I have enjoyed the 23 Things course! Thank you so much!
One of my biggest goals was to gain FREE teacher resources -- I definitely did that! I can't believe how many there are! Just Google Tools alone will take more days to discover and experience. I am just so proud of myself for completing the course and for learning so many new tools. I never thought that I would blog and have a wiki! I did that and then some!
I learned a lot of new things to help me personally and professionally. Flickr and Creative Commons were extra special and filled with possibilities. What a neat way to share photos and keep them safe and share them!
My favorite and fun thing were the image generators. How neat are those!? You could probably try a new one every day of the year! The possibilities are endless! I also enjoyed exploring Wordle, and Quizlet, and similar tools. There are lots of FREE resources for teachers and students to use!
VoiceThread and YouTube and TeacherTube were great tools to explore. I think that using videos to explain concepts and have students create videos to explain and upload would be great. When students teach, then they learn better! What a great way to integrate technology and engage students! That is the goal!
I would definitely want to participate in another class like this. It was self-paced and reasonable. I was a part of a group, and I am proud to say that I finished!
I want to continue to check my Google Reader for new articles and ideas on the blogs that I am subscribed to. I think that will help me keep up with our digital learners. I can also talk to my colleagues about various tools that they are using and loving!
Where do I go from here? I would like to create a new blog or wiki for my Math Teachers. I think it would be neat to have a place where we can discuss and see new strategies and ideas. If we had a blog, I could post videos, podcasts, or VoiceThreads of strategies in action. We could also comment on the great lessons in the curriculum and what needs to be improved. I could even incorporate Google Forms to find out information about the teachers at the beginning of the year. The possibilities are endless! I also love the format of this class -- perhaps there is a Middle School Math Online Professional Development in the future?? We will see! How exciting!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Thing #23
Visit 23 Thingsters
I enjoyed my visit to the 23Thingsters Ning! I commented on a couple of members' posts and I also added a badge to my blog. Very cool! =)
Social networking is inevitable. I may as well embrace it! =) I found it so useful! After visiting Classroom 2.0, I can see the benefit in its use. Before, I just thought it was about social things - now I have discovered that it can be about work too! Hey -- I like to work, what can I say?! I love what I do and do what I love!
I think that teachers can really improve their practice here at a site like Classroom 2.0. I saw some very interesting questions and discussions going on. I wanted to jump right in! It is a great place to collaborate and see what other teachers are doing out there. That was neat. I searched by subject and found Math teachers getting feedback and answers to questions. Some very good discussions about problem solving -- very good!
I can really see a classroom Ning happening. Students could discuss what they learned in class that day, share notes, explain problem solutions, etc. They could even ask each other questions about upcoming topics or a tricky homework problem. I could also see a Math Teacher Ning happening. What a great place to ask questions, share strategies, and discover new resources. I think that it could have many positive impacts.
I could also see a Ning or other networking venue for a family that is scattered across the U.S. What a great place to upload pictures, share video clips, and ask how the graduation went, share what games were played at the baby shower, etc. What a neat way to stay in touch.
WOW! Another FREE resource! I think this networking thing may have some educational capabilities after all!
Thing #22
I chose to explore Facebook. I have to admit -- I have refused to be a part of Facebook. Call me crazy, but I just do not want to network in that way. I do not desire to have anyone find me and I do not want people to know what I do every minute. =) Then everyone would know that I work almost 100% of the time, because I would update the question, "What are you doing right now?" to "I am working on ____." Then the whole world would know that I am a workaholic. People just think that right now -- having a Facebook page would solidify that. So I did an alias page. Feel free to check out my profile.
1. I think it is important for educators to know about social networking because all the kids have a social network. That is how students communicate with each other. I also think it is important for teachers and students to not be friends on these social networking sites. When they graduate - sure. But not just to chat ...
2. I learned by updating my profile that you can tell a lot about a person on these social networking sites. Students need to be careful about what they put on there. I know that many employers check out these pages to see what a future employee does in their spare time. It could also be a way to search for people that share similar interests.
3. I do not like the idea of having 'friends' on these sites. People have to be invited and you have to ask to be a friend and then approve a friend -- it just seems so impersonal. I can see how people get wrapped up in it by trying to accumulate as many friends as possible. And then what happens when you delete a friend -- talk about traumatic!
4. I think Facebook had the most useful features. It was user friendly.
5. I think that these social networking sites could have some educational benefit in keeping in touch with colleagues and for networking. Sometimes it is difficult to build relationships with your fellow teachers because of the lack of time and the business of the day. So this could be a way to keep up with your colleagues to see what is going on in their lives.
1. I think it is important for educators to know about social networking because all the kids have a social network. That is how students communicate with each other. I also think it is important for teachers and students to not be friends on these social networking sites. When they graduate - sure. But not just to chat ...
2. I learned by updating my profile that you can tell a lot about a person on these social networking sites. Students need to be careful about what they put on there. I know that many employers check out these pages to see what a future employee does in their spare time. It could also be a way to search for people that share similar interests.
3. I do not like the idea of having 'friends' on these sites. People have to be invited and you have to ask to be a friend and then approve a friend -- it just seems so impersonal. I can see how people get wrapped up in it by trying to accumulate as many friends as possible. And then what happens when you delete a friend -- talk about traumatic!
4. I think Facebook had the most useful features. It was user friendly.
5. I think that these social networking sites could have some educational benefit in keeping in touch with colleagues and for networking. Sometimes it is difficult to build relationships with your fellow teachers because of the lack of time and the business of the day. So this could be a way to keep up with your colleagues to see what is going on in their lives.
Thing #7b
I subscribe to Free Technology for Teachers on my Google Reader. There was an interesting article about Nook Study. I found out about a very neat and FREE resource called Nook Study. It is a free tool from Barnes and Noble. It gives free access to over 500,000 ebooks that students can highlight and annotate from using Nook Study. They can even bookmark certain pages. It looks like a fantastic tool for students. It is coming soon -- I am looking forward to checking that one out! I wonder if it will have all the books that I need for future classes that I might take ... I will check to see!
Thing #21
WOW! There are so many Google Tools -- probably my favorite part so far. It is amazing what it all has to offer.
Google Sketch up is a great feature -- I can really see students using this tool in Math class. They could make a prism with specific dimensions and really see it in action and they could also change the dimensions as they go. Very neat feature! They could also create a model of the figure and then find the solution if the actual object was __ feet long. Using proportions in real life!
Google Earth is also great for measurement. Students can use scale and distances in Math class. They could locate the pyramids in Eqypt, and find the perimeter of the base and the surface area too. They could also determine the distance between two cities and predict/estimate the number of miles between two other cities. I see a future project coming on!
Google Calendar is a great tool. I find myself so busy -- no one can keep up with me. The Google Calendar would be a great way to do that! Teachers can see when I am coming to their schools, when I am in meetings, classes, etc. How great! My family can also keep track of me too! Here is a sample of my calendar.
We have already had the pleasure of experiencing You Tube and Blogger, which are also tools listed. Google Tools has a LOT to offer! I could spend hours experimenting and see what all it can do!
I thought that the Books feature was neat to search for full texts ... interesting! Also the Picasa could be another way to save and share photos -- kind of like Flickr. I have a digital camera -- I just need to carry it with me more often to take pictures and then share those images!
I enjoyed looking at the many Google Tools. I need to explore more and see what else is out there! Thanks for another FREE teacher resource!!! =)
Google Sketch up is a great feature -- I can really see students using this tool in Math class. They could make a prism with specific dimensions and really see it in action and they could also change the dimensions as they go. Very neat feature! They could also create a model of the figure and then find the solution if the actual object was __ feet long. Using proportions in real life!
Google Earth is also great for measurement. Students can use scale and distances in Math class. They could locate the pyramids in Eqypt, and find the perimeter of the base and the surface area too. They could also determine the distance between two cities and predict/estimate the number of miles between two other cities. I see a future project coming on!
Google Calendar is a great tool. I find myself so busy -- no one can keep up with me. The Google Calendar would be a great way to do that! Teachers can see when I am coming to their schools, when I am in meetings, classes, etc. How great! My family can also keep track of me too! Here is a sample of my calendar.
We have already had the pleasure of experiencing You Tube and Blogger, which are also tools listed. Google Tools has a LOT to offer! I could spend hours experimenting and see what all it can do!
I thought that the Books feature was neat to search for full texts ... interesting! Also the Picasa could be another way to save and share photos -- kind of like Flickr. I have a digital camera -- I just need to carry it with me more often to take pictures and then share those images!
I enjoyed looking at the many Google Tools. I need to explore more and see what else is out there! Thanks for another FREE teacher resource!!! =)
Thing #20
Google Docs is a great FREE teacher resource. I had a great time creating a 'Field Trip News' page in Google Docs. I really want to use this as we plan every third Saturday to feed the homeless. We go each month and we all plan the menu and take turns bringing the main dish, vegetable, fruit, bread, and dessert. It would be great to use a Google Docs for all the members of the group to edit the doc and add to it, creating the list of 'who brings what'. Talk about collaborative! That would be great!
The Google Forms is a great tool to get information quickly from teachers or friends. If you wanted to find out information about your teachers, you could easily make a Google Form with campus, grade level, years of experience, room number, extension, etc. You could also find out their favorite Sonic drink to surprise them after a busy day!
I also enjoyed the Google Spreadsheet -- what a great asset! You can make games on the Spreadsheet for students to use - or even a quiz! It could actually grade it for you too! That might be a neat thing to incorporate in a teacher's busy schedule -- a computer-graded game or quiz! It might take some effort, but I am sure it could be done ... Soliciting a technology facilitator for some help might just do the trick!
The Google Forms is a great tool to get information quickly from teachers or friends. If you wanted to find out information about your teachers, you could easily make a Google Form with campus, grade level, years of experience, room number, extension, etc. You could also find out their favorite Sonic drink to surprise them after a busy day!
I also enjoyed the Google Spreadsheet -- what a great asset! You can make games on the Spreadsheet for students to use - or even a quiz! It could actually grade it for you too! That might be a neat thing to incorporate in a teacher's busy schedule -- a computer-graded game or quiz! It might take some effort, but I am sure it could be done ... Soliciting a technology facilitator for some help might just do the trick!
Monday, July 5, 2010
Thing #19
Voicethread is a very useful tool. I searched various postings and found quite a few that I found beneficial. I searched 'integers' and found a Voicethread using a number line and one using manipulatives. This concept is developed in 7th grade math, so these would be great to show students in class. What would be even more powerful -- the students create their own Voicethread about a certain topic and upload it. They can share these with each other! What a great way to study and review topics! When a student teaches a concept, they will learn it even better themselves! What a great tool! WOW! Another free technology resource!
I found a Voicethread of someone describing how to add integers using a number line. This would be great to use with students! That way, they see the number line in action!
http://voicethread.com/share/99851/
I found another Voicethread of a student describing how to add and subtract integers using the two-color tiles. I think this would be very useful to use with students. Some students struggle with the use of manipulatives. This Voicethread could really help! I think students would get the most out of this one if they had the two-color tiles to use on their desks too.
http://voicethread.com/share/156253/
I found a Voicethread of someone describing how to add integers using a number line. This would be great to use with students! That way, they see the number line in action!
http://voicethread.com/share/99851/
I found another Voicethread of a student describing how to add and subtract integers using the two-color tiles. I think this would be very useful to use with students. Some students struggle with the use of manipulatives. This Voicethread could really help! I think students would get the most out of this one if they had the two-color tiles to use on their desks too.
http://voicethread.com/share/156253/
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