Thing #12

The Google trend.....

I am absolutely OBSESSED with Google. I am pretty sure I use it for just about anything. I have used Google Scholar in my path to obtaining my Master's degree and it has supplied me with a bunch of usable peer reviewed article to use in my research. this is a VERY useful tool that Googe has created.

Google Calendar is another very useful tool that helps me to stay organized. The cool thing about it is, if you have a Windows 8 computer like me, anything you put into that calendar and set it up with alerts, will automatically sinc to your Google account, that sends you reminder and alert emails, as well as sync to your email on your smart phone if you have that set up as well. This tool has saved me more times than I would like to admit, haha. And just like I had said in Google calendar, the alerts are amazing and can be set up across multiple technology devices.

Google Translate is a great, but not as important tool if you don't need it all the time. It is however, user friendly and can help you translate any language you need, from that language to English or English into that  specific language. 

Google trends kind of scares me in that they can find everything that was ever searched for through Google and statistically show what was searched for the most. I suppose it can be important in learning what kids are most interested in these days to try and form a connection by using what they like in their lessons. 

Google Books is one link that I would love to use in class with my students. They can use it to look up books they would like to read, are reading and have read. When creating text sets, this can prove to be very useful in providing pictures and information on books. When students use this tool, it can also help show them what types of literature falls into each category.

Google Plus Photo...... I am a Google + member and let me tell you, I have yet to be on Google + since the day I joined. I am not a fan of Google+. Reason #1: I don't like how public it is. Reason #2: I don't like how anyone can add you to their list and view your profile. I have had quite a few questionable characters add me and look at my profile. I promptly blocked them, but I dislike that I had to wait for them to search me to block them, instead of being able to block something like that from happening from the start. With that being said, I am 100% against putting any personal photos on my profile, and I will certainly not allow any students to create a profile and upload their photos on there. This is the only tool I am completely against using. 

Here's a link to my profile. Unfortunately it's empty because I am not sure how to make it unviewable by strangers or not so Google can use them for anything. 

Google+ Profile

Thing #11

Finding Good Feeds....



Some interesting blogs I have stumbled across are: Upside Down Education(Edublogs), Emerging EdTech(Googleblog), and Life in Special Education(Blogsearchengine.org).

Upside Down Education  is a great blog to read because the author is authentic in what she posts and feels. She covers anything from Barbie causing young girls to not want to aspire to anything past a high school degree, to authentic assessments and the view of a parent/teacher.

Emerging EdTech is a blog found on Googleblog. It offers many topics such as onlinne portfolios, to emerging technologies that can be used in the classroom. They use daily updated twitter feeds and post links to different educational websites to help keep technology updated in the classroom.

The last blog, that is near and dear to my heart- Life in Special Education- is important because I too, am looking to work in a special education classroom. She has everythin gon her blog from creative crafts to help keeps her classroom organized, to great ideas for behavior management to helping teachers keep their planning simple. She also offers different points of view from different teachers throughout her blogs. I absolutely loved this site!

I found Edublogs the most easy to use as far as locating blogs that I was looking for. For me, Google blog was the most confusing because it also contained news articles and other things that weren't specifically focused on blogs or subjects I was looking for. As far as googling other blog feeds, I couldn't really find anything that would work well to search for educational blogs except for the one I had already found. This was definitely an educational journey in finding these blogs!

Thing #10

Creating an RSS reader and adding feeds....


So, I'm not very good at the technology thing... (we typically don't get along) and I end up messing something up. BUT, being able to follow my most favorite blogs as easy as a link is fantastic. 
Feedly will be an amazing tool for teachers to keep accessible on their desktop, not only for themselves, but for their students(depending on the student's age, of course). I think all of the blogs have some information to share and educate both parties. The blogs I chose were: Edudemic, Cool Cat teacher Blog, Education Blog, Free Technology for Teachers, and Lisa Nielson: The Innovative Teacher. Each of these blogs has something to offer. Edudemic focuses more on technology and communication between teachers and students and whether those more concrete objects are more beneficial. Cool Cat offers general ideas on just about anything that can supplement education in the classroom, or even outside the classroom. Education is a site more for teachers, educating them on changes to the education system, testing, as well as education news updates. This could potentially be used with the older high school students in educating them about their own education. Free Technology for Teachers offers all kinds of links for teachers from iPad apps to how to use the apps and websites within the education curriculum. The Innovative teacher offers topics such as web safety, using cellphones, to top posts and helping young adults find jobs and internships.

These sites have so much to offer! I can't wait to dig deeper and find out what else they come up with!

Thing #9

Online Image Generators....


Now, here is something that I can become quickly addicted to....and I think I have!




ImageChef was probably the easiest image generator website I had come across. I'm not sure if my computer was not compatible with the rest, or if it was users error. I love including quotes within my lessons as well as posting images on motivational powerpoints. With this type of software, I can combine my two favorite things! If anyone has any other suggestion on image generator websites, please share! Thanks :)

Thing #8

Flickr Mashups-

                       



                                           

            


Like I had said in my last post, I think Flickr could be used as a great tool for a teacher to use to share with student's families about what is going on in class through the means of pictures. HOWEVER, I do believe that this could be a dangerous way to share with anyone as it is a public sight that you can view anyone's pictures and profiles. This would not be good for students to be able to use independently and post whatever they would like. I'm all about the safety and privacy of anything I use. Using this Flickr sight to create words out of different pictures would be a great thing for a teacher to use in Powerpoints and worksheets to make things more fun for students. It's a fun little hobby to have, for sure.

Thing #7

Exploring Flickr

....what?

I have definitely NEVER heard of this program before. Interesting.... as I have always viewed myself as up on the new photography technology, haha.

Upon investigating flicker.com, I have found that it can be compared to Instagram. Although no one is allowed to view your Instagram without you permission. I think Flickr allows anyone to view your profile?

I have uploaded a photo to my blog of my recent trip to the Virgin Islands. THis specific piture is from St. Lucia, in one of their rain forests. SO pretty!

I have not found inserting a URL address very easy. I am not finding this site very user friendly. I suppose I am an Instagram follower.

This could definitely work as a class online photo account though, allowing parents of students access to view what the class is doing that week or post photos of activities that parents come in and help with.

St. Lucia Rainforest

St. Lucia Rainforest, a photo by czolkie10 on Flickr.

Thing #6

Discovering Web 2.0 tools:

Ok, ok, I'm starting to enjoy this whole "Web 2.0" thing. I'm still skeptical, but I am finding different things that I can use for my students or with them to help them create graphics for projects and what not. Searching through the Web 2.0 tools, I came across this nifty little site called Canva.  This site is amazing! It is exactly what I have been looking for to create graphics for posters, or even my facebook page.

Here's the link to the site: Canva

The site walks you through a tutorial on how to make your graphics or collages or anything you desire!
I have yet to find anything I dislike about this site except that you need to be careful you don't end up paying for anything, but it's EXTREMELY user friendly!

Thing #5

Some Perspectives on Web 2.0/School 2.0 and the Future of Education

Web 2.0, huh? Future of education? As much as I am all about our future generations being taught through a medium that keeps up with our current technological advances and making school "fun", I am not sure if I am completely sold on it. Wikipedia states that, "Major features of Web 2.0 include social networking sites, user created Web sites, self-publishing platforms, blogs, wikis, folksonomies, video sharing sites, tagging, and social bookmarking. "

I work in a school that is considered Title I. Most of the students I work with are considered at risk for being held back or failing out. most of the kids I work with already have difficulty reading, writing and communicating their feelings through writing mediums. I understand that educators wish to use technology to expand students ability to find information or expand new ways of teaching them information. But I have always been old fashioned when it came to teaching. Using technology to me, in this manner removes the teachers ability to actually teach the students and they lose that ability to communicate and actually write to communicate. They have technology to do that for them. 

Now, I'm not bashing the idea of Web 2.0, but I think that there are things that can be utilized, but not all the time. I feel it is so impersonal to sit on a computer and communicate through blogs to submit assignments or receive lesson material. However, allowing students to read other peoples blogs from all over the world, or just country can expand their knowledge of the people in this world and how others may view things, as well as build relationships with people of other cultures outside of their own community. I just become afraid that the education world will strictly rely on technology to teach our students. I think it should be supplemental in their education, not the primary teaching tool. 

School 2.0 to me is building a classroom curriculum that can be supplemented by technological advances and mediums of communication. It allows and teaches students to become involved and educated on the topics which they research or the people they communicate with. Teaching students with technology will also prepare them to understand technology as well as communicating with technology for future jobs, since the job force is moving to a more technology based field.  

Thing #4

             Commenting within someone's blog is a powerful tool. It helps to create a sense of community and interaction. When you comment on someone's thoughts, you are showing them that you hear and understand what they are writing. It also shows that you are interested in what they have to say. As the author of a blog, you give readers the ability and forum to cast a vote on an important topic. This has everyone participating, not just the writer saying how something is going to be. Audiences can have input into what is written about. 

                When people post to other blogs, this allows other bloggers to see who is out there. One point I have found important is drawing attention to your own blog. If you comment appropriately on someone's blog, and they like what they read, this may cause them to want to read what you are writing about. It is important to build an audience of supporters as a blogger. These supporters will also want to share ideas, facts, opinions and information with you that will only help you grow as a blogger. This is only the start to creating a healthy, supportive blogging community.

                The second thing I found important was that you really do become part of the life of the blogger that you are reading. Commenting on someone's blog is not just a one and done kind of thing. You become invested. You are showing them that you are there, you hear them, and you are ready to support, defend and contribute to whatever they have to offer. They will depend on you for these things and you will find yourself continually interested and wanting to contribute.

I commented on:

- Candice Somer's "The Future of Education"Web 2.0 & School 2.0.- I found through her post that she and I have a similar viewpoint when it comes to technology and blog use within the classroom. It's nice to have support!

"Candice, I completely agree with your point of view. I'm a huge "techie" when it comes to classroom instruction, and have seen it's benefits. I do however understand the issues with funding the technological advancements to keep our kids up to date with the most recent technology. It is definitely a hassle, but I am finding that if a school is title I, that's where they tend to put their money first. As far as safety, it isn't any different than a hacker trying to access the schools administration information."

- Nicole DeCastro- "Thing # 9 : Online Image Generator"- This post is very helpful. I've always been interested in how to create these, and it's great to see someone else as interested as myself.

"It's nice to know there are others as confused as me as to how people made images and memes. Thank you for your feedback on what you thought worked. I definitely agree that using these within our instruction will help to build a connection with our students and help to keep their attention during instruction or help rejuvenate them after an instructional power point. 


-Emily Ellison- "Thing #6"- This is a helpful post for finding educational websites for elementary students to access and use to improve their skills. She does a great job of giving both the pros and cons of using the websites."

"This is a really informational post. Thank you for your feedback and insight on these websites!


-Matthew Nixon  - Thing #1

"I absolutely agree with the problems vs. challenges habit. I tend to find myself not being able to differentiate between the two, causing my problems to get bigger and get the best of me. Instead I need to start reminding myself that nothing is a problem unless I allow it to be and i can easily make it into a challenge to find a solution or learn something new about myself that I haven't before. Thanks for sharing!"

- Rachel Cruise- Thing #11

"Rachel, this is very helpful information! I definitely agree that most of these didn't surprise me on which ones were most popular, but I found that some were either easier or more interesting to navigate than others. I definitely agree as well that I questioned things when of all educational programs, Bulgaria popped up. What's up with that? I've never even thought of their country in the means of education. I guess you learn something new every day? Good luck with everything!"

- Themodernausten (http://www.themodernausten.com)

"I really appreciate this advice. I have just began blogging myself and am finding it hard to keep up, or even deciding on which topics to touch on first. I like getting my ideas out there, but find it difficult. Thank you for the wonderful tips and suggestions as well as your honest words of advice for those wanting to get out here and blog!"
                 She is a sorority sister of mine and has taken the blogging world by storm. I enjoy reading her blog posts that focus on the growing woman, but anyone can really connect with her. She discusses anything and everything with a very honest voice.