Thing 23

The last thing

I'm really glad that I took this class.  I admit that at the beginning, I was fearful that I didn't have the knowledge base to complete the program, but after getting my blog set up and I was able to easily import my picture, I began to relax.  It was fun and I was very happy to get a glimpse of so many different web 2.0 features that I now feel much more confident about my abilities. After viewing the last video that stated that education ranks last in technology behind coal mining, I feel that this type of class should be mandatory for all teachers.  We all know that we've been lagging behind other countries in the last 20 years but very last from all fields?  This is shameful.  They are right that we close our students off from using technology during the day and kids are craving it from all sides.  I think part of our problem stems from the fact that we are teaching into standardized tests and there is no time to develop needed creativity.  So, we need to create an atmosphere that uses technology in such a natural way that it blends into our daily teaching.  We have easily incorporated email.  This is a quick, efficient way to contact parents.  We all use video projectors and power point presentations.  We use united streaming daily to emphasize certain points.  Years ago, I worked one on one with staff to introduce those things, we have to keep trying with web 2.0 things until they, too, become second nature.  So, I'll pick and chose teachers to work with, and depending on their needs, I'll start with blogs, google docs, wikis, or pod casting.  It always starts with one person and then it grows.  With more and more people taking this class, it'll move more quickly and before you know it, we won't be ranked last for long.  

Thing 21

Your heart will be all a twitter

OK, another gadget on the web.  Well, I think this is a neat thing but I can't imagine using it on a regular basis.  I wouldn't use it at work to connect with my colleagues as we have a simple email system that we all keep up with all day long.  Perhaps I should give it a shot and see if it might keep me more informed than if I just used my regular phone, email and cell phone.  At this point, I can't imagine Twitter taking the place of my other communication devices.  Perhaps in the future, I will feel differently.  However, I'm glad to know of it.  Just today, they talked about it on the news as a local politician uses twitter to connect with his constituents.  I'll have to check his page out....

Thing 22

Online Video

I'm not a major You Tube watcher but I have seen a few videos.  On election day, my social studies classes viewed an election video posted by the Ron Clark Academy.  I had seen it the night before on the national news and it fit the criteria for showing it in the classroom.  The kids (and staff) loved it.  Have you ever seen "One semester of Spanish"?  Don't miss it!  So, You Tube is not banned in my district.  I think it has its merits as long as teachers use it wisely.  I liked looking through the Teacher Tube and School Tube.  I'll let my staff know about them and perhaps a short clip now and then would be a benefit.  

Many students would love to create their own You Tube videos.   What better way for allowing a more creative outlet?  However, it does pose problems as streaming live does not always allow for a smooth feed.  This is an issue we'd need to work on with our tech departments.  

Thing 20

Bookmarking with Del.icio.us

I will use delicious in the future and will tell my staff about it.  This is a very handy tool to organize an over cluttered life.  My delicious account is http://delicious.com/amgaglio.  

I think we all have bookmarks that we added and then completely forgotten about.  I also have bookmarks that I can no longer find.  My list of bookmarks is probably not as long as some other peoples but it definitely needs to be better organized.  After all, I have an organized background and knew there must be a better way.  Why is it that it took so long to come up with delicious?  Oh, well, it's here now.  We can all benefit from it. 

Thing 19

Introduction to social bookmarking

Tagging is a wonderful thing.  It seems to me that features in web 2.0 are using skills that librarians have been using since the beginning of time.  It's just that now, the rest of the world is catching up.  Just as we assign subjects to books in order to find what we need later on and in many different locations, tagging allows users to do the same thing.  Social bookmarking is a simple way for people to stay connected and access useful information.  I can see departments in a school setting sharing their bookmarks.  Our math and science teachers have websites with links set up for students to play games, for instance.  Those teachers could share these sites and also share links to sites that enhance their curriculum.  This is an example of using technology to ease the burden of a cumbersome task.  I for one have bookmarked many a site that even the next day I couldn't find.  I look forward to opening a delicious account and getting started.

Thing 18

Building your personal learning network

I think a personal learning network is like a blog with a shot of caffeine.  While I was setting up a ning account I felt as I was setting up just another blog.  I needed to spend time in MACUL's pln to really get the hang of it.  I see a lot of potential here for a large group.  Our school staff, for instance, may really benefit from a personal learning network.  Also, our state library group, MAME (Michigan Association for Media in Education) could benefit as well.  As with all of these tools, it would be very important to advertise the start up process and also to keep people on track throughout the year.    

Thing 17

More Web 2.0 Winners

I searched through several of the winners including Hair mixer.  I know a lot of teenage girls who could spend hours there!  I then went over to comiqs and thought that was a lot of fun.  I'd like to find ways to keep our students engaged while still learning new concepts.  I admit to thinking that powerpoint is still cool.  Right now, I'm working with 7th graders using powerpoint and MEL to learn about Africa.  Perhaps if they created some slides using comiqs they'd have more fun, feel more creative and still accomplish the outcomes necessary to make us feel good about teaching. Perhaps throwing in some of these tools will challenge us and keep our students from falling asleep at the computer.