Thing 14

I created an account with Gliffy and Bubbl.us.  Gliffy is a flowchart tool that allows the user to create charts.  It's that simple.  I created a Venn diagram of the 3 primary colors of light.  I thought this could be used in a Science or Physics class depending on what class you may teach.  I chose Gliffy because it was the first exercise tool listed and I really liked it.  I have never used this site before so I was completely unfamiliar with it.  I found it very easy to use.  Bubbl.us is a site used for making mind maps.  I decided to create a map about light, with everything associated with light surrounding the word light in the center.  I have never used Bubbl.us before either and I was pleased at how easy it is to use.  This could also be a great tool for a Science class.  Or any class really.  Both the tools I chose can be related to any class.  They are both easily accessible and FREE! which are two great reasons to use them.

Thing 13

I used Zoho Writer to create just a short document about myself.  (I haven't figured out how to get the document on my blog).  I thought Zoho Writer is an awesome tool because it has a Share tool.  AWESOME!  You click on share and then choose the blog you use or add your blog and then your document is supposed to come up.  Remember I haven't figured out how to use it yet...  I also thought it was great that there is a tool bar that tells how many words and characters you have typed.  Zoho Writer is so much easier than Word.  I still can't get over the fact that it has a Share tool.

In Google Docs, I created a drawing.  I thought the Drawing tool in Google docs is a valuable tool for teachers because you can create your own pictures and add them to a power point for a lecture class.  I chose to make a picture of a rainbow and how rainbows are made from light through a prism.  (I'm studying light right now in Physics.)  Google Docs is a great tool for students because they can use it for projects that require visual aids.

I prefer Google Docs because I was already slightly familiar with it and it's tools.  Zoho was slightly confusing and I couldn't get the share tool to work so that was a turn off for me.  I found it really easy to create a drawing in Google Docs and I think this would be great for students to use.  However, both tools are better than Word!

Thing 11

I used my Google Reader account to find feeds the most helpful.  I typed in Education and searched until I found an interesting feed.  I also used the Google Blog search to find a feed and when I found one I liked I subscribed to it in Google Reader.  I tried using the other search tools (Topix.net, Syndic8.com, and Technorati) but I couldn't find anything that seemed interesting.  Syndic8.com was the least helpful.  Not only was it confusing in finding an interesting feed, but it also opened a bunch of ads and spam looking things.  When I exited the site, all these other pages had been opened that I did open myself.   That made me really mad and also nervous that maybe Syndic8 was a good place to catch a virus on my computer.  I found a really great feed that is actually a TV show through hulu.com called The Balancing Act.  It is a one hour show that gives advice on Education.  This site was a little unusual just because it is in the form of a TV show instead of a blog where you have to read everything.  I was really excited to find this feed.

Thing 12

I created a Google Alert on this place that I like to go to listen to music in Nashville.  This was actually very easy for me to use.  Google Alert is a great way to stay informed, especially if you check your email five times a day like I do.  I can continue to find other topics to stay informed about through Google Alerts.  This can be very valuable when I am looking for the latest news in Education or maybe the latest news in a certain topic that I am teaching.  I also created a Picasa Web album.  This tool can be used for uploading classroom pictures in a safe web environment that can be shared with parents and fellow teachers in a locked group.  I think it is important for the parents to be able to see progress that their students make.  Picasa Web Albums are a great way to share photos.

Thing 9

I went to this website to find a sign.  I chose the wooden sign held by a smiley face.  I thought my sign could be used to display classroom rules.  So, my rules are "Be respectful," and "Be responsible."  These are important concepts for a 2nd grader to learn and follow.  I think the smiley face sign would be a perfect way to display classroom procedures, rules, and turn-in trays.  You can also change the smiley face to fit a more appropriate setting if you so wish.

Thing 10

I like RSS and newsreaders because it is an excellent place to view everything that I am interested in all in one place.  This is something that I can use personally because I can view all my favorite news feeds and updates on my favorite TV shows.  Teachers can take advantage of RSS because they follow all their favorite bloggers on Google Reader at once.  It also saves a lot of time that teachers don't have by keeping everything in one place on one web page.

I couldn't get the photo from Thing 7 uploaded to our 23 things group.  If anyone could instruct me on how to do this, it would be much appreciated!

Thing 8

http://metaatem.net/words/Miss%20Molly

This is the link to my mashups creation.  Flickr mashups could potentially be a great learning tool for the classroom.  It would be great in areas like Spelling and Reading.  The mashup I chose creates words out of pictures from Flickr.  A teacher could use this to create spelling words of the week.  I noticed there was a clock mashup that could also be used to teach children how to tell time in a different and more interesting way.  There was also a link to puzzle creations as well.  Puzzles are great brain stimulators and this could be a fun activity for children to do during free time at school.  I am comfortable with sharing photos online as long as they are not provocative or suggestive.  I am aware that there are people out there who could do serious damage with photos shared online.  We all just have to be smart about what exactly we want people to see.

Thing 7

http://www.flickr.com/photos/59358464@N02/5434601177/

This photo was taken of me playing my fiddle last summer at a community event called the Turning of the Pig in Greenbrier, TN.  A fun gig!  The Flickr experience has been a learning one.  I had no idea people could share photos this way.  I don't know exactly how I could use this in the classroom, yet.  However, this is my first time sharing pictures like this other than on Facebook.  I am comfortable sharing this photo with all of you because it is not a bad picture and it doesn't suggest any negativity I don't think.  It is also on my Facebook so I must be comfortable sharing it!

Thing 6

I found two sites:  Skype and Hulu

- Skype (http://www.skype.com/intl/en-us/home)  is a great way to connect with people who are a thousand miles away without actually being with them.  You can use your computer to call other skype users.  You can see and hear each other as you talk.  Also, Skype is free to download and use!  I think this could be the modern PenPal.  Instead of writing to students in different places, you can call them on Skype.
I like Skype because it is more personal than texting or talking on a phone.  You can see the person as if they were right next to you.

- Hulu (http://www.Hulu.com/) is site that allows users to watch full length movies and TV shows on your computer.  The shows do not come from other users, but comes directly from the content providers.  I disliked the fact that Hulu has not come out with a mobile version yet.  However, they are said to be working on it.  Also, the commercials are not as limited as the website says they are.  This could be valuable in any classroom that is wanting educational videos from channels like Discovery, History Channel, or NatGeo.

Thing 5

School 2.0  is basically a way for educators, students, parents, and anyone interested in the educational process to network, communicate, and work.  School 2.0 is like Web 2.0, which is the newest form of the Web.  One of the videos said that we as people on the Internet are Web 2.0.  We make it want we want it to be.  School 2.0 is the same way.  We make education what we want it to be.

Schools of the future are going to be very different than the schools of the past one hundred years because of Schools 2.0.  Everything is going to be digital.  I think all students will read their textbooks, do their homework, take tests, and give discussions on a computer.  I believe this would be good because paper will be done away with and trees can be saved.  The structure of schooling will change.  I am not sure if this will be a good thing or a bad thing.  I don't fully understand all the pros and cons of School 2.0 and what exactly will change.  However, in this technological age, we all must accept the changes and be knowledgeable about the changes in educational instruction.

Thing 4

Commenting helps create a sense of community and interaction because it is a personal way to talk to people who are involved in the same things we are.  I found that when commenting it is very important to let the bloggers reading your post know who you are so that they can thank you for commenting and so that they can recognize the work you have done.  Also, it is very important to be tactful about what you say on a blog.  We can't just fly off the handle when someone says something we disagree with.  Everyone must speak cordially and appropriately.  However, it is okay to disagree with a blogger comment.

The people that I followed and commented on randomly were: Shea Osborne, Tammy Waters, Mary Barczak, bwood6, and ljyurus.

Shea Osborne-  Shea said that students feel more at ease speaking through blogs than they do through the classroom discussion.  I commented that I agree, especially since I am one of those students who doesn't like to speak in front of a class.

Tammy Waters- Tammy gave a quote that really stuck with me.  She said "It is what it is" in light of Habit 3.  I have the same problem Tammy does of making problems into challenges.

Mary B.-  Mary commented that she didn't understand the importance of EDUC 3040.  Neither did I until we started learning all these things about the Internet and how technology impacts the classroom environment.

bwood6-  She posted that the process of setting up the blog was confusing and I completely agree!  I am glad I am not the only one that had trouble.

ljyurus-  Posted some very good ideas about how to use blogs in upper level classrooms.  I thanked her for the ideas.

I chose these people because they all posted thoughts that I was interested in and that I agreed with.  I learned some valuable things and I feel like I made good connections.  It is good to know I am not alone in this process.

I also am following Blind Pig and the Acorn and the Bluegrass Blog.  I chose both of these blogs for the same reason.  I love bluegrass music.  I teach it, I play it, and I perform it.  I like to stay in touch with all the latest news in the bluegrass world and these blogs are a way for me to do that.