Thing 19

I haven't done much tagging in the past, but plan to try it in the next thing on delicious. I currently use delicious and it is a life saver!! I like the idea of tagging with a number of key words or topics. I am fearful of inappropriate tags. So I am moving on to thing 19. I hope to use the site in a class that begins in a couple of weeks. I see delicious having great potential with my 7th graders.

Thing 18 Ning

Enjoyed looking at Ning and Ning in Education. I joined a middle school group as well as groups for social studies and world history. Lots of great information, new ideas, discussion on using web 2.0 in the classroom. Within our school the social network could be used to dialog with teachers in other buildings that teach the same subjects at the same grade level. We rarely get to work together, so maybe social networking would be an answer. I found a great deal of helpful information, dialogue, and ideas to use in my classroom. But as always, I want to know where to find the time to be able to utilize everything. Even be able to participate in the networking on a regular basis.

Thing 17 web 2.0 winners

There is SOOO much to look at so I went to the short list of web 2.0 winners. Went to many of the sites. Wish I had more time to just explore!! I found Go2web2.0 and plan use the site with my students. We are going to do some exploring together. I'd like to see them use doink.com for animation and storytelling. We will do some exploring together and then use a wiki to share their opinions on how these sites my enhance their creativity and help them in school. Great ideas, I just hope we (students and I) can make it work!

Thing 16

I enjoyed all 3 videos although I must admit they made me cringe about the state of education. Digital students in analog schools seems to hold true for more than just university students. Students must have technology and the option to use it creatively to demonstrate knowledge. Robinson emphasized that creativity is as important as literacy in schools. Instead of growing out of creativity students should grow into it as they progress through schools. Technology can allow them to do that. Problem is many schools do not have the technology available to them or their students. No Future Left Behind said it all in a variety of words: ask, learn, discover, create, share, fail, try again, learn, explore, collaborate . . . thats what we need to do in classrooms today

Thing 15 Podcasts

I was real excited doing the podcast exploring for thing 14, but for thing 15 I discovered some things about podcasts that I don't care for. The educational site for podcasts has a disclaimer that they can not guarantee the content of the podcasts. I went exploring for a podcast on Japan. Found one but was greeted by inappropriate language for 7th graders. I enjoyed the podcast, but couldn't use it in my classroom. That happened several times, so I will return to the podcasts I found in thing 14.

We have had students create podcasts as well as teachers. As for me, I am considering having the students make their own podcasts reviews of different topics in my world history class. Possibly a podcast simile, metaphor, personification song we have been working on as a review.

My school is very supportive of teachers exploring web 2.0 possibilities. I am very fortunate to work in a school system that utilizes technology every day.

Thing 14 Podcasting

I looked over a number of podcast sites. I liked storynory.com and the Greek myths section. The podcast reads the story, shows the story for the reader, and made connections with the gods to today. I also liked vocabulary by the Princeton Review or http://feeds2.feedburner.com/princetonreview. Students can choose the specific topics to listen to, such as synonyms, and learn about them through song. I personally enjoy the podcasts from NPR. During the school day I miss some of my favorite shows and I am able to listen to them later.

Thing 13