Thing # 11.5 Evaluation

1. What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?

The screencasting was probably my favorite and the most applicable to my teaching at the level of technology that I am at.  Video hosting was also enjoyable and I feel worth some more investigation.

2. How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?  

This program has showed me that I really should be more curious on the internet than I am. There is an awful lot of really neat applications that I'm missing.

3. Were there any take-a-ways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?
Sorry to say that there weren't any unexpected outcomes from this program, but I thoroughly enjoyed my investigations.

4. What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?

Sometimes trying to address all the issues in the blogs was difficult.  Honestly sometimes I was forcing myself to think of ways to apply some of the new technology.  I hope is becomes easier once the curriculum has begun and I can generate new ways to apply what I am teaching and learning.

Thing #11 Digital Citizenship

I believe this topic is of paramount importance in this day and age of technology. In their natural curiosity kids can open themselves up to so many things and people that could possibly hurt them...if not immediately, then in the future. I think learning Digital Citizenship is a crucial topic to teach.

I don't think students and to some extent adults realize how important protecting your personal information is. In some situations I'm nervous about giving out my own address let alone other information some sites request.

I would tell my students first of all to make sure they are not misrepresenting themselves.  That dishonesty in all situations looks bad on them for a long time.  They should know that they are accountable to any and all information posted in their online work and projects.   With that being said they should never take anything they read as the absolute honest truth and that they should have more than one source of information to validate what they are reading.

Thing #10 Virtual Worlds

I still haven't received my email about virtual world and when I tried to sign up again, I was blocked saying that I had too many avatars.  Not quite sure how this happened,so in order to experience this "thing" I looked over the shoulder of my loving husbands as he navigated through this virtual world.

By far this will become an addiction to some.  The graphics are awesome and those of curious mind to explore have found a new playground.  I was surprised to find out how real this second life is.  You actually have to get "money" somehow.  Meaning your avatar has to get a job...very applicable in the real world for our kiddos.  Interacting with people was interesting.  They weren't as polite as I feel folks should be upon first meetings.  Replies were short and curt.  As a class we could discuss how to the characters could interacts better.  

This blog is going to edited several times as my view change.

Thing # 9 Slideshare

I think that I have happened across this technology before while searching for PPt presentations on various subjects. I never really thought about uploading them before, but I can see where this could be helpful. I can imagine some students searching for presentations created by others to compare to their own.

As a teacher I appreciate the idea that Joyce Valenza had about "parking" her presentations their in the event of her computer crashing and loosing what she has created.

Thing # 8 Screencasting

This is soooo neat. This could be used by a teacher who is doing work with his/her class in a computer lab and needs them to learn how to produce something. Now I screencasted how to open curriculum for new teachers from the homepage.  http://screencast.com/t/eVwCYb9TtF

Phases # 7 Video Resources

I've bookmarked several of these sites on my computer and know that I will revisit them this year. I'm always looking for those little pieces of "action" to grab my students attention~~especially for the topics that have a tendency to be on the least interesting side of science.

I found a video clip on BLINX about the phases of the moon. Really neat! I would embed this into an active presentation during the space unit. I'm having some difficulty posting it to my blog, but I'll keep trying.

The second video I found was about wave erosion. It was okay. I would use only bits of it to reinforce the powers of waves.

Thing # 6 iPHONE

I borrowed an IPHONE and it was really interesting. It seems that there is an application for just about anything you wanted to do. There were a few research applications that would really come in handy. PLANETS has all the latest astronomy information at your fingertips, UNITS does quick conversions from any measurement unit you can think of, MAPS is great for social studies for coordinate directions.

Thing #5 Facebook and Twitter

I'll chance being ridiculed for my post here. Like many folks I had a Facebook account and "reconnected" with lost friends for a good 6 months or so. Then I began to realize a disturbing trend with myself. More and more of my time was spent on these web sites and the balance between family and friends shifted. My 4 year old would ask me when I would be done on the computer so we could play. Instead of completing so work for school, I was choosing to spend that few minutes I had between the kids bedtime and mine on facebook. Sooo... I closed the account. And let me tell you it was a hard thing to do. I desperately want to sign back up, but the time I was spending on the site was not improving my life any.

Twitter I might give a try. I'm not really interested in what people do minute to minute, but I don't want to give it bad wrap when i haven't experienced it yet.

I did appreciate the advice and uses I read about from Vickie Davis. She must have good time management skills.

Thing #4 Video Hosting

I've always wondered about this. I was afraid that I would need special equipment, but from the soundof things this isn't the case. Unfortunately I don't have any video footage to upload. However, I think I could use this at t beginning of the year when reviewing lab safety. I bet the kids would get kick out of seeing themselves on the computer

Thing #3 Skype

Skype I had a hard time working with in the sense that I couldn't find anyone on line at the same time as me to Skype with. Most of my contacts online don't have a video camera capabilites. However this would be wonderful to do interviews with experts and other professionals in particular fields. Classroom collaboration between campuses for various projects would fit in nicely with this.

Thing #2

I really like Wordle. For the student who is into visuals and art, this would be a great way for them to spend more time working with the actual word. I like how it can be printed easily and added to a journal for class.

Glogster seems to be an awesome way to present information. It appears very user friendly and would be engaging for the students. It's sort of like scrapbooking in that you can rearrage your information as needed. In making a poster, once you write thats it. You are stuck with what you have....no changes can be made without starting all over.

Voice Thread confused me a bit. I don't believe that the video really gave a good advertisement of what can be created with the website. I do however appreciate the "educator controls" that have been placed on the use of the site. I ( and I'm sure parents would too) feel much safer knowing that not everyone on the web could view the students work.

Animoto is cool...but I don't see any science educational use with. I see students getting pictures off the internet, but not really apply information.

Bookr - This would be great for a review or even a presentation for kids. Finding appropriate pictures and adding the text to go with it. I tried one on my own, but honestly...its too hot to sit in my livingroom with my computer on my lap and complete it. I'm starting to sweat... Turn the fan up!

Thing #1 on 11.5

The video was really neat. Before I can teach my students how to do this I'll need to learn myself. Here is what is silently going on in my mind... will I be able to schedule enough computer time if I embark my students in this? Would I be able to learn enough quickly to begin this type of teaching? Would the time needed to network like this allow me to still complete the curriculum required? Now, let me answer some of my own questions since I've thrown up roadblocks in front of myself...1. Scheduling time...it can be done if I plan far enough in advance and make sure that I am prepared. 2. My learning...I could do it...it'll take me a while to get really confident in my ability... I anticipate lots of trial and error. 3. Completing the curriculum...this part is nonnegotiable... I have to get it done and done well, so this type of learning my have to be placed on the back burner at times.