Happy 4th of July, everyone! This is a video of Danny McGee playing "Stars and Stripes Forever." He is the most awesome pianist at Christ Church Plano. My in-laws worship there. I guarantee this is the best rendition of the song you will ever hear. Enjoy!
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
One Last Thing
Logically, the post "One Last Thing" would be the easiest to write. Not so much. 23 Things introduced so many wonderful Internet resources to me. I learned new things about RSS Feeds, Creative Commons, and Voicethread. I was also introduced to tools of organization in Google Docs, Delicious, and Google Reader. Some Things were already familiar to me, some were brand new. All were fascinating, intriguing, and useful. Oh, and I like making links in blog posts. :)
After completing 23 Things, I have a list of other things I want to further explore. My list includes Bubbleshare (online slideshows), Discovery Channel, Gliffy (create diagrams), Learn Outloud (audio books, podcasts, etc.), National Geographic Kids, Pageflakes (similar to iGoogle page), PBWorks (Wiki site), Podnova (podcasts), Podomatic (podcasts), Smilebox (photos, slideshows), Swyzzle (create slideshows), Wattpad (ebook sharing community), Think Free (online docs), Joost (social networking), and Netvibes (widget organizer). Those should keep me busy for quite some time and lock in my status as a Lifelong Learner.
My favorite Things were Google Reader and Creative Commons. I read a lot on the Internet - personal and professional material. It has always been challenging to keep up with feeds I read regularly. Google Reader solved that problem. I subscribed to feeds and check it several times a day. Creative Commons is a wealth of copyright safe images.
Most surprising was learning the art of blog commenting. Previous to 23 Things, I was more likely to read and absorb. Post 23 Things, I participate in the conversations and get more out of them. I didn't realize there was a proper way to comment.
I am very glad I chose summer to take this class. The amount of hours I put into it would not have been possible during the school year. I would have liked to learn more about MISD's specific policies concerning Internet use in schools. I realize that is a work in progress and probably would be better suited for a different class.
Would I do something like this again? Absolutely! I wouldn't have to think twice about it.
There are many things that will be going into the classroom with me this next year. I'm hoping to sell my second grade team on a grade level website. Second Grade Adventures is shaping up to be lots of fun. Culips will be great to use with my ESL students.
To document my continued learning and explorations, I plan to continue reading and make posts on my Longhorn Mom blog. It will be a good place to keep my thoughts together. My co-teachers will probably get tired of hearing about Web 2.0. I will either sell them on it or they will tell me to hush. :)
23 Things has been the beginning of a long journey of learning to come.
After completing 23 Things, I have a list of other things I want to further explore. My list includes Bubbleshare (online slideshows), Discovery Channel, Gliffy (create diagrams), Learn Outloud (audio books, podcasts, etc.), National Geographic Kids, Pageflakes (similar to iGoogle page), PBWorks (Wiki site), Podnova (podcasts), Podomatic (podcasts), Smilebox (photos, slideshows), Swyzzle (create slideshows), Wattpad (ebook sharing community), Think Free (online docs), Joost (social networking), and Netvibes (widget organizer). Those should keep me busy for quite some time and lock in my status as a Lifelong Learner.
My favorite Things were Google Reader and Creative Commons. I read a lot on the Internet - personal and professional material. It has always been challenging to keep up with feeds I read regularly. Google Reader solved that problem. I subscribed to feeds and check it several times a day. Creative Commons is a wealth of copyright safe images.
Most surprising was learning the art of blog commenting. Previous to 23 Things, I was more likely to read and absorb. Post 23 Things, I participate in the conversations and get more out of them. I didn't realize there was a proper way to comment.
I am very glad I chose summer to take this class. The amount of hours I put into it would not have been possible during the school year. I would have liked to learn more about MISD's specific policies concerning Internet use in schools. I realize that is a work in progress and probably would be better suited for a different class.
Would I do something like this again? Absolutely! I wouldn't have to think twice about it.
There are many things that will be going into the classroom with me this next year. I'm hoping to sell my second grade team on a grade level website. Second Grade Adventures is shaping up to be lots of fun. Culips will be great to use with my ESL students.
To document my continued learning and explorations, I plan to continue reading and make posts on my Longhorn Mom blog. It will be a good place to keep my thoughts together. My co-teachers will probably get tired of hearing about Web 2.0. I will either sell them on it or they will tell me to hush. :)
23 Things has been the beginning of a long journey of learning to come.
Thing #23 Other Social Networks
Part 1:
I'm really into social networking. (Pun intended. I watched "He's Just Not That Into You" last night. :) I read on one of the hundreds of blogs I've explored lately that "If one gets smarter, we all get smarter." (I didn't mark where I read that, so apologize for not giving proper credit. It was a quote from a sports star, I believe. If anyone knows for sure who said that, let me know. I want to give proper credit.) This is so true. Networking is possibly one of the greatest tools educators have available to them. As they say, "Two (or more) heads are better than one." Collaboration, vertical and horizontal teaming, PST committee, grade level planning meetings, ... so many instances where networking is put to great use in our district.
In beginning Thing #23 I explored a few networks and found one I really like and have added to my Reader. Classroom 2.0 is fascinating. Naturally, I joined. :) They have developed a strand dealing specifically with ESL!
Classroom 2.0 is extremely user-friendly. The strands of topic organization and groups make it easy to tune in to one's specific interest and weed out other information. Classroom 2.0 is international. I like being connected to others outside of Mesquite. That is a big step for me. I enjoy learning about education trends in other countries.
As networks tend to do, one link led to another, which led to another, which led to another, and, well, you get the picture. Some names I ran across I was already familiar with in the ESL community. (Read, Write, Think and EdHelper) I also found new people I want to read and follow. (Larry Ferlazzo and EFL Classroom 2.0.)
Read, Write, Think has a neat activity for vocabulary development in younger students. Construct-A-Word is a good resource for Spelling and word families.
Culips is an ESL podcast site. In their podcast for July 13th the two hosts, Maura and Jessie, discuss the idiom "Hit it off" for second language learners. I really like their choice to have two people discussing the phrase. It's a co-teaching strategy that I strongly believe in also. I can see my ESL students enthralled with listening and learning. (Copyrights: Podcast/ Lipservice: ESL Culips, Photo credit: casch52) It's good that their podcasts can be downloaded to my hard drive, thus enabling them to be used without requiring Internet access.
Part 2:
Collective Intelligence. In the article 7 things you should know about Ning, the distinction between Ning and Facebook/MySpace is that Ning has the ability for users to create their own social networks with more control over how they are set up and function. I like the term "collective intelligence" in reference to networks.
In her article, Schools and Online Social Networking, Nancy Willard offers four strategies for school districts in setting up guidelines for networking at school. I would like to know more about MISD's policies. That will be one of my future research projects.
I'm really into social networking. (Pun intended. I watched "He's Just Not That Into You" last night. :) I read on one of the hundreds of blogs I've explored lately that "If one gets smarter, we all get smarter." (I didn't mark where I read that, so apologize for not giving proper credit. It was a quote from a sports star, I believe. If anyone knows for sure who said that, let me know. I want to give proper credit.) This is so true. Networking is possibly one of the greatest tools educators have available to them. As they say, "Two (or more) heads are better than one." Collaboration, vertical and horizontal teaming, PST committee, grade level planning meetings, ... so many instances where networking is put to great use in our district.
In beginning Thing #23 I explored a few networks and found one I really like and have added to my Reader. Classroom 2.0 is fascinating. Naturally, I joined. :) They have developed a strand dealing specifically with ESL!
Classroom 2.0 is extremely user-friendly. The strands of topic organization and groups make it easy to tune in to one's specific interest and weed out other information. Classroom 2.0 is international. I like being connected to others outside of Mesquite. That is a big step for me. I enjoy learning about education trends in other countries.
As networks tend to do, one link led to another, which led to another, which led to another, and, well, you get the picture. Some names I ran across I was already familiar with in the ESL community. (Read, Write, Think and EdHelper) I also found new people I want to read and follow. (Larry Ferlazzo and EFL Classroom 2.0.)
Read, Write, Think has a neat activity for vocabulary development in younger students. Construct-A-Word is a good resource for Spelling and word families.
Culips is an ESL podcast site. In their podcast for July 13th the two hosts, Maura and Jessie, discuss the idiom "Hit it off" for second language learners. I really like their choice to have two people discussing the phrase. It's a co-teaching strategy that I strongly believe in also. I can see my ESL students enthralled with listening and learning. (Copyrights: Podcast/ Lipservice: ESL Culips, Photo credit: casch52) It's good that their podcasts can be downloaded to my hard drive, thus enabling them to be used without requiring Internet access.
Part 2:
Collective Intelligence. In the article 7 things you should know about Ning, the distinction between Ning and Facebook/MySpace is that Ning has the ability for users to create their own social networks with more control over how they are set up and function. I like the term "collective intelligence" in reference to networks.
In her article, Schools and Online Social Networking, Nancy Willard offers four strategies for school districts in setting up guidelines for networking at school. I would like to know more about MISD's policies. That will be one of my future research projects.
- A clear policy with a strong focus on educationally valuable use of the Internet -- no "Internet recess." The policy must be supported by curriculum and professional development, and a clear expectation for teachers that all student use of the Internet should be for high quality, well-planned instructional activities.
- Student education about online safety and responsible use.
- Effective technical monitoring.
- Appropriate consequences. Schools and districts should consider a full review of Internet use management policies and practices. A needs assessment and evaluation of Internet use would provide helpful insight. Safe school personnel must be involved in that process.
In summary, I believe the keys to technology working at school are supervision (by teachers and parents) and education (for teachers and students).
Part 3:
I was already a member of 23Thingsters. I noticed the membership isn't very large yet. Perhaps that will increase as word of the group is spread. I made a comment on Carla's 23Thingster. I also put my 23Thingster badge on my blog home page.
I intend to continue networking and monitoring sites of interest. I believe there are LOTS of information and ideas out there just waiting to be gathered. At this point, I introducing my students to these networks will be on a limited basis. I will preview, screen, and scrutinize in depth anything I present to my students.
Part 3:
I was already a member of 23Thingsters. I noticed the membership isn't very large yet. Perhaps that will increase as word of the group is spread. I made a comment on Carla's 23Thingster. I also put my 23Thingster badge on my blog home page.
I intend to continue networking and monitoring sites of interest. I believe there are LOTS of information and ideas out there just waiting to be gathered. At this point, I introducing my students to these networks will be on a limited basis. I will preview, screen, and scrutinize in depth anything I present to my students.
Thing #22 MySpace and Facebook
My first experience with social networking was with MySpace. My daughter set up an account and was talking about what she was doing and who she was talking to online. I setup an account to monitor what she was doing.
To say it was educational for me as a parent and teacher is an understatement. I believe social networking is what it is, and it is here to stay.
As educators and parents it is our duty to know what our children/students/friends are doing and saying online. The Internet still makes me cautious, but I feel setting up my own accounts on MySpace, Facebook, etc. has strengthened my relationship with my own children. All four of my children, son-in-law, and lots of their friends are on my friend list of 59 people, as well as many of my friends, colleagues, and family.
Facebook has been more to my liking for a social network of choice. Comparatively I have 59 friends on MySpace and 203 on Facebook.
I have several favorite applications on FB. Pieces of Flair is fun to search and to make my own. Some games I play on FB are Lil Green Patch, Lil Blue Cove, Willy's Sweet Shop, and Hatchlings. It's just plain, clean fun. :)
On Facebook I have connected and reconnected with extended family, high school friends, college friends, former students, and many, many colleagues from school. I think it is a great resource to keep people in touch while building and strengthening friendships.
Part of my liking FB over MySpace could possibly be that more of my friends are on FB than MySpace. There are more opportunities for things to do on FB.
As for educational use, I don't want my students to have access to my personal FB or MySpace. I prefer to keep that part of my life private. I would consider an alias profile to be in touch with my students. I know almost all of them have profiles set up. I believe I could learn a lot from reading their pages. I see social networking at its point in evolution presently as strictly social. I think it will, at some time in the future, have a place in the classroom. I don't think that time has come yet.
To say it was educational for me as a parent and teacher is an understatement. I believe social networking is what it is, and it is here to stay.
As educators and parents it is our duty to know what our children/students/friends are doing and saying online. The Internet still makes me cautious, but I feel setting up my own accounts on MySpace, Facebook, etc. has strengthened my relationship with my own children. All four of my children, son-in-law, and lots of their friends are on my friend list of 59 people, as well as many of my friends, colleagues, and family.
Facebook has been more to my liking for a social network of choice. Comparatively I have 59 friends on MySpace and 203 on Facebook.
I have several favorite applications on FB. Pieces of Flair is fun to search and to make my own. Some games I play on FB are Lil Green Patch, Lil Blue Cove, Willy's Sweet Shop, and Hatchlings. It's just plain, clean fun. :)
On Facebook I have connected and reconnected with extended family, high school friends, college friends, former students, and many, many colleagues from school. I think it is a great resource to keep people in touch while building and strengthening friendships.
Part of my liking FB over MySpace could possibly be that more of my friends are on FB than MySpace. There are more opportunities for things to do on FB.
As for educational use, I don't want my students to have access to my personal FB or MySpace. I prefer to keep that part of my life private. I would consider an alias profile to be in touch with my students. I know almost all of them have profiles set up. I believe I could learn a lot from reading their pages. I see social networking at its point in evolution presently as strictly social. I think it will, at some time in the future, have a place in the classroom. I don't think that time has come yet.
Thing #7b Google Reader Response
It has become a habit, quite easily I might add, to check my Reader every day... several times a day. :)
In my explorations, I found a blog called Teachers At Risk that I love. It is written by a Special Education teacher named Elona Hartjes. Her views on education that I have read so far are parallel with mine.
An especially good post she wrote is Nine things my students have taught me about classroom management and teaching. Her very first item listed is "I’ve learned that students need me to be a teacher and not their friend." She states she is friendly, but not their friend. She must remain the authority figure.
I also like point #3 " I’ve learned that class rules need to be developed by the class and the teacher and then posted on the wall for all to see." When I began teaching 25 years ago I had my second and fourth grade classes develop the class rules, while making sure the school's rules were incorporated. I haven't seen much of this practice in the last few years since I have been out of the regular classroom.
In the articles I read by Ms. Hartjes, I found her to be positive, resourceful, and flowing with good ideas that are simple but effective.
Another plus is that her work is listed in Creative Commons. That tells me that she stands by her beliefs and wants to share them. She also lists Ed Helper as a resource. I use it regularly already. :)
Elona Hartjes is an educator I plan to follow in the future. She has much wisdom from which I can learn.
In my explorations, I found a blog called Teachers At Risk that I love. It is written by a Special Education teacher named Elona Hartjes. Her views on education that I have read so far are parallel with mine.
An especially good post she wrote is Nine things my students have taught me about classroom management and teaching. Her very first item listed is "I’ve learned that students need me to be a teacher and not their friend." She states she is friendly, but not their friend. She must remain the authority figure.
I also like point #3 " I’ve learned that class rules need to be developed by the class and the teacher and then posted on the wall for all to see." When I began teaching 25 years ago I had my second and fourth grade classes develop the class rules, while making sure the school's rules were incorporated. I haven't seen much of this practice in the last few years since I have been out of the regular classroom.
In the articles I read by Ms. Hartjes, I found her to be positive, resourceful, and flowing with good ideas that are simple but effective.
Another plus is that her work is listed in Creative Commons. That tells me that she stands by her beliefs and wants to share them. She also lists Ed Helper as a resource. I use it regularly already. :)
Elona Hartjes is an educator I plan to follow in the future. She has much wisdom from which I can learn.
Thing #21 Google Cool Tools
Google has many wonderful tools available online. I explored almost all of them in our assignment and in Google Labs (yes, I'm addicted to the computer). Here are a few of my favorites.
I set up a Google calendar and shared it with my husband. He works on his computer as part of his job. We're going to try keeping a joint calendar and see if that makes our busy schedules easier to manage. We'll see.
I looked at Google Labs and found Similar Images. That was handy for finding images visually and not having to think of tag words to find what I wanted. I looked up Hibiscus flowers. Somewhere in my roaming around I found a website in German but flower is Hibiscus. I'm particularly interested in that particular flower right now. I've always liked the way they look. My husband recently bought four to add to our garden. They are beautiful. I get photography tips from looking at other people's prints as well as getting to look at lots of gorgeous flora.
Although I still can't figure out how to rotate a picture in a blog post, take a peak at one of our Hibiscus:
I installed Google Dashboard Widgets for Mac. It's handy having quick links to my Google mail, Google Reader, and Blog account. I've always liked playing around with the Dashboard.
I also have a Picasa account set up. I haven't found a photo editing program I'm really happy with out of the dozen or so that I've tried. Picasa has the advantage of being user-friendly and easily accessible with Internet.
I enjoyed looking at Google Earth. I know some of my students are already familiar with it because they shared it with me last year.
OK. The assignment called for two tools. I'll make myself stop at five in my post. This Thing has had the most content to explore so far. It shows me there is A LOT out there on the web just waiting to be used for lifelong learners.
I set up a Google calendar and shared it with my husband. He works on his computer as part of his job. We're going to try keeping a joint calendar and see if that makes our busy schedules easier to manage. We'll see.
I looked at Google Labs and found Similar Images. That was handy for finding images visually and not having to think of tag words to find what I wanted. I looked up Hibiscus flowers. Somewhere in my roaming around I found a website in German but flower is Hibiscus. I'm particularly interested in that particular flower right now. I've always liked the way they look. My husband recently bought four to add to our garden. They are beautiful. I get photography tips from looking at other people's prints as well as getting to look at lots of gorgeous flora.
Although I still can't figure out how to rotate a picture in a blog post, take a peak at one of our Hibiscus:
I installed Google Dashboard Widgets for Mac. It's handy having quick links to my Google mail, Google Reader, and Blog account. I've always liked playing around with the Dashboard.
I also have a Picasa account set up. I haven't found a photo editing program I'm really happy with out of the dozen or so that I've tried. Picasa has the advantage of being user-friendly and easily accessible with Internet.
I enjoyed looking at Google Earth. I know some of my students are already familiar with it because they shared it with me last year.
OK. The assignment called for two tools. I'll make myself stop at five in my post. This Thing has had the most content to explore so far. It shows me there is A LOT out there on the web just waiting to be used for lifelong learners.
Thing #20 Google Docs
Our instructions directed to include at least three uses for Google Docs. Do I have to stop at just three? I use Excel on my laptop for EVERYTHING, literally EVERYTHING. School schedules, address book, database of my student information, Christmas wish lists, To-Do lists, party planning, and any other information I need to organize.
Google Docs is Excel, Word, and Powerpoint on steroids. The regular updates give it more advantages than Office on a hard drive. You're instantly tuned in to updates without having to check for them or install before using, and you have immediate access to new templates, etc.
The collaboration aspect of Google Docs opens a whole new world of word processing and spreadsheets. In our district vertical and horizontal teaming is encouraged. Google Docs is a natural way to aid in facilitating that goal.
While Google Docs doesn't do everything Office on your hard drive can, it does enough to be excited about. My mind is running rampant through ways to use this with my co-teaching teams. I may need to talk my compadres into taking 23 Things.
There are things I do with Excel and Word that Google Docs won't do, but when I want to produce a more elaborate document I would most likely do it on my hard drive anyway. I love the Internet, even though I don't completely and totally trust it yet with the only copy of something very important to me. I can see myself using it for works in progress, though. For example, my yearly Christmas newsletter. With Internet access, it would be handy to be able to access it and work on it in short increments of time without having to carry my laptop or keep up with a thumb drive (which I am famous for leaving in computers I've used them on).
An online version of a document would be conducive to student work groups publishing a final copy of a project they are concluding. It could be easily shared with grade levels, the whole school, or anyone else the authors wish to share with.
I created a couple of documents for practice. One is a PHS Freshman Band Camp schedule spreadsheet for my son, who will be in the Symphonic band at PHS next year as a Freshman.
The other is a spreadsheet for organizing a family party we hare having at my house next Saturday in honor of my daughter, Sarah, returning from seven weeks in Europe and Africa. We call them "Souvenir Parties." Our family has a party when one of us has been on a trip to allow that person to tell about their trip, show pictures, and distribute souvenirs all at one time. That works for us since we have a large family. We are expecting 11 people here next Saturday.
One thing I couldn't figure out is how to rotate a picture that has been inserted from a hard drive. The Help page said to click on the object and rotate the green handle. When I click on my picture, there are only white boxes to resize the picture with on the sides and corners. There are no green handles at all. If someone could help me out on that one, I would appreciate it.
Google Docs is Excel, Word, and Powerpoint on steroids. The regular updates give it more advantages than Office on a hard drive. You're instantly tuned in to updates without having to check for them or install before using, and you have immediate access to new templates, etc.
The collaboration aspect of Google Docs opens a whole new world of word processing and spreadsheets. In our district vertical and horizontal teaming is encouraged. Google Docs is a natural way to aid in facilitating that goal.
While Google Docs doesn't do everything Office on your hard drive can, it does enough to be excited about. My mind is running rampant through ways to use this with my co-teaching teams. I may need to talk my compadres into taking 23 Things.
There are things I do with Excel and Word that Google Docs won't do, but when I want to produce a more elaborate document I would most likely do it on my hard drive anyway. I love the Internet, even though I don't completely and totally trust it yet with the only copy of something very important to me. I can see myself using it for works in progress, though. For example, my yearly Christmas newsletter. With Internet access, it would be handy to be able to access it and work on it in short increments of time without having to carry my laptop or keep up with a thumb drive (which I am famous for leaving in computers I've used them on).
An online version of a document would be conducive to student work groups publishing a final copy of a project they are concluding. It could be easily shared with grade levels, the whole school, or anyone else the authors wish to share with.
I created a couple of documents for practice. One is a PHS Freshman Band Camp schedule spreadsheet for my son, who will be in the Symphonic band at PHS next year as a Freshman.
The other is a spreadsheet for organizing a family party we hare having at my house next Saturday in honor of my daughter, Sarah, returning from seven weeks in Europe and Africa. We call them "Souvenir Parties." Our family has a party when one of us has been on a trip to allow that person to tell about their trip, show pictures, and distribute souvenirs all at one time. That works for us since we have a large family. We are expecting 11 people here next Saturday.
One thing I couldn't figure out is how to rotate a picture that has been inserted from a hard drive. The Help page said to click on the object and rotate the green handle. When I click on my picture, there are only white boxes to resize the picture with on the sides and corners. There are no green handles at all. If someone could help me out on that one, I would appreciate it.
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