
Post a picture of the diagram you created in Sketch Up. Discuss how you created it and what it could be used for in the classroom.
Secondly, discuss which Lit Trip you took and how this can be applied in your classroom.
Unfortunatly I am not allowed to load programs onto my school computer. So I did not load google earth or sketch up. I did however watch the videos and tutorials and they are both very impressive.
Google Earth--I can see how useful it would be in a science and social studies classroom. It is great how you can go anywhere in the world in just a few seconds with the software. Lots of kids never get the chance to travel so the Internet and programs liek Google Earth give them the chance to explore the world around them. I did a quick search on lessons for google earth and there are so many already canned lessons out there making it very easy for any teacher to incorporate google earth into their classroom. The problem is going to be getting your techs to give you permission to download these softwares.
SketchUp-- What a cool software to let you draw 3D diagrams. I teach at a technical institute and we do have an archetecture program. They have a very specific program for the program called Autocad but I can see how this could also be used in the beginning for drawing out smaller scale objects.
i do feel that both of these software have a valid place on school computers. When my internet at home is up and running I plan on downloading them both to my home computer to experiment with.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Thing 15- Online Collaboration Tools
Blog Post: “Thing 15, Online Collaboration Tools”: Create a blog post sharing how the collaboration activity worked. What did you share with others? Did you add some books to Library Thing? How might these be utilized with a class?
I used dabbleboard and wrote out the steps to upload an assignment into webct. I use webct as a classroom management tool. All of my students have accounts and they upload all of their assignments to webct. I then can view and grade their assignments right there. I figure I can link the steps to my webct shell and then my online students can see exactly how to upload their assignments.
I was very impressed with dabbleboard. There are lots of things that can be done with dabbleboard. More or less it is an online whiteboard. There is a free version of course there is more that can be done with the pro version. I of course would use the free version because I would not expect my students to pay for the pro version. I would have them all create their own free accounts and use dabbleboard with a presentation for one of my classes.
I used dabbleboard and wrote out the steps to upload an assignment into webct. I use webct as a classroom management tool. All of my students have accounts and they upload all of their assignments to webct. I then can view and grade their assignments right there. I figure I can link the steps to my webct shell and then my online students can see exactly how to upload their assignments.
I was very impressed with dabbleboard. There are lots of things that can be done with dabbleboard. More or less it is an online whiteboard. There is a free version of course there is more that can be done with the pro version. I of course would use the free version because I would not expect my students to pay for the pro version. I would have them all create their own free accounts and use dabbleboard with a presentation for one of my classes.
Thing 14- Online Resources
Blog Post: “Thing 14, Online Resources”: Create a blog post about which online resources you found that you can use. Put at least three of the web links you found into your blog post. Explain how these can be used with students.
1. http://www.thinkfinity.org/home.aspx
Has interactive games and activities for gradeschool through college and even adult education. I think that playing games is a great way to comprehend and remember information. When I was teaching lower elementary and middle school students I was always looking for games to help my students with their studies.
2. http://www.google.com/unclesam
You can use the site above to find something government by using the Goggle government search. I love google and did not realize that there was a google for government information. This is a great tool to use for Social Studies, History and trivia questions.
3.http://www.pbs.org/teachers/
The reason I choose PBS for one of my 3 sites is I have 2 small children and I love PBS. It is educational and a great stie for small kids. My kids love the characters on the PBS shows and site, I would highly recommend it for small kids and lower elementary kids.
There are so many free sites out there for educatiors and parents to use. I encourage everyone to take a peek at the 3 sites I have posted to this blog and to search for other free educational sites and share them with others.
1. http://www.thinkfinity.org/home.aspx
Has interactive games and activities for gradeschool through college and even adult education. I think that playing games is a great way to comprehend and remember information. When I was teaching lower elementary and middle school students I was always looking for games to help my students with their studies.
2. http://www.google.com/unclesam
You can use the site above to find something government by using the Goggle government search. I love google and did not realize that there was a google for government information. This is a great tool to use for Social Studies, History and trivia questions.
3.http://www.pbs.org/teachers/
The reason I choose PBS for one of my 3 sites is I have 2 small children and I love PBS. It is educational and a great stie for small kids. My kids love the characters on the PBS shows and site, I would highly recommend it for small kids and lower elementary kids.
There are so many free sites out there for educatiors and parents to use. I encourage everyone to take a peek at the 3 sites I have posted to this blog and to search for other free educational sites and share them with others.
Thing 13- eBooks
Blog Post: “Thing 13, eBooks”: Create a blog post about which online books may work for what you teach. How might these be utilized with a class?
After looking through all of the options for online books, I was very impressed at what is available for free. As a post secondary teacher I did not find a ton of stuff that I could use because I teach technology and the subject matters were mainly: math, science, SS, English. But on the other hand using any of these would be incorporating technology.
What I found most intresting was the on-line publishing resources that would allow anyone to publish there own work. I could see where I could incorporate that into my E-commerce class, I have them create a marketing plan and it would be beneficail to have them publish it online.
For personal use I could publish books that my kids write or have their pics in, not for sale but just for keepsake. I also loved the read along books. My kids could sit at the computer and have books read to them as they see the words that are being spoke.
I was a little unsure of this assignment because I did grow up with stricktly printed books and I do not like to read online but it is the future and it is good that there are many options available.
After looking through all of the options for online books, I was very impressed at what is available for free. As a post secondary teacher I did not find a ton of stuff that I could use because I teach technology and the subject matters were mainly: math, science, SS, English. But on the other hand using any of these would be incorporating technology.
What I found most intresting was the on-line publishing resources that would allow anyone to publish there own work. I could see where I could incorporate that into my E-commerce class, I have them create a marketing plan and it would be beneficail to have them publish it online.
For personal use I could publish books that my kids write or have their pics in, not for sale but just for keepsake. I also loved the read along books. My kids could sit at the computer and have books read to them as they see the words that are being spoke.
I was a little unsure of this assignment because I did grow up with stricktly printed books and I do not like to read online but it is the future and it is good that there are many options available.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Blog Post: “Thing 12, Social book marking”
Blog Post: “Thing 12, Social book marking”: Create a blog post about your experience and thoughts about this tool. Can you see the potential of this tool for research assistance? Or just as an easy way to create bookmarks that can be accessed from anywhere? How can educators take advantage of social bookmarking sites? How can brick and mortar or online teachers utilize these tools for teaching?
I have heard of del.icio.us before and actually taken a look at it but i have never used diigo before. They are both very similar nad very useful for keeping track of all of the bookmarked sites that I have stored on my computer. The problem of just bookmarking them on my machine is that when I do that I am tying those favorite sites to one machine. So if I go to a friends site I can not access my bookmarked sites unless I use a social bookmark site like del.icio.us or diigo.
As a teacher I think that it is very important to share good sites with other educators and this is a great way to share all the great sites that are available to educators and students by posting them to a social bookmark site.
As I take this class I have my blog bookmarked and the URL for clovis23 things bookmarked so the other day when I was at work and on my laptop I did not work on this class for the simple fact that I did not have the URL marked on my laptop since I have been completein the class on my desktop at home. If I had set up a social bookmark site and marked these URL on there it would of been much easier for me to continue with the course from any computer.
Another thought would be if your computer crashes you may not be able to restore you favorite sites. If they were marked on a social bookmarking site that is one less thing to worry about if you computer crashes.
I highly recommend everyone taking a few hours to register with a social bookmarking site and organize all of your favorite sites there.
I have heard of del.icio.us before and actually taken a look at it but i have never used diigo before. They are both very similar nad very useful for keeping track of all of the bookmarked sites that I have stored on my computer. The problem of just bookmarking them on my machine is that when I do that I am tying those favorite sites to one machine. So if I go to a friends site I can not access my bookmarked sites unless I use a social bookmark site like del.icio.us or diigo.
As a teacher I think that it is very important to share good sites with other educators and this is a great way to share all the great sites that are available to educators and students by posting them to a social bookmark site.
As I take this class I have my blog bookmarked and the URL for clovis23 things bookmarked so the other day when I was at work and on my laptop I did not work on this class for the simple fact that I did not have the URL marked on my laptop since I have been completein the class on my desktop at home. If I had set up a social bookmark site and marked these URL on there it would of been much easier for me to continue with the course from any computer.
Another thought would be if your computer crashes you may not be able to restore you favorite sites. If they were marked on a social bookmarking site that is one less thing to worry about if you computer crashes.
I highly recommend everyone taking a few hours to register with a social bookmarking site and organize all of your favorite sites there.
Blog Post: “Thing 11, Gen Y”:
Blog Post: “Thing 11, Gen Y”: Choose one of the above blog entries and write your thoughts about what you have learned about Gen Y and education.
I am very interested in Generation Y. Partly because I just barely missed being considered Gen Y myself. I was born in 1976 and most research considers Gen Y being born between 1977 and 1998, other research puts it between 1980 and 1998.
I believe there are lots of stereotypes out there about the Gen Y student. They get called lazy, unmotivated, and told that they are not goal oriented. I feel that the people saying these things have to realize all the great qualities the gen Y has to offer and teach the rest of us. gen Y are very tech savvy with games, texting, IM,and social networking. The biggest quality that I believe gen y carries is there ability to mulit-task. I feel that Gen Y individuals will be able to accomplish more in an 8 hour work day then we have ever been able to complete. Mainly because there tech skills, ability to multi- task and their stress free life styles. Instead of putting down gen Y we should all be seeing what we can learn from them.
I am very interested in Generation Y. Partly because I just barely missed being considered Gen Y myself. I was born in 1976 and most research considers Gen Y being born between 1977 and 1998, other research puts it between 1980 and 1998.
I believe there are lots of stereotypes out there about the Gen Y student. They get called lazy, unmotivated, and told that they are not goal oriented. I feel that the people saying these things have to realize all the great qualities the gen Y has to offer and teach the rest of us. gen Y are very tech savvy with games, texting, IM,and social networking. The biggest quality that I believe gen y carries is there ability to mulit-task. I feel that Gen Y individuals will be able to accomplish more in an 8 hour work day then we have ever been able to complete. Mainly because there tech skills, ability to multi- task and their stress free life styles. Instead of putting down gen Y we should all be seeing what we can learn from them.
Blog Post: Thing 10 – wikis
Blog Post: Thing 10 – wikis
Create a blog post about your findings. Explain what you posted on the Curriculum Connection wiki. What did you find interesting? What types of applications within schools might work well with a wiki? If you were going to create your own wiki, what subject and content would you include?
This is what I posted on the Curriculum Connection Wiki:
I feel that there are many valuable ways to use wikis in schools and libraries. I also teach a few classes online and can see how wikis can make collaborating with a group very easy in an online class. I think with the discussion capabilities group projects can be run very smoothly.
I think what I found most interesting about wikis is that you do not need to know how to use HTML or create a website in order to create a wiki. Making it much easier for the person with average tech skills to create one.
I think of my students and the classes I teach and all the ways that we can use Wikis. As teachers we need to get rid of notebooks and have students keep track of class lectures through a wiki. Also wikis can be used as a great way to correspond with classmates in a group project wheater it be an online course or a Face to Face class. Wikis can be utilized in all of our classes.
If I was going to create a wiki I would start by creating one about my courses, I would have my syllabus my assignments and the agenda of what is to be covered in each class. I would then allow my students to comment with questions about the assignments right in the wiki.
Create a blog post about your findings. Explain what you posted on the Curriculum Connection wiki. What did you find interesting? What types of applications within schools might work well with a wiki? If you were going to create your own wiki, what subject and content would you include?
This is what I posted on the Curriculum Connection Wiki:
I feel that there are many valuable ways to use wikis in schools and libraries. I also teach a few classes online and can see how wikis can make collaborating with a group very easy in an online class. I think with the discussion capabilities group projects can be run very smoothly.
I think what I found most interesting about wikis is that you do not need to know how to use HTML or create a website in order to create a wiki. Making it much easier for the person with average tech skills to create one.
I think of my students and the classes I teach and all the ways that we can use Wikis. As teachers we need to get rid of notebooks and have students keep track of class lectures through a wiki. Also wikis can be used as a great way to correspond with classmates in a group project wheater it be an online course or a Face to Face class. Wikis can be utilized in all of our classes.
If I was going to create a wiki I would start by creating one about my courses, I would have my syllabus my assignments and the agenda of what is to be covered in each class. I would then allow my students to comment with questions about the assignments right in the wiki.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Blog Post: Thing 9
Blog Post: Thing 9 – Exploring Web 2.0 Tools: Write about the five tools, Nings, or websites you found that will be useful in your teaching. What did you like or dislike about the tool? What were the site’s useful features? What tools can you use in your classroom or library? How can these tools be used?
I am a big fan of social networking. I grew up in Illinois and now live in SD, so it is important to me to be able to communicate with friends and family that I do not see very often. It is a huge bonus that through social networking I can do it for free. I have also used social networking to communicate with students over the summer and throughout the year. I have used Instant Messenger with online students and find it to be a huge time saver vs e-mail. I can help them with their problems instantaneously.
The social networking that I have used and currently use are:
1. Facebook
2. Instant Messenging
3. Twitter
4. MySapce
I have not used Nings nor did I know what they were. After learing about them in this lesson I could see how they could be useful in my career. I plan on signing up for an account today and learning more about them.
I would have to say that of the social networking tools that I have already used the one I did not like the most was twitter. I was surprised that on: http://www.seomoz.org/web2.0#cat_90
Twitter won 1st place for Socail Networking. The reason I did not like Twitter is to me Twitter is the worst part of FB. I hate on FB how people post every non important thing they are doing like I am going to take a nap, or watch a soap...who really cares! To me that is all twitter is people are sharing with others every non important thing that they are doing. I am too busy to read all that non-sense. Maybe I did not give twitter a chance and maybe I am completly wrong with what its capabilities are.
The website that I really liked about web 2.0 for teachers is:
http://www.kn.att.com/wired/fil/pages/listweb20s.html
It is a great place for teachers to go to as a directory to get to many more educational web 2.0 sites.
I am a big fan of social networking. I grew up in Illinois and now live in SD, so it is important to me to be able to communicate with friends and family that I do not see very often. It is a huge bonus that through social networking I can do it for free. I have also used social networking to communicate with students over the summer and throughout the year. I have used Instant Messenger with online students and find it to be a huge time saver vs e-mail. I can help them with their problems instantaneously.
The social networking that I have used and currently use are:
1. Facebook
2. Instant Messenging
3. Twitter
4. MySapce
I have not used Nings nor did I know what they were. After learing about them in this lesson I could see how they could be useful in my career. I plan on signing up for an account today and learning more about them.
I would have to say that of the social networking tools that I have already used the one I did not like the most was twitter. I was surprised that on: http://www.seomoz.org/web2.0#cat_90
Twitter won 1st place for Socail Networking. The reason I did not like Twitter is to me Twitter is the worst part of FB. I hate on FB how people post every non important thing they are doing like I am going to take a nap, or watch a soap...who really cares! To me that is all twitter is people are sharing with others every non important thing that they are doing. I am too busy to read all that non-sense. Maybe I did not give twitter a chance and maybe I am completly wrong with what its capabilities are.
The website that I really liked about web 2.0 for teachers is:
http://www.kn.att.com/wired/fil/pages/listweb20s.html
It is a great place for teachers to go to as a directory to get to many more educational web 2.0 sites.
Blog Post: Thing 8
Blog Post: Thing 8 – Free Technology Resources: Write about the five tools or website you found that will be useful in your teaching.
The top 5 Free Technologies I found through thing 8 are:
1.Parentella- Parentella is a free site that allows a teacher to communicate online with parents. I teach at a post secondary level so for me I would use this as another way to communicate with my online students not their parents.
2. World Image Kiosk- World Image Kiosk hold over 75,000 images that can be used eduactionally. Every semester my students have to do a power point presentation. I would say the hardest part of the presentation is getting images that they can use legally. This would be a site that quite possibly could have an image or two that goes with their topic and they could use.
3. Google Earth- I have not downloaded google earth to my computer yet because I believe it takes up quite a bit of space. I have seen it and it is a pretty impressive tool that allows you to look at the city, state, coutry and world we live in.
4. Podcasts- There are many sites that allow us to view and create podcasts for free. I could have my students create podcasts as a presentation or a training tool teaching others how to use a certain technology.
5. You Tube/ Teacher Tube- Again a great place to get free information. I go to you tube quite frequently to find out how to's I use it for both personal and educational reasons. For example If I was using outlook 2007 and not sure how to use a certain part of the program I may search yo tube for an instructional video on how to use it. I would also have my students post the training podcasts they create on to Youtube.
As a teacher I am so happy that there are so many Free technologies available to us and our students via the Internet. Most of us teach in schools where money is tight so it is a relief to know that we can go ahead and expose our students to so many fantastic technologies for free.
The top 5 Free Technologies I found through thing 8 are:
1.Parentella- Parentella is a free site that allows a teacher to communicate online with parents. I teach at a post secondary level so for me I would use this as another way to communicate with my online students not their parents.
2. World Image Kiosk- World Image Kiosk hold over 75,000 images that can be used eduactionally. Every semester my students have to do a power point presentation. I would say the hardest part of the presentation is getting images that they can use legally. This would be a site that quite possibly could have an image or two that goes with their topic and they could use.
3. Google Earth- I have not downloaded google earth to my computer yet because I believe it takes up quite a bit of space. I have seen it and it is a pretty impressive tool that allows you to look at the city, state, coutry and world we live in.
4. Podcasts- There are many sites that allow us to view and create podcasts for free. I could have my students create podcasts as a presentation or a training tool teaching others how to use a certain technology.
5. You Tube/ Teacher Tube- Again a great place to get free information. I go to you tube quite frequently to find out how to's I use it for both personal and educational reasons. For example If I was using outlook 2007 and not sure how to use a certain part of the program I may search yo tube for an instructional video on how to use it. I would also have my students post the training podcasts they create on to Youtube.
As a teacher I am so happy that there are so many Free technologies available to us and our students via the Internet. Most of us teach in schools where money is tight so it is a relief to know that we can go ahead and expose our students to so many fantastic technologies for free.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Thing 7- RSS Feeds
What do you like about RSS and newsreaders? How do you think you might be able to use this technology in your school or personal life? How can students use RSS or take advantage of this new technology?
I like that I do not have to search for the new articles about my favorite things once subscribed to they will just show up in my reader/ bloglines.
I think there are many ways I can use this in my school. First off I teach computers and am always trying to know about the latest and greatest softwares available for me and my students. Using RSS Feeds I will easily be able to find out about the latest and greatest technologies out. Knowing more about RSS Feeds will be a big time saver for me and my students.
In my personal life I will also be able to utilize RSS feeds to find articles for parents, fitness, cooking and much more. I have many intrests and trying to keep up with everything is tought but through RSS Feeds it should be easier.
My only problem with the Blog Line was trying to make my blog public through Blog Lines. I followed the steps but kept getting an error about my username should not be my e-mail address, I changed it and still get the error. I messed with it for 45 minutes and still don't have it working. Any one know what I am doing wrong?
I like that I do not have to search for the new articles about my favorite things once subscribed to they will just show up in my reader/ bloglines.
I think there are many ways I can use this in my school. First off I teach computers and am always trying to know about the latest and greatest softwares available for me and my students. Using RSS Feeds I will easily be able to find out about the latest and greatest technologies out. Knowing more about RSS Feeds will be a big time saver for me and my students.
In my personal life I will also be able to utilize RSS feeds to find articles for parents, fitness, cooking and much more. I have many intrests and trying to keep up with everything is tought but through RSS Feeds it should be easier.
My only problem with the Blog Line was trying to make my blog public through Blog Lines. I followed the steps but kept getting an error about my username should not be my e-mail address, I changed it and still get the error. I messed with it for 45 minutes and still don't have it working. Any one know what I am doing wrong?
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