Thing 10: Online Productivity Tools
I discovered Google Docs last year and have just started to use it more frequently this year, but I'm happy to discover Zoho Writer. These tools are especially helpful to me because I don't have Microsoft Word on my home computer. I have it on my school laptop, so of course I can use that to create word documents, but it's nice to know that I can use Zoho Writer any time, any place. I tried to embed the link to the document I created, but something went awry. In any case, I am pleased to have another tool, like Google Docs, that I can access anywhere and that also allows me to "share" and "add collaborators." For planning purposes (like planning an upcoming trip to Fredricksburg with friends) Zoho Writer will definitely come in handy!
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Thing 9: Play with Wiki's
I've started to figure out how wiki's work, and the intimidation factor is decreasing. I posted on the Technology Poppers Wiki about how I used easel.ly with my 8th graders the other day. On a side note, this is a great wiki and particularly relevant/inspiring to me because I've been trying to integrate technology in my classroom for the last year--but I always get hung up on these loooooong projects that eat up so much time and make me feel as if I'm focusing too much on technology and sacrificing other important lessons/activities that aren't necessarily conducive to technology. For example, last year my 6th grade students spent forever creating online storyboards with Little Bird Tales, and they were cute and all--but in years past, my students created amazing storyboards with good ol' fashioned paper and pens and enjoyed it--and the whole process took a fraction of the time. My point being: I love discovering quick and easy ways to integrate technology into my classroom, and I will continue to return to the Technology Poppers Wiki to find out more ways to do so. As for how I could use wiki's in my classroom--I think I could show them to my students as a way for them to communicate on group projects. From what I gather, they're more of a communication tool, not necessarily something that a student or a group of students would submit for a grade or create as the finished product of a project. As a communication tool, they're definitely better than email--but I'm still wondering how they are better than Google Docs. Time/exploration will tell.
I've started to figure out how wiki's work, and the intimidation factor is decreasing. I posted on the Technology Poppers Wiki about how I used easel.ly with my 8th graders the other day. On a side note, this is a great wiki and particularly relevant/inspiring to me because I've been trying to integrate technology in my classroom for the last year--but I always get hung up on these loooooong projects that eat up so much time and make me feel as if I'm focusing too much on technology and sacrificing other important lessons/activities that aren't necessarily conducive to technology. For example, last year my 6th grade students spent forever creating online storyboards with Little Bird Tales, and they were cute and all--but in years past, my students created amazing storyboards with good ol' fashioned paper and pens and enjoyed it--and the whole process took a fraction of the time. My point being: I love discovering quick and easy ways to integrate technology into my classroom, and I will continue to return to the Technology Poppers Wiki to find out more ways to do so. As for how I could use wiki's in my classroom--I think I could show them to my students as a way for them to communicate on group projects. From what I gather, they're more of a communication tool, not necessarily something that a student or a group of students would submit for a grade or create as the finished product of a project. As a communication tool, they're definitely better than email--but I'm still wondering how they are better than Google Docs. Time/exploration will tell.
Thing 8: Wiki's
Ok, here's where I get a little lost. I was browsing around, trying to get some information on Wiki's, and according to one site I looked at, "wiki" means "quick" or "easy" in Hawaiian. I'm not sure I agree. I get the basic concept of a wiki--but I'm confused as to how it's different from something like Google Docs. Or is that an example of a wiki? I am definitely interested in the wiki's developed by libraries and also those focused on 21st Century Learning. I think the concept of the "wiki" intimidates me, though I'm sure that's silly as I probably read them all the time without even realizing it.
Ok, here's where I get a little lost. I was browsing around, trying to get some information on Wiki's, and according to one site I looked at, "wiki" means "quick" or "easy" in Hawaiian. I'm not sure I agree. I get the basic concept of a wiki--but I'm confused as to how it's different from something like Google Docs. Or is that an example of a wiki? I am definitely interested in the wiki's developed by libraries and also those focused on 21st Century Learning. I think the concept of the "wiki" intimidates me, though I'm sure that's silly as I probably read them all the time without even realizing it.
Thing 7: Image Generators
Ok, just the other day I discovered Tagxedo, which is like Wordle, but BETTER! I prefer it because you have more choices in the shapes you create. I've been brainstorming ways to use it in my classroom with my students--but I think I'm going to use it in Advisory. I'm a 6th grade advisor, and I do character lessons with my students. I'd love to create a Tagxedo "word cloud" on the Fruits of the Spirit, including Bible verses that illustrate these "fruits." I went ahead and made a poster for my classroom using Tagxedo. It's on "CUPS"--the acronym helps kids remember the important writing conventions of capitalization, usage (grammar), punctuation, and spelling. I also made an image that I used to create a cover for my 2012-2013 school year calendar/lesson plan binder.
I'm also really excited to discover Flipsnack. I know my students would love this tool--and I am brainstorming ways to use it in my classroom. I think that Flipsnack would work well for the photo project that my 8th graders do when they return from the 8th grade trip to Washington and Williamsburg in the spring. Each student is assigned a term or a trait (like "bravery" or "justice" or "sacrifice"), and they take pictures that illustrate these concepts and journal about them. In the past, they've brought in some gorgeous photographs--taped to a posterboard. Flipsnack is going to change all that! Also, like Tagxedo, and so many other web 2.0 resources, it's free, which is great for my students and for me!
Ok, just the other day I discovered Tagxedo, which is like Wordle, but BETTER! I prefer it because you have more choices in the shapes you create. I've been brainstorming ways to use it in my classroom with my students--but I think I'm going to use it in Advisory. I'm a 6th grade advisor, and I do character lessons with my students. I'd love to create a Tagxedo "word cloud" on the Fruits of the Spirit, including Bible verses that illustrate these "fruits." I went ahead and made a poster for my classroom using Tagxedo. It's on "CUPS"--the acronym helps kids remember the important writing conventions of capitalization, usage (grammar), punctuation, and spelling. I also made an image that I used to create a cover for my 2012-2013 school year calendar/lesson plan binder. 
I'm also really excited to discover Flipsnack. I know my students would love this tool--and I am brainstorming ways to use it in my classroom. I think that Flipsnack would work well for the photo project that my 8th graders do when they return from the 8th grade trip to Washington and Williamsburg in the spring. Each student is assigned a term or a trait (like "bravery" or "justice" or "sacrifice"), and they take pictures that illustrate these concepts and journal about them. In the past, they've brought in some gorgeous photographs--taped to a posterboard. Flipsnack is going to change all that! Also, like Tagxedo, and so many other web 2.0 resources, it's free, which is great for my students and for me!
Thing 6: RSS and Newsreaders
I was never really sure what an RSS feed was until now. I surf around and explore blogs all the time, and in the past I "subscribed" to some of them. I say "subscribed" because I'm not sure what I did exactly; I just know that my inbox was filling up with tons and tons of blog posts, and I couldn't possibly read all of them, and it took all the fun out of perusing my favorite blog, and I ultimately just "unfollowed" them all. Long story short--I've been afraid to "follow" anything for awhile now, and I've avoided that little orange button. Instead, to keep track of my favorite blogs (and there are MANY), I created bookmark folders, where I saved a list of the web address of my favorites. It works just fine. But today I created a Bloglines account. I'm not sure how I feel about it yet, but I think I might like this. I subscribed to the feeds of various blogs, including some education ones like Dangerously Irrelevant, which I discovered as I was reading Nathan's blog. It looks intriguing. Going back to the Bloglines concept, though, I'm not sure sure that I won't just start adding interesting feeds right and left, which kind of defeats the point, right? The whole point is to make exploring the Internet more streamlined, more convenient. If I go RSS feed crazy, I'll feel overwhelmed by all the posts. I might just stick to saving the addresses of my favorite blogs in my "favorites" folder or bookmarking them in the folders I've created. They're neat and tidy and organized there.
I was never really sure what an RSS feed was until now. I surf around and explore blogs all the time, and in the past I "subscribed" to some of them. I say "subscribed" because I'm not sure what I did exactly; I just know that my inbox was filling up with tons and tons of blog posts, and I couldn't possibly read all of them, and it took all the fun out of perusing my favorite blog, and I ultimately just "unfollowed" them all. Long story short--I've been afraid to "follow" anything for awhile now, and I've avoided that little orange button. Instead, to keep track of my favorite blogs (and there are MANY), I created bookmark folders, where I saved a list of the web address of my favorites. It works just fine. But today I created a Bloglines account. I'm not sure how I feel about it yet, but I think I might like this. I subscribed to the feeds of various blogs, including some education ones like Dangerously Irrelevant, which I discovered as I was reading Nathan's blog. It looks intriguing. Going back to the Bloglines concept, though, I'm not sure sure that I won't just start adding interesting feeds right and left, which kind of defeats the point, right? The whole point is to make exploring the Internet more streamlined, more convenient. If I go RSS feed crazy, I'll feel overwhelmed by all the posts. I might just stick to saving the addresses of my favorite blogs in my "favorites" folder or bookmarking them in the folders I've created. They're neat and tidy and organized there.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Thing 5: Flickr Mashup
I had fun playing around with Jigsawed, an app for the iPad or iPhone that allows you to create and do puzzles from pictures you choose. I used a photo from Flickr to create my puzzle. I searched for images of "Texas" and found a great one of a horse in a field of bluebonnets. I had no idea that mashups like this existed. This one lets you explore great images, have fun, and be creative. Jigsawed is one of those tools that could suck me in for hours.
Thing 4: Flickr
I've browsed Flickr before, but I was never tempted to sign up for an account. I'm glad that I did because I now see how using Flickr makes it so convenient to share photos with friends and family! People have been asking to see my honeymoon photos, and now I can share them by sending them the link to the album I created. So far I've added just a few photos, but they're some of my favorites of my husband and my journey throughout Ireland and to London in June 2012. The photo I linked to the blog is of my husband, Jonathan, at the Cliffs of Moher. The Cliffs are a "must see" if you are in Ireland!
I've browsed Flickr before, but I was never tempted to sign up for an account. I'm glad that I did because I now see how using Flickr makes it so convenient to share photos with friends and family! People have been asking to see my honeymoon photos, and now I can share them by sending them the link to the album I created. So far I've added just a few photos, but they're some of my favorites of my husband and my journey throughout Ireland and to London in June 2012. The photo I linked to the blog is of my husband, Jonathan, at the Cliffs of Moher. The Cliffs are a "must see" if you are in Ireland!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)