Thing 19

           I have stated this in a previous blog, but using social media is 100% a great way to remind students about assignments that are due. I am completely for using social media in the classroom. I am also a firm believer in setting up a private page for yourself and a different page for your students. 
          I know one thing to keep my back side covered would be that I would be willing to give my social media passwords to my principals at any point in time. I am not a member of any other social media communities besides Twitter and Facebook, but I do plan on joining two from the list we were given. The first would be Classroom Ning. This website has a compilation of lesson plans and classroom activities posted by other teachers. When I went on this site it was President’s day. There were a variety of age group activities specifically centered around this holiday. 
          As I have stated in other blogs, I plan on being an English teacher. So of course I enjoy a good book, and I find scrolling through Books-a-Million to be a daunting task because I have read the majority of the books offered. I found GoodReads to be amazing, and plan on using it literally as soon as I get done with this blog. It will take into account books I have recently read and suggest books that I will probably enjoy. I cannot wait to become a member of this site!

Thing 18

           One thing I learned from my observations in the classroom was how important it was to apply the technology in your classroom. The teacher I was with had a twitter account in which she posted everyday about what homework assignments were due the next day. When the students went home to get on the social websites, there were constant reminders for things that needed to be done. I have never had a twitter account, but I have often read websites about the twitter fueds that go on with celebrities. 
           There wasn’t much insight to be gained from joining this website. For me it was basic. People have so many characters to say something that they think is profound and then wait for the next jolt of inspiration. For me the hashtag search did not pull as many items as I thought it would. Most of my search pulled political icons like the US Department of Education. I know that I will use my twitter account to post homework for the day, and to ensure that my students follow the twitter account I will also post bonus questions throughout the week.

Thing 17

               I found social bookmarking to be something like the website pinterest.com, and when I first started using this website I feel in love. Social bookmarking is a major time saver, and it allows you to narrow your focus drastically when discovering the many things that the internet has to offer. I do not know of a use for social bookmarking as part of my curriculum, but I could find a use for it when discovering new things to add to my curriculum. I feel that teachers could take advantage of social bookmarking by organizing websites into categories specifically for things in your classroom. I used the website pinterst to organize ideas for birthday parties, and it drastically cuts down on research time, and keeps all your ideas organized. I would imagine that Delicious could be used in the same manner for lesson plans, and classroom activities.

Thing 16

          The start page that I decided was best was from Symbaloo. I toured Ustart and Netvibes, but these seemed to be almost empty once I filled out my interest. I am a minimalist at heart, and I try to disconnect on a regular basis. It’s not that I am not opposed to technology, but I don’t let it take over my life. When it comes to things to tour out and use for personal life I pretty much stop with facebook. I use the internet for quick reference and research purposes, and that’s mainly why I decided to go with the start page from Symbaloo. Everything I need from the internet was directly off the home page. I did set this as my home page. 
          I use the online calendar Upto, on my phone regularly. I keep a record of things due for school, my son’s doctors’ appointments, and work events. I have not used the option to share my calendar with others as I don’t plan events with others often enough to have use for it. I feel like it would be useful with any type of big event. For instance, I was in an elaborate wedding recently, and since there were four parties leading up to the day of the wedding, an online calendar to plans these events would have been useful. The next event that I am in that is on that magnitude, I will suggest using a collaborative online calendar. The other tool that I chose was my stickies. I already use a form of sticky notes on my computer. I have done this for many years. At work, I realized how the sticky notes simply didn’t stick like I needed them to. This is a great application because the notes are always behind whatever you are working with on the computer.

Thing 15

I found it a bit complicated at first on actually registering to get access to the wiki. Once I figured that part out it was a simple task to edit and add to the page. I found it interesting to read others responses. I simply posted a link to my blog, and informed readers as to my decision. I could see using wikis to have students post to it as a group discussion over different reading assignments. The class that I observed had groups read for a “book club” assignment. I could use assignment like that and add the wiki to post thoughts about certain sections each week.

Thing 14

When looking at the different styles of flowcharts and maps that Web 2.0 has to offer, I immediately gravitated towards the bubbl .com maps. I went through the examples that the website had to offer, and the examples that were shown immediately fit a need for my classroom. The first example was a visual map of ways to describe dogs. I started thinking of how I could use this style of mapping for every part of speech that is used in multiple ways. The second example was a map process of the steps to writing that include prewriting, drafting, etc. Obviously, this is something I could use in my classroom. I could blow it up for a poster, or use it as a handout for starting a writing lesson. The second tool that I chose was also a mind map through mindmeister.com. I felt I could use this one in the classroom as well. In one of my observation classrooms, the teacher had a lesson in which the students would have an open discussion over chapters that were read for the week. She did little to steer the discussion, and the students were simply openly discussing the book. There was no note taking. I felt that I would use this open debate in my classroom. I could see myself using this website while the students were openly discussing the topic, and then using the presentation mode during the next discussion to refresh the class of what was discussed last time. I did not see much use for flow charts in my field.

Thing 13

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1TGSAcnLGALKFdsgntZ2J4cu7fSS-A3cuO9Lp44y8CdA/viewform
                  The link above is a simple form that I set up using google drive. I just created a form asking who was planning on attending a museum field trip. If I were to actually send this form out, let’s say to parents of all my students, google drive also allowed the option to create a spread sheet for the responses that I received. This program would collects all forms, and analyze the data for me. That seems like a key time saver when it comes to organizing a field trip, chaperones for a dance, or even teachers who are working towards a goal together. A way in which my students could use google drive in the classroom could be through the google drive presentation application. I myself, could have used it in my class last semester. My group had a presentation in which we were going to make a power point. Everyone in the group lived at a minimum of thirty minutes from Austin Peay State University. If we were to have used the presentation collaboration, we could have worked on the website at our own homes. Since the others were uncomfortable with this technology, we spent time in the library after a three hour class, working on the presentation. This information would help my high school students who don’t have access to a vehicle to collaborate in the privacy of their homes. When looking at the Zoho applications, there seemed to be quite a bit more options than the google drive options. The options included more business features. For the classroom, I would prefer google drive since most students will already have a gmail.com account set up for their smart phones. Also I feel it is important to show the students what they overlook in the websites they are already using.

Thing 12

            When it came to the google tools, there were quite a few sources that I had already been using. For instance, I use Google Scholar when doing research for papers because it has the ability to link up to Austin Peay State University’s library. The search engine for google drastically cuts the research time in comparison to simply searching through my school’s library databases. I chose to set up an alert and explore Google travel because I didn’t want to set up another public online photo album for a class. 
           As I have stated in previous blogs, I do not like having my personal life on display for the internet. I am very fond of privacy settings. The alert that I chose to set up was simply an alert to blogs that are focused on creative writing. My tool did not have a way that I can set it to public as it comes straight to my email. When trying to set up a link to the alert, it will ask you for my email password. I didn’t bother putting it in this blog, but this is the link to set up an alert http://www.google.com/alerts.
          When it comes to using alerts for educational purposes, I could set up an alert for certain aspects of my curriculum, and bring new thoughts to old discussions over literature. I can set up an alert over the actual literature work that we are about to start, and I might even get a new lesson plan out of it. With Google translate there is an obvious use for this in the classroom. If there is a student that has a language barrier, I would be able to type the specific instruction into computer. Then the student can either read the instruction in a language they are more comfortable with, or they even have an audio option.

Thing 11

        The method that I found to be the easiest was using the Google blog search engine. I found that I wasn’t able to use my RSS feed on the EDUblogs as much as I wanted to, and the blog search engine pulled up more news articles than actual blogs. I found the Google blog search to be the most confusing. I found some useful blogs on high school teaching and writers who are trying to get published. As these are two major interest to me I subscribed to them. I did not find any other tools through my travels as I was mainly interested in finding blogs to subscribe to. One unusual blog that I found under an instructional technology search was a blog that simply updated status on football games for a certain school. It was on two different searches and did not have anything to do with instructional technology. I did not find any blogs with an RSS feed, but I did find them with the feed icon symbol.

Thing 10

           Let me state the obvious, I love the fact that RSS and newsreaders narrow down the scope to things I want to read about. Here I am sitting here for ten entries now wondering how do other people become so invested in blog? Well if I would have known earlier that I could so easily narrow down my scope then I would understand.

            In the education world, I could use RSS to narrow down blog search on educational information quickly. I can follow blogs that are not only interesting to myself, but contain things that would also interest my students. In my personal life I could use this to have more influence on my do-it-yourself craft hobby. Teachers can take advantage of this by using the RSS filtering to research new ideas for the classroom.

Thing 9

           For this assignment, I first started with the Custom sign generator's list of websites. Most of the type of signs I clicked on had links that did not work. I looked at the comic strip generator, and for my classroom I wouldn't have much use for those. When looking at all these assignments, I try to keep my classroom in mind. Clearly from the image above, you can see that I am wanting to be a high school English teacher.
          On the ImageChef website there were quite a few signs that I thought I could use in the classroom, whether it be just a sign that has a cupcake on it to say I remembered your birthday or an award. I chose this one because I can easily change the headline, and it brings a modern day feel to a Shakespearean story. I could use this image on either a worksheet, or as a classroom decoration. The link to this sign is ImageChef.

Thing 8

My creation, a photo by mbryant18mdb on Flickr.

             I can easily see a use for flicker or flicker mash-ups in my personal life. I often do a lot of do-it yourself crafting, and could find multiple uses for the flicker mash-ups almost instantly. I know that I plan on trying to make a poster board print of the photo booth look of some other photos. I wanted to try out the mosaic, but was distracted by the many other options on the same website. I have often wondered how others did these things, and found that most of the mash-ups were on this website. 
            When using the mash-ups in the classroom, I could easily use these for decoration purposes. I'm still not sure how I would be able to integrate this activity into my curriculum. I think that photo sharing with friends and family is great, but I do not like the concept of sharing pictures of my life with the world.

Thing 7

mbryant18mdb's photostream on Flickr.

          When it comes to sharing everything with the world, I am not the first to jump on board. I have never used a photo sharing website, and I don't really plan on using one in my classroom. I could see using one for sharing photos that were taken of dances or field trips, but not actually using one as an add on to my curriculum. I do use Facebook regularly, but with this site I have strong privacy built up. I am a firm believer in that somethings are meant to be shared with the world and other things are meant to be kept private. I feel that the flicker website is an awesome forum for those who have photography skills, but it is not best for personal photos. The website was easy to use.

Thing 6

When going through the large list of websites for Web 2.0, I became slightly overwhelmed by the vast amount of technology at my fingertips. Instead of doing a blank stare at the overwhelming list, I decided to just start clicking at random and not judge an app by its icon. There were quite a few websites that were more for a person’s interest, and there were quite a few sites that I could see myself using in the classroom.

One of the websites I could visualize in my classroom is http://www.heapnote.com/. This website is a virtual planner. A heap note has a month to month calendar as well as week to week, and like with any basic online calendar, the website has the option to add task to each day. The online tutorial viewable on the first page, show the ability to separate work calendars from personal calendars. The website also suggested that there was an ability to keep notes collected in one place. I felt that this was something which my students could use in their classroom. Granted the downside to this concept is that it would be vital for each student to have access to the website in order to keep notes. There was not much that I disliked about the website as it was straightforward. As stated earlier, the website could be very useful as a classroom organization tool, and students would always have access to notes in class.

Thing 5

          When going through the different articles describing Web 2.0 and School 2.0, I was a complete blank slate to the concepts. As I had never heard of School 2.0, I went through each of the resource links to gain some kind of understanding. What I gathered from the multiple links is that School 2.0 refers to enhancing the classroom by integrating many aspects of technology. When describing Web 2.0, the articles describe an ever-changing internet that once looked like computer codes and has now manifested itself into highly graphic, multi-functioning tool.

Just as the web has adapted from computer codes, the classroom should be able to adapt to the multiple aspects of technology we now have. The future of the classroom is what School 2.0 pertains to, as well as the multitude of possible changes that can be had in each classroom. Students now have the ability to work on group projects from the comfort of their home through online collaboration programs. Teachers can remind students of their homework through social media as well as use a variety of graphics and instructional technologies to enhance learning in the classroom. The classroom is no longer a teacher who is only obtainable during the specific time of class. School 2.0 creates a classroom that is available whenever getting on the internet.

Thing 4

                At first I was very wary to comment on others thoughts. It almost seems like intruding on their diary, but that is the point of a blog. The idea of putting it all out there for others to read and comment if they choose. When commenting to students in class it felt like a way to relate and feel that we are all in the same boat. When commenting to others in the blogosphere it was more intimidating, but it was also nice to encourage other teachers and offer suggestions.

                Two points from the reading that I found important were that commenting gets your blogged noticed and showing the author that you hear them. This is the whole point of blogging, an online communication. Others want to say what they feel the world should hear, and so do you. The thing is if others don’t comment then how do we know if anyone is listening?

                The blogs that I selected in class are Suzette Pinnock, Lynn Torres, Candice Sommers, Courtney Comperry, and Delma Vasquez. The blogs that I choose outside of class include The Nerdy Teacher and Teacher Tom. The reason I chose these blogs was simply I related to them. The other students and I share the same fears of teaching. The Nerdy Teacher is out there teaching high school English and having an influence in his students lives. I relate to that as it is the ultimate goal for myself. Teacher Tom is a preschool teacher, and breaking up destructive playing on the playground. I can relate to this as my two year old boy often acts like Godzilla when others are playing with blocks.

Thing 3

                The blog that I chose was the Nerdy Teacher blog. I am setting out to be a high school English teacher. I can relate to the ideas and lesson plans that he lays out in his blog. The way that he writes about the students describes how I hope that I affect the students in my classroom. Right away off the first blog I saw, there was a lesson plan that I found potential for in my classroom. When covering Edgar Allen Poe, I could have students write their own ghost story, which is in theme with the Gothic style of Poe.

                I could definitely see myself using this blog as an inspiration for lesson plans. Not only did I find the lesson plans original, but I also found myself being inspired by how invested he is in he students. I could even find myself vising his blog just as an inspirational piece.