I have to admit that things did not go the way I planned for my lesson. I really wanted to use Google Maps and/or Google Earth to have my 3rd graders create a walking tour of downtown Beverly which would go along with their study of communities. I could not keep it simple enough for 3rd graders. Also, I use the scroll wheel constantly and when I wanted to move around the map I automatically used it without thinking. Needless to say it changed the size of the map. I just wanted to SCREAM. Oh wait I think I did! LOL !The lesson I created will be for older children to begin with. I want to use Google Earth and Maps with my classes this year. When I introduce something new into my curriculum I usually start with older grades and move it down year by year depending on the success I have with the previous grade level. I will try this with fifth grade first. I will continued to work with Google Maps myself until I figure it out! (and stop using the scroll wheel)
I have really enjoyed this class. I was aware of many of these Web 2.0 tools but never took the time to explore them. I set up a de-li-cious account a while back but never used it. Now that it is on my toolbar I use it all the time. I fell in love with Google Earth/Maps. There are endless possibilities with these application both in education and personal. Google Docs was another awesome discovery. Again I knew it existed but never took the time to explore them. I had to laugh because when I went into my Google Docs account I had a number of documents saved there that I didn't even know existed. I have all sorts of plans to use Google Docs. I am going to set up a Google Account for each computer in my lab. Thus the children will be able to sign into that account to use Google Earth, Maps, Docs or whatever. They will not need to have an email . Last night I discovered Google History. I was trying to remember a website I had used and didn't put on de-li-cious. To my surprise I found it on Google History. This application keeps track of where you have been on the Internet. My History went back to March.
I want to thank everyone in this class. I felt like we were all working in classroom to share thoughts and ideas. It was nice to work with you from the comfort of my air conditioned den. Barbara, thanks to you as well. I will admit I procrastinated at times because we have had such a beautiful summer. The way you set up this class allowed me to work on my time although sometimes I had to push myself. LOL! I have taken a Web 2.0 class with you at the high school. I learned so much more with this class. I did more exploring because I had assignments to work on. Have a good school year everyone. I hope to work with you again in an online class..
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
Week 9 YouTube, Poscasts & E-books
YouTube
I spent the last two weeks on and off looking at all sorts of things for this assignment. I'll say it again this is too much "information overload". There is just way too much out there and it can be so mind boggling sometimes. Sticking with the assignment I spent time on Youtube and found a number of usable videos on using Gimp which is a free program and works like Adobe Photoshop. The first video was a very simple basic video although I had to laugh because the speaker says the word Gimp wrong. He says Jimp and it is actually a hard G.
Another I found was
I hope to work with Gimp myself so that I will be able to share with my students. Purchasing Adobe is not an option but Gimp is free and works similar to Adobe Photoshop. Thus I can see using YouTube to help me learn other programs.
I want to use GoogleMaps as my lesson for this class. The first video I found showed me how to set up a Google Account instead of a google email. I am going to try to use this with my lesson. I just haven't figured out the particulars as yet.
Next I went to TeacherTube and again found another of usable videos.
Google Maps Basic Tutorial
This is a nice explanation on using GoogleMaps. I want to use GoogleMaps and have the children create a walking tour of Beverly. This video helps me get started to use GoogleMaps myself.
Podcasts
First of all, I am going to be brutally hones. I have covered podcasts in a number of classes and I continue to feel the same way. I am a visual learner and need to see something as well as listen. I have search podcasts for the last two weeks and could not find one that was beneficial to me. I went to the education podcast network first. I went to the Technology podcasts. Most I opened did not work. Others were dated 2 and 3 years ago. Next I went in the Elementary Education direction. The website I tried first became locked up and wouldn't load. I had to close the whole window and start again. After reloading I went to middle school. I clicked on Technology Teacher and the last update was in 2008. I did get this podcast to work. I chose Google for Educators. It was only 1:30 minutes. I just don't get how this is useful to me. At this point I must admit that I am not a fan of podcasts. Someone is really going to have to convince me that podcasts are worth my time and energy.
E-Books
I have e-books for a few years. I go to NobleNet and download e-books from the library. My most recent was a Jody Picoult book "Harvesting the Heart". I like to listen to e-books especially when I am at the beach and/or in the sun since I find it hard to read a book at that time. I became hooked on audio books when I first discovered Harry Potter on tapes. My husband and I both listened to all the books on tape. Sometimes we overlapped and had to encourage the other to finish a tape so we could move on. With e-books I don't seem to need a visual. It is so relaxing to kick back and listen. The narrator Jim Dale did an awesome job. I was amazed at the number of voices he created and kept track of through all the books. I have considered getting an electronic book reader such as a Kindle. It will probably be my next step.
I spent the last two weeks on and off looking at all sorts of things for this assignment. I'll say it again this is too much "information overload". There is just way too much out there and it can be so mind boggling sometimes. Sticking with the assignment I spent time on Youtube and found a number of usable videos on using Gimp which is a free program and works like Adobe Photoshop. The first video was a very simple basic video although I had to laugh because the speaker says the word Gimp wrong. He says Jimp and it is actually a hard G.
Another I found was
I hope to work with Gimp myself so that I will be able to share with my students. Purchasing Adobe is not an option but Gimp is free and works similar to Adobe Photoshop. Thus I can see using YouTube to help me learn other programs.
I want to use GoogleMaps as my lesson for this class. The first video I found showed me how to set up a Google Account instead of a google email. I am going to try to use this with my lesson. I just haven't figured out the particulars as yet.
Next I went to TeacherTube and again found another of usable videos.
Google Maps Basic Tutorial
This is a nice explanation on using GoogleMaps. I want to use GoogleMaps and have the children create a walking tour of Beverly. This video helps me get started to use GoogleMaps myself.
Podcasts
First of all, I am going to be brutally hones. I have covered podcasts in a number of classes and I continue to feel the same way. I am a visual learner and need to see something as well as listen. I have search podcasts for the last two weeks and could not find one that was beneficial to me. I went to the education podcast network first. I went to the Technology podcasts. Most I opened did not work. Others were dated 2 and 3 years ago. Next I went in the Elementary Education direction. The website I tried first became locked up and wouldn't load. I had to close the whole window and start again. After reloading I went to middle school. I clicked on Technology Teacher and the last update was in 2008. I did get this podcast to work. I chose Google for Educators. It was only 1:30 minutes. I just don't get how this is useful to me. At this point I must admit that I am not a fan of podcasts. Someone is really going to have to convince me that podcasts are worth my time and energy.
E-Books
I have e-books for a few years. I go to NobleNet and download e-books from the library. My most recent was a Jody Picoult book "Harvesting the Heart". I like to listen to e-books especially when I am at the beach and/or in the sun since I find it hard to read a book at that time. I became hooked on audio books when I first discovered Harry Potter on tapes. My husband and I both listened to all the books on tape. Sometimes we overlapped and had to encourage the other to finish a tape so we could move on. With e-books I don't seem to need a visual. It is so relaxing to kick back and listen. The narrator Jim Dale did an awesome job. I was amazed at the number of voices he created and kept track of through all the books. I have considered getting an electronic book reader such as a Kindle. It will probably be my next step.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Week 8 and GoogleDocs and LibraryThing
I enjoyed this weeks assignments. As always I just love the simple videos Barb has provided for each new application. I knew that GoogleDocs existed but I did not know how it worked. I can defiantly see a number of teachers collaborating on something. Our staff as been working on updating the curriculum. Each person gathers information and the committee gets together to add the information to the document. If it had been created on GoogleDocs the committee members could work together on the document from their own computer. Up to 50 people are able to edit a document in real time. Can you imagine? I can see assigning a group project to students. A PowerPoint presentation on Biomes comes to mind. Instead of one student entering the information for the presentation all the students would be able to collaborate and create their own slide on the document. The students could work together in class or at home in real time. WOW! The only downside I see is that each student would need a gmail account. I'm not sure how I'd get around that yet. I see myself using GoogleDocs for documents I work on at home and need at school. I am always emailing documents to myself. Sometimes if I make changes at home I forget to send them back to myself. This will be so helpful. The Zoho site looks useful as well but I usually lean towards applications on the Google website because I have always found it so easy to use.
I found the video below that shows how to set up a google account. To use GoogleDocs a gmail account is not needed. This might be a way I could have the students sign into GoogleDocs.
I signed up for LibraryThing but I must admit this summer reading has been slack this summer. It's been difficult for me to concentrate on a book. My mind is constantly thinking about other things. I think I will use it to list books I want to read. I hear about good books all the time and then I never remember the name or author of the book when I get to the book store. Once I read a book I'll list it as one I read. So many times I have read a book and could not remember the title or the author of the book. I always tell people "The thing I miss most about my Memory is my Memory".
I found the video below that shows how to set up a google account. To use GoogleDocs a gmail account is not needed. This might be a way I could have the students sign into GoogleDocs.
I signed up for LibraryThing but I must admit this summer reading has been slack this summer. It's been difficult for me to concentrate on a book. My mind is constantly thinking about other things. I think I will use it to list books I want to read. I hear about good books all the time and then I never remember the name or author of the book when I get to the book store. Once I read a book I'll list it as one I read. So many times I have read a book and could not remember the title or the author of the book. I always tell people "The thing I miss most about my Memory is my Memory".
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Week 7 & RSS feeds
OK so I have learned about RSS feeds in previous classes. I really didn't find a need for them and I still don't. I just think it's more information overload than I need. I watch the news every day and read the newspaper. That is all I need to keep up with the world. I signed up for 5 RSS feeds and I am just not that interested in any of them. I ended up deleting a number of my subscriptions. I think technology gets to the point that it becomes a burden on our life. I'd rather swim in my pool and/or read a book. I have housework to do and supper to cook. I don't have time to sit on the computer and gather more information than I need. I sit down and read the newspaper every evening and watch Channel 4 news. This goes along with my Twitter opinion. I have a life and I don't need all this extra information. I can't even begin to think how I would use RSS feeds in the classroom. I guess I could use it for current events. I curious to look at other blogs for this class and see what they think.
So what did I sign up for? I love " Big Brother" so I signed up for that. To do that I sign up for Buddy.TV where other shows were a part of the feed. I deleted that quickly because I didn't need all the extra information. I signed up for the Boston Red Sox and the Patriots. They are ok but again more information than I need. Finally I signed up for the Salem News ( which I get at home every day)and People Magazine. I am just not interested in this much information. Give me the newspaper and the 5:00 news. I looked at a number of education sites and nothing "jumped out at me". Once this class is over I don't see myself checking my Google Reader. Sorry Barb! I have spent a number of hours searching for sites that interest me and I am just not interested. If anyone can change my mind let me know!
UPDATE!
In one day I have 100 articles to read! Who has that kind of time?
So what did I sign up for? I love " Big Brother" so I signed up for that. To do that I sign up for Buddy.TV where other shows were a part of the feed. I deleted that quickly because I didn't need all the extra information. I signed up for the Boston Red Sox and the Patriots. They are ok but again more information than I need. Finally I signed up for the Salem News ( which I get at home every day)and People Magazine. I am just not interested in this much information. Give me the newspaper and the 5:00 news. I looked at a number of education sites and nothing "jumped out at me". Once this class is over I don't see myself checking my Google Reader. Sorry Barb! I have spent a number of hours searching for sites that interest me and I am just not interested. If anyone can change my mind let me know!
UPDATE!
In one day I have 100 articles to read! Who has that kind of time?
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Week 6
Social Bookmarking
I love these "plan English sites". The explanations are so simple. I was aware of del.icio.us and actually set up an account a while back. I didn't realize how useful it could be. Watching the video cleared up so many questions I had. Anyone can see your bookmarks. I didn't know that! What a great way to share sites with colleagues or friends. Tagging was not explained to me in the past. I now get it. My favorites can get so out of control plus I also have them on more than one computer. I have always tried to create folders but I don't always remember where I put the link. Last summer a few of us at school posted a list of useful websites. It is on the server at school. I definitely need to transfer the information to a del.icio.us account.
Exploring Web 2.0 Sites
I looked a a number of sites and had trouble finding something I liked or would use. The first one I liked was CitySearch http://national.citysearch.com/ . My first search was Danvers. I know Danvers well but I liked the variety and the reviews. Next I tried Nashville where I will be visiting over Thanksgiving. The site provides all sorts of information on the city that will be useful.
Next I came across Craigslist which I have used many times before. I did not realize there were other sites so I looked at Oodle http://http//www.oodle.com/. Wow this sites posts on other sites such as facebook, twitter, AOL, etc. That is kind of cool. I have a number of items I want to sell that belonged to my husband. I think I will try posting something on that website and see how it works.
Finally, I explored mapping application sites. The first one Flappr.com did not work. So I tried Wayfaring.com http://http//www.wayfaring.com. It is a site where you can create a map. I thought maybe this would be a site I could use with the children. Again I had to sign up with an email address. Barbara suggested creating a class email class if I wanted to use it with children. I may try that. I find this site to be difficult to use. There are no instructions and I could not always get it to work so I gave up and moved on. Next I tried CommunityWalk.com
http://http//www.communitywalk.com hoping this site would give more explanation. It seemed easier to use but an advertisement stayed right smack in the middle so I could not see the part of the map I want to see.When I tried to get rid of it the site wanted me to pay for it!!! AHHHHHHH! Frustration reached I gave up. I like the idea of creating maps with children so I continued on to Google Maps. I have used google maps many times for personal maps. To my surprise when I went to My Maps there was a "How to" Youtube video.
I may try to design my final lesson plan around this.
I love these "plan English sites". The explanations are so simple. I was aware of del.icio.us and actually set up an account a while back. I didn't realize how useful it could be. Watching the video cleared up so many questions I had. Anyone can see your bookmarks. I didn't know that! What a great way to share sites with colleagues or friends. Tagging was not explained to me in the past. I now get it. My favorites can get so out of control plus I also have them on more than one computer. I have always tried to create folders but I don't always remember where I put the link. Last summer a few of us at school posted a list of useful websites. It is on the server at school. I definitely need to transfer the information to a del.icio.us account.
Exploring Web 2.0 Sites
I looked a a number of sites and had trouble finding something I liked or would use. The first one I liked was CitySearch http://national.citysearch.com/ . My first search was Danvers. I know Danvers well but I liked the variety and the reviews. Next I tried Nashville where I will be visiting over Thanksgiving. The site provides all sorts of information on the city that will be useful.
Next I came across Craigslist which I have used many times before. I did not realize there were other sites so I looked at Oodle http://http//www.oodle.com/. Wow this sites posts on other sites such as facebook, twitter, AOL, etc. That is kind of cool. I have a number of items I want to sell that belonged to my husband. I think I will try posting something on that website and see how it works.
Finally, I explored mapping application sites. The first one Flappr.com did not work. So I tried Wayfaring.com http://http//www.wayfaring.com. It is a site where you can create a map. I thought maybe this would be a site I could use with the children. Again I had to sign up with an email address. Barbara suggested creating a class email class if I wanted to use it with children. I may try that. I find this site to be difficult to use. There are no instructions and I could not always get it to work so I gave up and moved on. Next I tried CommunityWalk.com
http://http//www.communitywalk.com hoping this site would give more explanation. It seemed easier to use but an advertisement stayed right smack in the middle so I could not see the part of the map I want to see.When I tried to get rid of it the site wanted me to pay for it!!! AHHHHHHH! Frustration reached I gave up. I like the idea of creating maps with children so I continued on to Google Maps. I have used google maps many times for personal maps. To my surprise when I went to My Maps there was a "How to" Youtube video.
I may try to design my final lesson plan around this.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Week 5 and social networking
RE: the article
I was not surprised that 96% of students have used some sort of social networking. What I found interesting was that 60% have discussions on education. But when I think about the scenario it would be so much easier to get help or have discussions on a topic. The student can get input from more than one peer. With that in mind I can see setting up a classroom homework page so that students could have discussions. They only drawback to that would be that all students would have to have a facebook account. I wonder if there is some way to get around that?
Thoughts on Facebook
I have had a Facebook account for over a year. I must admit I really enjoy it. It is amazing how many people I have connected with since joining Facebook. I am now in contact with so many friends from my past. Many that I often wondered where they were or what they were doing. Yesterday my best friend from Salem State found me on Facebook. We graduated together in 1974. I have been looking for her for years. I can't wait to get together in person. I have also had many students catch up with me. I have been teaching for 32 years and one of my students of 31 years ago found me on Facebook. I taught for 16 years in West Virginia and I amazed at the number of students I have connected with. It is so exciting to see what kind of people they have grown up to be.
I will agree that too much information can be shared on Facebook. I think you need to use your head. How much information do you want out there for the world to see. I also get tired of the constant game updating. Thank goodness Facebook allows you to block most of that. I really don't care if someone needs a cow or has built a cabin. I'll admit I was hooked to Farmville for a while but realized it was taking up too much of my time. I am sure I will enjoy facebook for a while to come.
Thoughts on Twitter
I have not explored Twitter. It is just too much information overload for me. I can't image following a person to that extent. My son follows many friends as well as different public individuals. Maybe sometime in the future I'll change my mind.
I was not surprised that 96% of students have used some sort of social networking. What I found interesting was that 60% have discussions on education. But when I think about the scenario it would be so much easier to get help or have discussions on a topic. The student can get input from more than one peer. With that in mind I can see setting up a classroom homework page so that students could have discussions. They only drawback to that would be that all students would have to have a facebook account. I wonder if there is some way to get around that?
Thoughts on Facebook
I have had a Facebook account for over a year. I must admit I really enjoy it. It is amazing how many people I have connected with since joining Facebook. I am now in contact with so many friends from my past. Many that I often wondered where they were or what they were doing. Yesterday my best friend from Salem State found me on Facebook. We graduated together in 1974. I have been looking for her for years. I can't wait to get together in person. I have also had many students catch up with me. I have been teaching for 32 years and one of my students of 31 years ago found me on Facebook. I taught for 16 years in West Virginia and I amazed at the number of students I have connected with. It is so exciting to see what kind of people they have grown up to be.
I will agree that too much information can be shared on Facebook. I think you need to use your head. How much information do you want out there for the world to see. I also get tired of the constant game updating. Thank goodness Facebook allows you to block most of that. I really don't care if someone needs a cow or has built a cabin. I'll admit I was hooked to Farmville for a while but realized it was taking up too much of my time. I am sure I will enjoy facebook for a while to come.
Thoughts on Twitter
I have not explored Twitter. It is just too much information overload for me. I can't image following a person to that extent. My son follows many friends as well as different public individuals. Maybe sometime in the future I'll change my mind.
Poster (Week 4 continued)
My husband past away this past April 25th. We were on an awesome vacation in Atlantic City and NYC with my son and his roommate. My son lives in NYC. I have such wonderful memories. He had a heart attack our last night in NYC. I feel I need to share and hope everyone will understand. We were married for 34 years and he was my soul mate.
I chose the poster application and I like how it came out. I can definitely see using this in class. My only complaint is you have to give emails for so much of this. How could you use it in class? Or am I signing up for things and I don't have too? It is amazing how easy so many of the applications are.
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