Thing # 22

I checked out a few directories and found they were not all friendly. I listened to a couple of travel podcasts. I want to travel. My first experience with podcasting was with my research paper class in graduate school. I felt Learn out Loud was easy to use. I am not ready to subscribe yet to podcasting but will soon. My students who need further enrichment and challenges will be creating podcasts for me in the near future. We are working our way through wiki's and blogs. This week they created and presented their first PPT. I feel podcasting is a useful educational tool. Students do not have to have an IPOD, any MP3 player will do.

Thing # 23

I researching the Internet, I found two sites that referenced the 23 things. There are lots of lists out there to complete. Here are the links:
http://plcmclearning.blogspot.com/
http://explorediscoverplay.ning.com/

I have thoroughly enjoyed this project. There are lots of tools to add to my toolbox. I look forward to using them in my classroom. Thank you Dr. Wall.

Jordie and Kris Thing # 21

Animoto is fun and easy to use. You do not need a tutorial to get you started, though there is one offered. I like the option of using their music or downloading music from your computer. What a fun way to use pictures. I can use this in my classroom on the class website to show parents what their children are doing. This is a tool I have bookmarked to use. So far, this is my favorite tool to have in my toolbox.

Thing # 20

I haven't had much experience on youtube until now. I have a student that created a video and put it on youtube last week. He has been waiting for me to view it. I did not have any idea the content on youtube. I would say you can find anything you basically want. I found some very funny sites, David Cook (American Idol) winner, and I found a video that touch my heart. Many of you have heard of "The Last Lecture", by Randy Pausch. We were talking about it today at work and thought I would like to see it again. Sure enough, it is on there and almost 8 million people have viewed it. I believe his lecture is great for high school. This site is blocked by our county so I do not see a use in my classroom for it. However, I do believe it has educational value. Most people do not associate educational value with youtube. At least I did not. I like this site for songs and for finding video that has touched my heart. The video is titled "The Last Lecture".

Flowgram Presentation

I have never created a PowerPoint without text. I can see this as a great review tool. A picture is worth a thousand words. I like the flowgram also. This could be something to put on a class web page or class blog. It was easy and fun to create. My images and narration shared the same importance. The pictures I chose immediately connected the Power Point to the Civil War. I think the Flowgram is a great tool for students to learn to use. It is a beginning for verbal presentations which so many students fear.

Thing # 19

I am already a member of TeacherPop and proud to say one of the first members. I like the space and plan on using it more after I am not so busy with school. I think this is a great site to keep in touch with my teacher friends. It is easy to use. I like the fact that you can see who is in the community. That is going to be tremendous as more and more students come throught the teaching program.

I have a new site!! Bake space. I immediately signed up. I love to cook. What an incredible idea. I had not idea this site even existed. YOu get to exchange recipes and keep them online. Like everything else, if a recipe is written down, it is shoved somewhere and forgotten. I can never remember where I put something when I want it.

TeacherPop is the only networking social site I will use. I signed up for MySpace under and alias and do not plan to be apart of the community. I did not have an interest in being part of a social network, unless it can make me a better teacher. I keep in touch with people who I want to know about my life. I have web albums I share and use. I do not want another place to keep stuff. I feel like my technology stuff may be getting scattered.

Thing # 18

http://www.myspace.com/fallmemory

I set up an alias. I do not want a MySpace or Facebook account. I do not like the image they portray and our county really "encourages" not to have them. I did set one up because it was an assignment. I found friends and teachers but did not invite them. I do not intend to use this account at all. I know you can set it to private but I am not comfortable with it. I have signed up to TeacherPop and feel better about that site. It is a site created for teachers by a teacher (Anne Wall). I see more use for myself in this social networking site. I do not prefer this method of sharing personal information about me or my family. I am not saying it is not for some people, just not me.

I like MySpace better than Facebook. I believe it is strictly because my sister has a MySpace account and she posts pictures about my niece on it. I read her blogs and look at her pics she puts out there.

These sites have been banned by our county and we cannot access them from the school. I do not see a use for them in the classroom because they are not accessible.