23 Things

I have learned so much about Web 2.0 in this course. My self-confidence is increased because of the new knowledge I have gained. Now I know the difference between a blog and a wiki. I know the advantages of Delicious. I enjoy reading other educator’s blogs, and writing on my own blog. I posted my voicethread on slide one and two. If you’d like to hear what I have to say, just click on the girl in the yellow flowers. That’s me!

I just joined the network of educators on classroom 2.0.. I am already having a good time and learning a lot. I’ve learned about a book I’d like to read called Teach Like Your Hair’s On Fire Hair. I’ve found a great blog that I can relate to written by a teacher in Boca Raton, FL (where I used to live) who is the same age as me. Her name is Lee Kolbert. Of course, I added her blog to my RSS. She even had photos of her with Lee and Sachi LeFever, the creators of CommonCraft. Also I learned yet another new acronym PLN (Personal Learning Network). The classroom 2.0 looks like a lot of fun!

I just checked my feeds and noticed a beautiful post from Mark’s edublogs. He has a photo posted on Flickr showing artwork from his talented third graders.

Mr. A’s Art Show – 2009

Google Reader is a great way to stay aware of the latest posts on your favorite blogs.

Pageflakes is a great tool for creating a page that is like a podcast except it is called a pagecast. It is full of flakes or different links to a lot of information! Here’s a link to the pagecast I created.
My Pageflakes page.

I can see pageflakes being a great tool for a social studies class that may want to show information from various sources such as RSS feeds, newspapers, videos, and other publications. It could also be a great classroom website for teachers to use as comunication with parents and students.

I followed the instructions given and created my own page and added a couple of new pages to it. Here’s a link to another Lovett page that was created by 7th graders.

A great tool for collaborating on one document is Google Docs. We are using it in this class so that each person can update their progress on a single spreadsheet. In the classroom, Google Docs can be used in many ways. For example, as I have posted in my google docs, a table can be made so that students can post the books they have read. Each student can update his or her books each time they complete a new one. Favorites and least favorites can be noted.

Another way that google docs could be used is for individual groups working on a classroom project. Individuals can check off their contributions to the group. This prevents the need for multiple emails exchanges.

A third example of an application for google docs is among teachers working on a project. Each teacher can update his or her progress and others can check into the google doc to see the status. Google doc is a great FREE tool as opposed to Microsoft Office which can cost hundreds!

My google doc.

Wow! That took a few hours to accomplish! My podcast is uploading right now onto our class site at GCast. After recording it on Vocoroo? I converted it to MP3 format and then uploaded it on GCast. I’ll check in a little while to make sure it was a success. I can see podcasting being used in the classroom as a way for several students to record at the same time. This allows other students and the teacher to access the recordings at anytime. Students could give their opinions on a topic, or discuss a book that they like. Podcasting’s uses are limitless! Anything that is oral feedback can be recorded via podcasting. Podcasting is just another exciting opportunity offered to us through 2.0!

The podcast that I ended up subscribing to was Dansmathblog. It is now in my RSS Google Reader. Podcasting has many uses in the classroom. For younger students like mine, it is great to practice on it for more advanced uses in the future. I really like the podcasting done by these very cute first graders. first graders!

Ivan Makarov

Ivan Makarov – Library – http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivanomak/355317575/

In Hanoi last summer

Library Thing…what a fun website, and so personalized too! I loved typing in my most recently read books and then going to the suggestions, some of which I had already read.  I can see this as a wonderful tool for each student to use as a source of books they may like.  Library Thing has many uses.  It can also be used as a source for a teacher to search for books that her class may like or for her to look for books to follow a certain genre.  It’s a great source to search for book suggestions for teachers or students! Check out my page!

Delicious by Lana Stewart http://www.flickr.com/photos/lanastewart/450599245/sizes/s/

Here’s the link. Ahhh! Organization! It’s wonderful!  Delicious is a great tool for organizing all of these bookmarks I have!  Plus it’s great for us to use as a search tool for sites that other “experienced 2.0″ people have found to be successful.  For example, in continuing with the lesson on the book Frindle, I found Jeopardy Games, lessons, Quia quizzes, and other valuable information already tagged on Delicious!  I’m excited about using this in the upcoming school year for any lesson we are doing.  It is a great source of select websites!  I like the idea of “social” bookmarking.  Like Creative Commons, this is another tool where more brains are better that one brain!  I’ve added three bookmarks to our class wiki page, and I’m in the process of organizing all of my bookmarks.  Wow, I can have access to my bookmarks from any computer!  If I’m travelling without my laptop, I can still get to my favorite websites!  I need to work with Delicious more so that I can become more savy with it’s potential.  Now I see why everyone has been talking about this Delicious website!  My Delicious account is under the name mdhillon38.