"One Last Thing"

My favorite discoveries of this assignment was Animoto, Podcast Directory.Com, Zoho Writer, Delicious and iGoogle. This project has really improved my lifelong learning goals because of all the new programs out there that make life easier and fun. The only thing that I have to complain about is the amount of work and time that is involved to do all the assignments that is required during this course. There are a lot of non-traditional students that work and have families which makes it hard to do all that is required. I am very lucky to have a boss that is my relative who is very lenient with my schedule and a wife and kids who had to put up with me never having time for them, plus me being stressed out and angry all the time. I hate to be negative, but it almost wasn't worth it. On the other side of the coin I feel very informed and more knowledgeable towards all the new technology. This was kind of like a math class for me. I hated it while I was in it, but walked away feeling good about what I had learned. Dr. Wall was terrific as an instructor and am thankful I had her as a professor. I think students in this program learn a lot, but that the quality is not as good because the information is rushed through. I know that the argument for the rush is that it is a five week course so it is necessary to still get all the requirements inside since you are getting three credit hours of what normally takes around sixteen weeks, but I still see a little bit of give in that area. That is my opinion and you know what they say about those. So anyway, the way for me to continue to keep updated with Web 2.0 tools is to take a little time each month to devote to using them which I plan to hopefully do.

Thing #23

APSU 23 Things is based on Stephen Abram's article titled "43 Things I (or You) might want to do this year that allows you to track or make personal goals. Now that I have discovered the Creative Commons website I will use it for all the work that I create so all can share if they find it useful in any way.

Thing #22

I listened to and subscribed to The Naked Scientist podcast because they have interesting discussions. I listened to "Your Bacterial Body" and found PodcastDirectory.Com to be the easiest to use. I also subscribed to "Absolute Science" and hope to listen to these when I graduate or have a break from all the work I am doing in my classes.

Thing #21

I created a video of my some of my favorite pictures. I had fun creating this and found it very useful for future projects. I think that students would love to create their own short clip for a special gift for their parents or use in a school project while at the same time enhancing their computer skills.

Thing #20

I went to YouTube and watched the Democracy Video Challenge. I thought is was inspiring and very uplifting. I chose this because wanting everyone to be treated equal with equal opportunities and wanting peace and love to blow around as freely as the wind is on my mind most of the time. I liked the site and had never really visited it before. I was in physical geography last semester and the teacher played a video from YouTube covering sharks. I think that it can be a very useful tool for a classroom to watch to get information or to comment on. Below are the videos that I watched.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKziIkMl7aU&feature=featured

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4eePiRAf5U&feature=featured

Thing #19

I already was signed up for TeacherPop and have some pictures on my page. I added Jukebox and Twitter for the assignment. I joined Gather because it sounded interesting since I listen to NPR all the time and thought I may like some of the discussions. This "thing" was fairly easy since I had already done the assignment.

Thing #18

I singed up for a MySpace account because I liked it better than Facebook. I probably won't use this and only signed up because it was part of the assignment. Who knows though, I may end up loving this site and using it all the time. I will try and remain open-minded to the idea. I do think that it could be useful in a classroom. The reason is because I read where teachers were using social networking to do class projects and they discovered when their work was public for all to see that their work started to improve. They also discovered the kids loved the assignment and had fun. So their is uses for websites like MySpace for the classroom. I think that it is important for teachers to know how these social networking systems work since so many kids are interested in them and are using them. Teachers can take what kids are already doing and having fun with and incorporate it into some assignment. The benefit of being a part of this site is that you can communicate with friends anytime instead of visiting or calling them and it allows you to meet new people.

Thing #17

I created a Delicious account because I had sooo many bookmarks on my computer that was unorganized and tiring to scroll through. I now have all of them organized neatly on a website that I can easily go to and type in keyword I'm looking for and all that apply appear for me to choose from. I think that this is a wonderful tool to use in the classroom so a teacher can keep all their educational websites organized and at the same time share with other teachers so they can use them too.

Thing #16

I chose iGoogle because I have all of my stuff there, plus it is the WalMart of the internet where you can do everything in one place. I like the design options for iGoogle too. I will probably use this as my one go to page everytime I get online since I have so much stuff that I have there now. I use the Google calander and found that it is a very useful tool with organizing your schedule and helping you better plan for things. I found that I don't really need a to do list since I just post my "to do" things in the calander and can look at it for keeping me on track. I think that all these tools are useful for me in life, work, and school. They keep up with things and are easily accessible when a computer is available. I would reccomend these applications to anyone that is busy.

Thing #15

I just discovered how cool wiki's are and how they can be very helpful with organization and knowledge sharing. I have been using Wikipedia for a long time now, but never understood the concept until now. I think that if you have a project with a group and if they use the computer a lot, then staring a wiki would be beneficial in organizing the groups information and helping expedite the information needed for optimal success. If I were a teacher assigning a global project for my students, I would suggest to the class to start a wiki for the project. I think this would organize all the information better and keep people from doing repetitious work.

Thing #14

I searched Mindmeister.Com and Flowchart.Com and found that Flowchart.Com is easier to use and better. I think that I could use Flowchart while teaching. I would start by using cells as the paterfamilias and branching off into different types of cells and branching off even more into the substances that make up cells. It would be a good organizied method for kids to study.

Thing #13

I just got done using Zoho Writer and I think that it is really cool and easy to use. I like the fact that you don't have to buy any software and that it is better than what I am currently using to write my papers. I also like how you can use any computer to access your documents without having to carry a jump drive around and that it is compatible with different applications. I love all this new technology that is coming out making the world easier and cheaper to go about doing your business. I set up my free account and will try and use this from now on anytime I have a paper to write for my classes.

Thing #12

I explored Google Calender and Google Picasa Web Albums. I love the calender because currently my wife prints off one for me every week, but I will show her this since it is so easy and well organized. I also created a picture album of all my favorite photos that I have on my computer. Some of the pictures are historical while some are just really cool. I think that this is a great tool to share and store your photos. I will definitely use this and suggest it to anyone who is interested in storing their pictures. I have created a link below to share my pictures publicly. I think that you could use the Picasa tool in a classroom by having students download pubic pictures and use them in a project that they are assigned to do. They could send photos of themselves or their favorite photos across the word when interacting with global students. Pictures say a thousand words as the old saying goes and teachers could assign the task of having students find a picture and write an essay over it.

http://picasaweb.google.com/home

Thing #11

I actually did this "thing" while I was doing "Thing #10." I used Google Reader to subscribe to my RSS feeds. I found that it was easy to subscribe to the ones that I was interested in. I created a public page with Google Reader also that I posted in "Thing #10." I found a lot of useful feeds covering the news, polotics, weather, etc. I suggest using Google for this "thing," because it is easy and Google is better known then some of the other sites. Google has an education and e-learning feed you can sign up for that may be beneficial for future teachers. I signed up for them and read some interesting articles. Maybe you will too.

Thing #10

I signed up for googlereader for my RSS feeds. So far it looks promising and very useful. I like the fact that everything is organized all together for me of what I am most interested in and that you are able to share this with others. I could use this in school by having all my blogs and posts all in one spot so if I were to incorporate a blog for a lesson I could lead my students to all be linked together with this web tool. They would be able to see others opinions and interests while learning how to use technology. They would also learn the information of the article that I would instruct them to read more throughly since their peers would see their thoughts and comments. I created a public page in the link below that you can visit.

http://www.google.com/reader/shared/01273835156923428832

Thing #9

I thought I could influence girls in 5th grade with the Jessica Simpson cartoon to like science more by this image generator, but I could see how boys would be influenced too. Actually it was the only one I found that I could work with for this particular "thing." I liked the Albert Einstein one too obviously because I am using it. I think having posters like these in the class is a comical way to help spike interest in a particular subject. The more you can link pictures and ideas with what you are trying to teach helps students retain what you want them to learn. I think that you could use this website that I have posted below in the classroom by having the students create a science project where they have to create an image of their choice of something in nature or something science related that is the feature of their presentation. It would be the visual of their presentation incorporating technology learning with science. It was really easy and kinda fun to find images and put your words in the caption.


http://www.comicstripgenerator.com/

Thing #8

I created a mosaic out some of my favorite things. I love music and nature. My mosaic contains pictures of guitars and birds and all sorts of other things. I love watching birds and imagining I am flying around above everything floating on the breeze. If I was teaching science I would suggest to students who are artistic to create a mosaic of their favorite animal showcasing the animals natural habitat and its beauty along with important facts. The mosaic would be the backdrop of their presentation with the student presenting all the amazing features of their favorite animal. This would incorporate art with science covering two subjects at once. I could suggest this site below to help them in their mosaic choice. I created a mosaic from this site which is posted below.

http://www.zumyn.com/home/

Thing #7

I looked over Flicker and found some amazing photos of nature. I find the intricacies of nature astonishing and sad the beauty is often overlooked. Humans observing the microbial world of nature to me is analogous with God looking down on our planet and observing us. Our planet is a speck in the universe just as the particles that make life happen on this planet. Humans in a sense are the keepers of all this life. Pictures like this inspire me to try and spread the conscious awareness of natures central role in sustaining life for humanity. These tiny drops of water contributes to life on this planet. Without it life could not exist as we know it. These tiny drops of water working harmoniously with its brothers and sisters form what we call the ocean. The ocean works with all life on earth to form the diversity and uniqueness of all living things. If humans would follow the example of the tiny drops of water, and work and live harmoniously together, we may be able to create something as great or greater than the ocean. A world of love, peace and happiness for all to reside.

The photo was created by Martinsfoto titled "Drops."

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29691568@N03/3603978278/

Thing #6

Pandora.com is awesome if you love music. You can go to the site and create your own radio station of your choice. You can create as many stations as you wish. If you do not know what genre of music you like, just type in some of your favorite songs and it will link to others in it's library that are of similar taste. As each new song plays you have the choice to give it a thumbs up or a thumbs down. However you rate them determines if it is played again. All you have to do is set up a free account to have your favorite music playing in seconds. A great tool if you want to create a certain mood at work, home or even in the classroom.

http://pandora.com/

Thing #5

I read Minds on Fire in the perspective for teachers section and found it very enlightening. I agree with the article and hope to use the ideas when I start my teaching career. I think to promote learning efficiently, is by having the students engaged and excited about what they are learning. How to do this is the question. I think that the article elaborates on ideas of the future of education and prepares the educator's mentality for technology based learning. I think that the globalization of education will help lead our world to peace and promote better conditions for all life to live. I believe that technology has to be taught to students of all ages to help them better themselves and prepare them for the future. I think that technology in the classroom needs to be utilized for student learning and only for that. If student learning is at the center of all that a teacher does while in the classroom, then it will be hard for that teacher to stray from the path for providing essential skills for them. School 2.0 for me means a more proficient, well balanced, intelligent graduating class that is more prepared for the future then the current status quo. I think this new age of learning is essential for the progression of education to produce the environment necessary for the betterment of humanity.

Thing #4

I read five classmates blogs and found them to be very informative and fun to read. I think commenting gives insights into ones opinions whether it reinforces or challenges them. It builds a sense of community and establishes relationships by bonding ideas and thoughts together broadening communication lines. If a person agrees with the blogger then it gives the blogger more confidence. If people do not then it offers the blogger the chance to examine their opinions, hopefully if they are open mind, which in turn gets people to reflect on their line of thinking. This helps others be able to see things from a broader picture. I read Shannon McKinney's, David Williams', Abby Anderson's, Brittney Cook's, and Amber Sager's, blog. They were all really good and informative. I selected them because they were the first ones posted. The other two I read for this assignment was on Yahoo News. I read a blog covering a mother and child who refused chemotherapy treatment a judge ordered them to receive. I commented on this one, because I strongly believe that the mom and boy have the right to decide for themselves if they want treatment or not and government or laws should not dictate how someone decides their future. I also commented on a blog covering republicans accusing the Obama administration of being socialists since they want everyone in our country to have good health care and are trying to lessen the gap between rich and poor. I commented on this because it clearly shows that when someone is trying to do good there will always be those using scare tactics or fear to sway people to the ideals that keep the ones using scare tactics in the position they are in. They use these to keep the status and money that is flowing to them with no regard to the ones that suffer the most. This of course is my opinion and I am sure there are those who see it a different way. This is what is good about blogging. A way for people to interact with their opinions and examine why they believe the way they do.

Thing #3

One way that I could use a blog in my 5th grade science classroom is to get each student to start their own blog discussing their favorite thing in nature. After they name their favorite nature thing, they then explain why they like it and some important facts about it. Then I would have each student read five others blogs and comment on it. I think it would be a fun project for the students with them learning about six different things of nature. It would also help them with computer skills and technology.

Thing #2

I had fun creating the avatar and tried to make him look similar to me. The avatar reflects my personality because he his a laid back guy that wished he lived during the 60's. He is also on the beach one of my favorite places to be. This second blog has been easier since all the necessary steps are in place to start producing blogs. This has been the most fun since all the setup is in place.

Thing #1

My easiest lifelong learning habit is Habit #1. I have always been good with working towards a future goal in mind with persistence. The hardest habit is Habit #3. I have trouble looking at problems as challenges and instead as obstacles that are in my way preventing me from accomplishing my mission. I get stressed and lose my patience with these "problems, " but am in the process of getting better at this. Setting up the blog took a lot of steps, but fairly easy if you have high speed internet. I have dial up at home and it is impossible to do anything. My feelings as I worked on this was that I know that this will benefit me by increasing my technological skills.