Thing 24: The Official Last "Thing"

As our Instructional Technology class begins to wind down, time for reflection is near. My favorite exercises were Delicious and Animoto. I found both of them interesting for a variety of reasons and will probably use those as well as many other "things" we have explored during the course. I have been exposed to several technological resources that I can use as both a student and as a teacher and might not have ever used some of them if not for this class. This course helps to illustrate how education and technology will only become further intertwined in the future and we would be remiss not to embrace the coming changes. As for keeping up with 2.0 developments, I will continue to reference the sites and sources to which I have been introduced in order to stay up to date on the latest instructional technology. I might even set up a blog that I'll use for my own classes when I become a teacher. The torrid pace at which computers and technology have advanced, especially over the last twelve years or so, makes me wonder how those changes will further effect instruction and education.

Thing 23: Creative Commons

Learning 2.0 - 23 Things for Teachers is based on Learning 2.0 - 23 Things, a staff development program for the Mesquite Independent School District. That program was based on the Learning 2.0 program that was designed by Helene Blowers and adapted by the California School Library Association and others. Content and style for Learning 2.0 - 23 Things for Teachers has been borrowed and duplicated with permission, under a Creative Commons License. 

 

The above are examples / attributions that show that Learning 2.0 - 23Things for Teachers blog was based on someone else's work and modified from its original.

Learning about Creative Commons licensing has been an eye-opening experience and I will be very aware of how such things apply to my use of teaching resources in my classroom. When I create something that I would like to share  with others, I'll make sure I use the appropriate symbols to notify potential users  how my creation can be used. Remember, things can be easier when you "skip the intermediaries".

 

 

 

 

Thing 22: Live Binders

Once again, the ease of a new technology has me impressed. I was able to quickly set up my account with LiveBinders and was off and running. My initial binders are entitled Science Resources, Life Science, and Earth Science. I know those aren't sexy or overly creative sounding titles, but they work. This site can be of great value to teachers for a variety of reasons. Lesson plans, assignments, and resources for an entire school year can be stored, organized, and shared via LiveBinders.

Science Resources

Thing 21: ANIMOTO!!!!!

Make your own slide show at Animoto.

Working with Animoto was incredibly simple. I am continually impressed at how easy so many of the functions of these are to use. That was not the case a few years ago. All I had to do was create the account, select the background and music, upload some photos, and Animoto did the rest. I will have to let my children experiment with this site.

Thing 20: You, Too, Can YouTube

Diffusion YouTube Video

YouTube is a site I have used on many occasions for a variety of purposes. Almost anything that can be thought of is probably on YouTube. I have checked out bands, instrument reviews, excerpts from television shows, instructional lectures, and even learned how to repair a clothes dryer all from this awesome site. Much like other social networking sites, the content should be reviewed thoroughly before any videos are shown in a classroom setting. The capabilities and ease of use would be beneficial in a library setting in that lectures and tutorials could be uploaded for use by students as well as by teachers. I chose the uploaded video as it corresponded with TN Standard GLE 0707.1.5 Observe and explain how materials move through simple diffusion. Videos such as this have proven to be valuable components in the modern classroom.

Thing 19: Beyond Facebook: Other Social Networks

Upon joining Teacher Pop, I became a member of a second Ning. The first one I joined belongs to my fiancee who is an elementary school teacher. She uses her Ning to keep parents and students informed of assignments, upcoming exams, and material covered. Only a few of the parents joined, but those that did really appreciated having an extra way to stay involved in their children's education.
Since I do most of the cooking at my house, I checked out Tasty Kitchen and Open Source Food. I can see myself using those sites to my advantage in the kitchen.

Thing 18: Social Networking: Paradise for the Nosey!

I have used social networking for several years now and have seen it's positive and negative aspects. It's important that educators know how these sites work as they probably play a big role in their lives and those of their students. There is an exposure factor in social networking as everything you post, including photos, can rapidly be disseminated among various groups of people. Therefore, it is imperative to consider the content of what is selected for uploading. Sites such Facebook allow people to catch up with old friends, which is nice considering the transient society in which we now live. I am beginning to explore Twitter, but am not sure if I'm willing to invest much time in it as there are many other pressing matters, such as school. I wish Facebook had the same musical and layout design components that Myspace offered its users. Those features added a more personalized aspect to the social network experience.

Thing 17: It's Delicious!!!

I have to say that Delicious is by far my favorite "thing" we have been required to join. It's content and diversity drew me in and I will use this site in the future. Most of the comments I read were of the general commentary variety; nothing out of the ordinary. Students and teachers can benefit from Delicious as it allows a variety of resources to be accessed from a single location and it assists in overall organization of data and information. I am beginning to appreciate the capabilities of sites such as Diigo and Delicious, which allow access from any computer. No longer does someone have to say, "It's on my computer at home."

Thing 16: Getting Organized Using Web Tools.

After checking out several online calendars and to-do lists, I chose to set one up on 30 Boxes. As with many online tools that are currently available, this was very easy to use and figure out. I was able to quickly set up my fall class schedule and important birthdays using this site. There is also a feature in which you can share and upload your calendar to other sites. Integration between social media and personal organization tools is a key component to consider when deciding which one to use. I'm not a fan of the to-do list sites as I'm still "old school" when it comes to those, preferring the old pen and paper method. There are so many sites that offer a calendar that I'll not be using 30 Boxes as a home page. I, for one,wish to keep my personal activities and schedule private so I am apprehensive about putting too much of my life and daily activities on the web. In a professional or business setting however, a calendar which could be shared and posted would be of importance, as it could easily eliminate scheduling conflicts. I also checked out some of the file sharing/conversion sites such as Zamzar and believe they can be useful when the original format or size of a file or document to be shared is an issue.

Thing 15: Wiki, Wiki, No Tavi.

I've used Wikipedia in the past so I'm familiar with the concept of a wiki site. I like the idea of a user created/edited site although the content and legitimacy of the uploaded data must be continuously verified for accuracy. They offer a great way to obtain a great deal of information on a topic using only one website as opposed to engaging in a litany of searches. As for my contribution to the APSU 23 Things Sandbox Wiki, I created a new page and uploaded my avatar into an existing folder titled "Avatar". My Sandbox Contribution. I chose to add to the content rather than edit.

Thing 14: Mind Maps & Flow Charts

As I had never used a flow chart or mind map before, I was a bit unsure of what I was getting into. What I discovered were two great tools for organizing and sharing ideas with others. Flowcharts and mind maps present an easy to understand illustration for their target audiences. I chose to use Gliffy for the flow chart and Bubbl.us for the mind map. The tools on both sites were very intuitive and were user-friendly. The mind map was geared more toward gathering ideas and brainstorming as where I found the flowchart to be great for organizing items and presenting different choices and outcomes. Using a flowchart in conjunction with an interactive power point would be effective as they share many of the same characteristics.