I love this exploratory exercise. Each “thing” forced me to dig a little deeper into the vast, limitless space of the internet. I did not know so many free resources were available; I will be spreading the word to my fellow teachers, students, and friends about all these wonderful sites. I loved how these “things” forced me to use the technology...not just read about it or look at examples.
I will take many of these sites into my classroom! Rarely do I have time to, or even think about searching my subject. I really gained a lot of insight and valuable resources.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Thing 23
Screen Shot taken from secondlife.com
I chose virtual worlds for my Learning 2.0 tool. Initially, I thought the concept of virtual worlds and learning were completely ridiculous! At a second glance, it really is relevant; it has students react to situations and be in a stimulating environment.
I will use Creative Commons in my classroom with projects that use technology. A student can use a video, picture, or song and adapt it to a project topic. The possibilities are endless.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Thing 22
Live binders help keep all these pages organized by topic. I really like this website. It can easily be used for a class project or even for general note taking. A teacher can create binders for various units or by chapters in the textbook.
Titles of my binders:
Latin (embedded)
Latin Myth
Roman History
Titles of my binders:
Latin (embedded)
Latin Myth
Roman History
Thing 20
YouTube has many great characteristics about it; however, I would never give a class any type of freedom with this site due to the inappropriate materials on here. Rather it be people’s comments or even the video- a lot of the material is not suitable for school. I chose the video from Monty Python because it is a grammar lesson and it is funny! Love it! As far as useful library resources- the library can use movie trailers for books or even spoke video about new story books.
Thing 19
Currently, I am not a member of these online communities. I often use IMDB to answer those pining movie fact questions. It is have answered any question in the past!
Cooking is my #1 hobby! I perused the Tasty Kitchen! I was able to check out a few recipes without joining; I might join if I find myself going back for more inspiration. It had wonderful recipes, tips, and links.
Cooking is my #1 hobby! I perused the Tasty Kitchen! I was able to check out a few recipes without joining; I might join if I find myself going back for more inspiration. It had wonderful recipes, tips, and links.
Thing 18
Social networking has turned into the pulse of our society. From restaurant recommendations... to yoga classes...to relationship statuses, a large chunk of our population depends on these sites for news, social or "real"! If an educator is not interested in the social part for his or herself, then get into it for the students! It is crucial that we, as educators, know (almost) as much about these sites as the students. Not only are the students using this as their main vein for communication- it is a source for bullying. It is important that we understand and tame the beast before it goes too far. I currently do not have a twitter account, but I see know how people can really get into it. As far as likes and dislikes, I think personal privacy is an issue. Honestly, I have nothing to hide and I typically keep things out in the open anyway; but I do see how a private person can be skeptical. Twitter is a little too "status-y". I rarely update my Facebook status because I simply do not have the time, nor interesting life occurrence that must be shared. That is my issue with twitter...my life is not interesting enough for it! Haha. Facebook has the more interesting and useful features! The site has video chat, games, groups...ahh, the list goes on...and on...
Fun Fact: Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg originally went to Harvard to study Classics (Greek and Latin)! GO LATIN!
Classroom application can get tricky. My Latin 3/4 class has a Facebook classroom page. There is a feature where it you can "create a class". I will update them on assignments and they can converse about the assignment. It is great evidence for me to reflect on my classroom communication- I get to see first hand where I was not clear!
Can you see a classroom or school application for any of these sites?
Fun Fact: Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg originally went to Harvard to study Classics (Greek and Latin)! GO LATIN!
Classroom application can get tricky. My Latin 3/4 class has a Facebook classroom page. There is a feature where it you can "create a class". I will update them on assignments and they can converse about the assignment. It is great evidence for me to reflect on my classroom communication- I get to see first hand where I was not clear!
Can you see a classroom or school application for any of these sites?
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Thing 17
I was pleasantly surprised about the wealth of information that was on delicious! There were several sites useful for classroom use, as well as resources. I clicked on "BrainPOP.com" and it took me to an interactive site for middle school students. I also searched "Latin" and found "textkit.com"; it had downloadable grammar books and Latin readers all for free! (Many Latin books no longer have copyright due to the text's age.) The act of bookmarking helps keep all the sites and ideas organized; it is easier to come back to what you have found. I know I have "bookmarked" items but I tend to never come back to them or even be on a different device and needed a link!
Thing 16
I chose to use iGoogle as my start page. I already have gmail and I was entertained by all the options that cater to all my interests! I did my it my home page, leopard printed banner and all!
I love online calendars! We currently use them frequently at Clarksville Academy. The school's calendar is available in a number of calendar platforms, including Ical and google calendar. Each one of my classes has a calendar with homework assignments and upcoming events! Also, the upper school school teachers have a communal calendar with testing dates on it so we don't bury our students with 5 tests one Friday!
I feel that to-lists are too complicated or what they are. For a basic task- I am going to use a post-it. If I was planning an event or something with a lot of tasks- sure I might consider it! I personally use the notepad on ipad for things like this because it instantly transfers my notes to my iphone! I always have my school notes with me! Very cool and convenient!
As for our choice of useful tools- my choice was Zamzar! I recently had to transfer my "teacher" files from my work PC to my new work macbook. I wish I knew this existed now! I will probably use this for converting image files so I can use them in different outlets! Great site- I will be telling everyone about this!
Thing 15
I think wikis are a great web 2.0 tool! I love how people can collaborate and share ideas because two, three, or ten brains are better than one. Unfortunately, anyone can edit it; one of those ten brains can pollute the wiki page with false or irrelevant information! I could use this for a student collaborative project. I or a group leader can be the monitor for "bad" information! For the sand box project, I added a hyperlink to my page I made!
Thing 14
The first site I went to was Gliffy. It was so easy to use! I had little trouble creating my flow charts! I did have a few problems with the mouse disappearing; I don't know what that was about! I can use this sight to better understand the complexity of Mythological family relations; here is an example of a chart I made on Gliffy:
The second resource was bubble.us. The was easier in the aspect that you are not modifying a template. You build your chart as needed. The features were not as easy to use as Gliffy. I also did not like how the arrows were not customizable.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Thing 13
Zoho's writing tools were great for a free word processing outlet! It had all the standard features that any writer would want; however, I can see the internet "going out" along with my unsaved work! I like my recovery option on Word! I do think the internet has made a once expensive necessity available for all...if you trust your internet connection!
I am very familiar with Google Docs. I frequently use this in my classroom! I submit my weekly lesson plans through spreadsheets and my students submit their essays by means of this program. Recently, with my second year students, I assigned each of my students a grammar topic to review and they were to "share" their notes via Google Docs. The basic information is in that shared folder with no evil outside internet information creeping in! It's great! For my example, I used the drawing features; I have never used these features and wanted to play around with it
I personally prefer Google Docs over Zoho. Google Docs is SO convenient. As soon as your check your mail, you can check, edit, and share you documents. As superficial as it sounds, I hate Zoho's logo! It's cheesy and dated.
I am very familiar with Google Docs. I frequently use this in my classroom! I submit my weekly lesson plans through spreadsheets and my students submit their essays by means of this program. Recently, with my second year students, I assigned each of my students a grammar topic to review and they were to "share" their notes via Google Docs. The basic information is in that shared folder with no evil outside internet information creeping in! It's great! For my example, I used the drawing features; I have never used these features and wanted to play around with it
I personally prefer Google Docs over Zoho. Google Docs is SO convenient. As soon as your check your mail, you can check, edit, and share you documents. As superficial as it sounds, I hate Zoho's logo! It's cheesy and dated.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Thing 12
Google Translator:
Let's see JUST how good it is...muahaha!
My name is Megan and I should have done this a long time ago.
Latin (generated by Google): Nomen meum est et ego feci Megan olim.
"should have done" is translated in the indicative mood when it needed to be translated in the subjunctive mood. Olim is not the best translation either; I accept it but it is poor word choice. It is usually translated as "once". Finally, the translator neglected to translate "this".
This is useful for more advanced students; the class could correct Google translator as an assignment.
Google Calendar:
I use google calendar to send the week's assignments, quizzes, and tests to my students and their parents via email. Here is a link to one of my calendars:
http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=clarksvilleacademy.com_nise6dqjqjlfi7d1841odit9ac%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=America/Chicago
Thing 11
Google's blog search was the most user friendly. I partially contribute this to the familiar search bar and its general platform. It was extremely easy to find feeds about practically anything. The most confusing site was Technorati; when I initially loaded the site, it looked more like a news website than a search engine. It took me a few glances amongst the news stories to see where to actually search for a specific feed. Well, with most internet searches, "Latin" or "Latin language" tends to bring up articles and new stories pertaining to Latin America. So I searched "pugs". I found an interesting story about a lady stealing a $1,200 pug puppy! After that, the blog site took me on numerous tangents, i.e., "How the Kardashians Affect Young Girls"...back to the assignment. All that because of a pug feed search.
Thing 10
- Tools, such as RSS, are great ways to retrieve the latest information. The internet is consistently updated and one rarely gets the latest information about ever-changing topics from a simple search engine. These tools actually do give you the latest information and you don't have to search for it!
- As far as school life is concerned, I doubt that there will be frequently updated information in the realm of Latin and ancient culture but an example might come from a new archeological find! How exciting would that be!? Professionally and personally, I would like to receive new updates on technology that I can use within and outside my classroom.
- The first thing that comes to mind when utilizing this technology in the classroom would be SCIENCE CLASS! The amount of research that is conducted and published daily is astonishing and any student or teacher can find out about it without search for it through RSS.
Thing 9
I used Imagechef.com. I had some issues using my personal computer; it is a few years old and it would not work! Mysterious! Anyway, having used the lab's computer- it worked just fine! I think this is a wonderful tool to use as an attention getter or just for fun!
Thing 8
The Flickr mash-ups are great attention getters! These images are much more interesting to look at that regular text and I think this should be used instead of titles in Power Points. I am a very private person and I am very leery about sharing my photos via the internet. I tend to explore the privacy features before uploading anything with my face on it.
Thing 7
Finding pictures and registering on Flickr.com was extremely simple. I was trying to link my blog to Flickr and I had some issues with that. After the help of Dr. Sigears, I was able to screen shot the photo and has no issues.
Thing 6
Of the nominees, www.mint.com was an exceptional web 2.0 tool. Being the wife of a banker, saving money is always a topic of discussion. Also, as a teacher, it is important that we do as much as we can with what we get (It's no secret that we are NOT in this for the money). A user of mint.com should not fret from handing over all their financial information. After a lengthy setup (about 1 hour), one will see his or her financial outlook and status clearly. I love the spending graphs; sometimes the graphs display the cold hard truth, "Megan, you are $200 over your clothing budget this month!'. Ouch! This is an invaluable tool for anyone on a budget! There are so many features, I could write about this hours. It is definitely worth exploring.
As for an educational spin: Yes, it can be used effectively in a personal finance class. It can even help some students find great student loans and interest rates. Having a firm grip on one's finances is important for student and teacher alike.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13546_109-10237665-29.html?tag=mncol
Thing 5
All of the linked articles reassured me that technology is not going anywhere; if anything, we are becoming more and more dependent on it with reference education. I would be lost with my Powerschool, Gradebook, and the almighty Google. This year marks the first year of Clarksville Academy's 1 to 1 computer program. Being a teacher of a language whose primary sources are over 2,000 years old, this was a frightening idea. To my surprise even the Classics are being digitalized and there are amazing resources on the internet. School 2.0 is my (work in progress) reality. Blogs, wikis, RSS feeds are all things that even a so-called "dead" language can be enhanced by. With any subject, the ability and necessity of communicating, rather it be teacher to student or student to student, is the best feature about School 2.0. As for future- I am happy I am a lifelong learner; otherwise, I would be left in the dust.
Thing 4.
I. Commenting can literally create a "chain reaction". First, the commenter is able to voice his or her opinion and who doesn't love that? This creates a sense of community and an open forum for discussion. For instance, what if a blogger inadvertently offends a reader: That reader is now able to directly let the world know! Also, other commenters and the original blogger can clarify, defend, or retract statements. This is a great feature about our advancements in communication.
II. My two points from the readings:
1. "Write meaningful comments"- from the Coolcat Teacher: Not one blogger wants to receive a simple "Okay :)" from a reader after spilling personal thoughts, advice, and experiences in a blog. A positive comment can encourage the blogger to continue blog; also, comments can generate future blog topics.
2. "Be humble."- from the Problogger: Since everyone experiences conflict, rejection, negativity, and mistakes in life, people are attracted to reading humbling thoughts and stories. No one like a pompous person and no one is perfect!
III.
Classmates:
1. Damaris- I loved her blog's layout. She also commented on my blog! We both teach foreign languages and share similar tribulations.
2. Rachel- Rachel and I share similar opinions about blogging and one's need to seek a connection with the world.
3. Hyam- Her blog's layout is stunning! She is a very creative person and I respect that! I commented on her "Thing 7" because she posted pictures of her origami! It is so neat!
4. Roman- We both shared a similar view on commenting and he poetically expressed it by saying that if no one commented it is like "telling a story and no one listening." Well said!
5. Emily Henson- I commented on Emily's mainly because I was a long-term substitute in her economics class a few years back! (Haha) We also shared similar views on the necessity of commenting.
Other blogs: I'm not sure if we have "free range" of subject matter on this topic but here it is! I love cooking and it truly is my favorite thing in this world. I love reading cooking blogs to get recipes or restaurant suggestions.
1.http://www.seriouseats.com/- This blog talks about a variety of food topics! Rather it be trivial facts about food, or where to get the best burger in Texas- this blog has it all!
2.http://anastybite.blogspot.com/- This blogger is located in Nashville. She blogs about various hotspots, new resturants and all the while, putting a healthful spin on life.
IV. All comments were made because I related to what the author of the blog was saying. People naturally want someone to relate to and blogs are a great tool for people to use to connect to one another.
II. My two points from the readings:
1. "Write meaningful comments"- from the Coolcat Teacher: Not one blogger wants to receive a simple "Okay :)" from a reader after spilling personal thoughts, advice, and experiences in a blog. A positive comment can encourage the blogger to continue blog; also, comments can generate future blog topics.
2. "Be humble."- from the Problogger: Since everyone experiences conflict, rejection, negativity, and mistakes in life, people are attracted to reading humbling thoughts and stories. No one like a pompous person and no one is perfect!
III.
Classmates:
1. Damaris- I loved her blog's layout. She also commented on my blog! We both teach foreign languages and share similar tribulations.
2. Rachel- Rachel and I share similar opinions about blogging and one's need to seek a connection with the world.
3. Hyam- Her blog's layout is stunning! She is a very creative person and I respect that! I commented on her "Thing 7" because she posted pictures of her origami! It is so neat!
4. Roman- We both shared a similar view on commenting and he poetically expressed it by saying that if no one commented it is like "telling a story and no one listening." Well said!
5. Emily Henson- I commented on Emily's mainly because I was a long-term substitute in her economics class a few years back! (Haha) We also shared similar views on the necessity of commenting.
Other blogs: I'm not sure if we have "free range" of subject matter on this topic but here it is! I love cooking and it truly is my favorite thing in this world. I love reading cooking blogs to get recipes or restaurant suggestions.
1.http://www.seriouseats.com/- This blog talks about a variety of food topics! Rather it be trivial facts about food, or where to get the best burger in Texas- this blog has it all!
2.http://anastybite.blogspot.com/- This blogger is located in Nashville. She blogs about various hotspots, new resturants and all the while, putting a healthful spin on life.
IV. All comments were made because I related to what the author of the blog was saying. People naturally want someone to relate to and blogs are a great tool for people to use to connect to one another.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Thing 3
Register Your Blog-
Blogging is an excellent way to connect with students, other teachers, and parents. I currently do not have a classroom blog but I certainly plan on making one. Blogging can be used to further explain lessons to students and keep parents informed. I think it would be a great idea to set up a peer blog for other teachers to share and give feedback.
Blogging is an excellent way to connect with students, other teachers, and parents. I currently do not have a classroom blog but I certainly plan on making one. Blogging can be used to further explain lessons to students and keep parents informed. I think it would be a great idea to set up a peer blog for other teachers to share and give feedback.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Thing 2
My posting name and the name of my blog are simple: my first name and what I am doing!
Creating a blog was fairly simple. It was as easy as setting up a Facebook page! I also had to create a blog for a previous class. Isn't everything easier the second time?
My avatar reflects my personality and actual self. I normally wear contacts but I did add glasses to make my avatar look more scholarly.
Thing 1
My mom forced me to read this book when I was a teenager and I know many of these habits positively affected my early adult life. By incorporating these habits, I graduated early, successfully started my teaching career, and now I am well on my way to receiving my masters degree. I like to think I possess all of these habits but I exemplify some more than others.
Habits I need to "practice" more:
Habit 1 is more difficult for me. I tend to "go for it" with some or little thought of the end in mind. I use this with decorating ideas and financial goals in my personal life. I always use this in my classroom. I always write down what I want my students to know before I test them. This keeps me on task and the students "in the know" so there are no surprises on test day!
Habit 6 is also another habit that has room for improvement. While I am very comfortable using technology, I do have habits that could be better improved with technology. With reference to my classroom, it takes a lot of time and thought to convert lessons to a technological platform.
Habits that are easy to have:
In refernece to Habit 7, I know I am a life long learner but what I have recently discovered is that I have been a life long teacher. From a young age, I always helped my peers and family members learn and discover new things. I enjoy mentoring my students; giving them knowledge and advice is my favorite part of my job.
Habit 7.5 is play! This habit is a constant struggle but if I don't make time for myself, then I won't be giving my best self to the world.
Habits I need to "practice" more:
Habit 1 is more difficult for me. I tend to "go for it" with some or little thought of the end in mind. I use this with decorating ideas and financial goals in my personal life. I always use this in my classroom. I always write down what I want my students to know before I test them. This keeps me on task and the students "in the know" so there are no surprises on test day!
Habit 6 is also another habit that has room for improvement. While I am very comfortable using technology, I do have habits that could be better improved with technology. With reference to my classroom, it takes a lot of time and thought to convert lessons to a technological platform.
Habits that are easy to have:
In refernece to Habit 7, I know I am a life long learner but what I have recently discovered is that I have been a life long teacher. From a young age, I always helped my peers and family members learn and discover new things. I enjoy mentoring my students; giving them knowledge and advice is my favorite part of my job.
Habit 7.5 is play! This habit is a constant struggle but if I don't make time for myself, then I won't be giving my best self to the world.
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