Thing #11.5 Learning is a Constant Journey

My favorite discoveries and exercises were the Image Generators, especially Animoto and the Screencast. These were simple exercises to manuever and work. With both of these, I can see using them at home as well as at work.

The first Library to Play I did was amazing and eye opening. This one was just as amazing. I have learned that technology is growing faster than I'll ever be able to keep up with. I will need to continue to review these exercises as well as the previous one just to keep up. These exercises as so great I believe that all educators should be aware of all these great educational resources and tools to not only increase and expand their learning, but their teaching as well.

The most amazing thing to me was the article about the Itouches and the cost of using them versus books and papers at school. It's a concept I would DEFINITELY want to see put in place. With the budget of education shrinking and the expectations of more and BETTER learning increasing, its an idea that definitely needs to be strongly considered.

I think a good thing to CONSIDER is having a couple of face-to-face meeting so that players can collaborate on difficulties and/or advise for different exercises. I knew a colleague who was working on the Library to Play who helped me through some of the exercises that helped me.

I truly enjoyed my journey through my Library to Play. I'm looking forward to my next one!

Thing #11 - The BIG 6

It fascinates me how our technology world works. The roles and information about technology changes between student and teacher. Students have their own purpose and intent for the Internet and technology. Mostly it's for personal networking and entertainment. Many times students and/or our own children teach us about new things coming on the Internet and about technology, yet we are the teachers. At the same time, we as teachers know the boundaries, the does and don'ts that the students and/or children either choose to ignore or just don't do.

It is ALL teacher's responsibility to teacher digital literacy as it's called. I like the diagram of the student in the middle with safety, etiquette, learning strategies and literacy. I believe all these skills should and can be taught at each grade level and each subject.

To teach Digital Citizenship I would give the students different scenarios and and have them work through the Big 6 steps on how to solve the problem and what is correct or incorrect when it comes to Digital Citizenship. This lesson needs to be taught at each grade level because as times change, so do the rules.

Thing #10 - My Second Life

The Second Life tool can be described as interesting and fun, yet confusing and hard to understand. I felt that I was prepared by going through the guides and tutorials, but when I actually started to play, I was confused and felt uneducated.

As I read through and watched the videos, I saw a wide array of lessons for the classroom. A teacher being able to go into Second Life and create a classroom and/or library and students meeting in the classroom to discover different worlds and solve real world applications. Even as a counselor, I can see me using this as a tool to explore colleges and universities.

I plan to continue exploring my Second Life. I do want to learn more about it. I love the concept, the exploring, the freedom to do and be whoever you want to be. As a teacher, I believe it takes learning to a level that is unlimited and endless.

#9 Goodbye Powerpoint; Hello Sideshare

I never really organized and presented a Power Point presentation. I have edited and added information to others. I remember the person having to save it, then email it to me, then me editing and emailing it back. This went back and forth for a few days until it was finished. I can't even imagine students trying to work together having to go back and forth saving information and emailing back and forth to get a project done.

The new generation of Power Point, Slideshare, makes collaborating with group on a slide show not only easier that saving and emailing back and forth, but more animated and easier to share with MULTIPLE groups worldwide and webwide. I can even see the teacher adding notes and suggestions to the presentations as well as students from different schools and states. I think Slideshare is a great tool for students that can provide a wealth of resources and knowledge.

Thing # 8 Capturing My Screen

I enjoyed working with Jing and Freescreencast. It was a fun tool, but I was trying to envision how to use it as a counselor as well as a teacher. In counseling, students can produce videos on how to produce resumes, how to fill out applications online and how to do college searches at different sites. These videos can be used to help other students.

As a teacher, student could produce "How to" videos on downloading music, making making webpages, etc. These could be projects in Speech, Multimedia, etc. Students could collaborate and learn skills from other students.

I enjoyed exploring this tool and look forward to more!

Thing #7 - Posting Videos

I went to several resources on videos. Hulu had some "interesting" videos on it. I like the fact it has everything from movies to television shows to watch. Blinkx was OVERWHELMING with all the videos, movies, TV shows and how-to videos. It just overwhelms me that you can download and watch movies right from your computer. Wow has technology changed!

Neok12 was my favorite for educational resources. It had some great teaching videos on
a wide variety of subjects, some powerpoint and some with actual teachers. The even had videos on how to play piano and different sports.

As a counselor, I found various videos on Calculating GPA, How to do College Searches, and even bullying and date rape videos. We have a college room at Spring Woods and I would love to see these videos downloaded available for students to view.

Thing #6 - Iphone, Itouch

I became the owner of an Iphone almost a year ago. At first, I wasn't a real fan of the phone. I decided to go ahead and see what all the uproar was about. As I started downloading apps and became aware of all the tools and resources available I was happy I purchased it. Reading the blogs and seeing the video on the educational side of the Itouch. I was truly surprised about the savings of using and Itouch in schools versus books, paper and other required supplies. It's AMAZING. I'm all for the Ischool. I think its an interesting concept and would be interested to see it in place somewhere.

My blog is suppose to address a list of ways the Itouch can be used by multiple students versus assigning it to one student. Some ways are:

1. Using the app for books (Classics, Bookshelf) the students are currently reading, any student in any grade level can find their book on the Itouch;

2. The app for reference books can be downloaded so that all students can have access to it. This would help students find information quick and easy;

3. Students doing math homework after school could use the calculator applications if they have not purchased a graphing calculator.

These are just a FEW things that the Itouch can be used for. I was enlightned by the information I learned reading and listening to the information.

Thing #5 Tweet, Tweet, Back, Back

I've used Facebook for the past year and a half. Thanks to Facebook, I have reconnected with classmates, planned class reunions and even reconnected with cousins and family. It's a great social networking tool that has even helped me stay in touch with my students who have went to college. Though I don't use it everyday, its nice tool to keep in touch with my friends and family I don't normally see or talk to.

I've heard alot about Twitter, but have not logged on and played with it until now. The thing that I am hesitant about and almost scared is following people you don't necessarily know, even though you may have common interests. I see Twitter as a more useful tool for conferencing with back channeling. What a GREAT new concept for a classroom. Students who are shy and/or afraid to ask questions can easily get answers with a click. Students can also compare notes and comment to the teacher without talking out loud. I think its an excellent concept! Of course the con to back channeling is keeping the students focused on the class and not Twittering with friends. Teachers could go one step further by having a homework time with students on Twitter. Students could log on with the teacher or as a study group to get help with homework. No more excuses for not having it finished because of questions!

I will have to play with Twitter more to get used to it. As a counselor I can see it as a valuable tool to keep students abreast about credits, changes in class schedules or questions about scholarships. In the meantime, I'm having fun with Facebook!

Thing #4 Tubing on YouTube

I posted my Animoto video to YouTube as a private video. It was easier than I thought. I haven't really been much of a fan of YouTube, until I found out you can listen to music tracks and sometimes watch music videos on there. Other than than, occasionally a friend would email me about something funny to watch on there.

Honestly, I never thought of it as a learning tool. Then it hit me...student post things all the time on YouTube. They are constantly searching for things there. Why not have them watch the teacher teaching an assignment and getting extra help for homework! Teachers could use webcams to record them teaching the lesson for the day and students could go to YouTube or TeacherTube and watch the lessons. This could also be an advantage to students who were absent for the day. Also new teachers, or even seasoned teachers looking for a new approach to their subject, could visit lessons taught on particular subjects or even get ideas for projects for their subject area. TeacherTube and/or YouTube could be a learning tool for teachers as well as students.posting things would be a positive, fun way to promote education. Students viewing other students approach on different subjects may be a benefit to another student.

This lesson was an eye-opening one for me. I see YouTube in a new light now!

Thing #3 Putting Skype/Ustreaming To Use

It's amazing how in the past 30 years, technology has went from rotary phones, to the big block care phones, to wireless cell phones and now video conferencing. I can see limited opportunities for this program in the classroom as well as training. In the classroom, video conferencing with classrooms all over the USA is a concept that was only dreamed of 30 years ago.Classrooms can debate current events and how they relate to their particular country/state/city. Classrooms can compare notes on science projects and how they are affected in different ways; the possibilities are unlimited. Librarians can help students with research with Skype. Librarians can train students with Skype or even teachers through video conferencing.

The most interesting tool was Mikogo. I have had HP work on my computer using a tool similar to this. They were able to see my desktop and maneuver my desktop remotely. It was mind boggling how it was done.

Skype will be the tool that is most useful to me. I've enjoyed using it with my best friend who lives in Indiana. These were some interesting tools!

Thing #2 Image Generators

I truly enjoyed playing with the options. I did a video on Animoto. I used pictures of my twins to create a slideshow. I even emailed it to their grandparents. Twelfth grade students at our school do a Senior Legacy Book. This could be another twist to the assigment instead of using an actually scrapbook. The students can use the tool each year to do parts of the assignment. It could also be used to create a report on a fieldtrip.

I tried using the Voki, but never figured out how to make her say more that "Hello". I think this would be great for speak students. It would be used as a "partner assignment" and ease the nervousness of students.

Bookr was fun creating. I was disappointed that there were not more pictures to choose from. I can see students using this as an alternate to powerpoints or construction paper and cut out pictures for book reports.

The hardest part of Thing #2 was figuring out how to post the designs after the creation. I can see myself using these tools again!

Thing #1

I remember when I thought writing a research paper for high school was hard. Going to college with so many more expectations and less guidance was even harder. When new technology and means of communication, writing any type of research paper is made easier just by a touch of a button. It's amazing how this short videos shows how not only can this student make his research less timely, but get facts and knowledge from around the world, including from leading researchers and professors from of the topic. The important thing the video highlighted at the end was that the teacher is still an important piece of this vast communication. Someone has to be there to organize, help figure out fact or fiction from all the information, and consult on how to use the information to not only help the student, but others in the same field. A librarian could definitely be an important teacher as well. Their role can also be seen as an instructor to the student on information with their library system and consult on areas to find facts about the topic.

I thought it was amazing, not only how the system works but how it's a neverending system!