Thing 18: Podcast Exploration

The first time I ever subscribed to a podcast was way back at the beginning of this course when I learned about and set up my Google Reader. I was so excited about Minnesota Public Radio's Grammar Grater and actually played one of the podcasts in my class. At that time I also subscribed to NPR's All Songs Considered podcasts and another one for movie reviews that I don't really enjoy. In fact, I had fallen out of the listening habit and this "Thing" has prompted me to start again. To add to my subscriptions, I liked the Education Podcast Network and the NPR Podcast Directory and (drumroll and trumpet fanfare, please) FINALLY found some info to use in my drama class! Woo hoo! The American Theatre Wing puts out a Working in the Theatre Video Podcast that would be great for my students to view and have discussions about. Vox Talk podcasts deal with voice over and voice acting, which could be cool for some kids to learn about and NPR's In Character examines American fictional characters in print and on screen as a kind of sociological experiment-to see what these characters say about us as a society.
I'm looking forward to creating my own podcast and think that I will try to create some with my students next year.

Photo courtesy of suchitra prints (Away for a few Days) on Flickr

Thing 17: Nings and Microblogging

I was at once over and under whelmed when I first saw Classroom 2.0. I don't know what I expected to see, but I didn't expect to see blog posts (don't ask me why). That's really the only underwhelming bit. There was a wealth of info on that Ning, and I could easily spend hours clicking from one link to the next. I can't see myself managing a Ning right now, but I would like to join one. I didn't find a Ning that particualary interested me on the site. Of course I found some related to what I teach, but I would really LOVE to find one that is centered around drama education. I need resources and ideas out the wazoo for that since I'll be teaching drama for the first time next year. I did however pass along the link for the Caribbean Educators Network to a couple friends who hope to work in the Peace Corps in the Caribbean next year. I like the idea of groups of students from different parts of the world using a Ning to discuss their reading of a book; that's a super way to see other points of view. I just don't think I'm ready to head one up yet. I think I'll start with a Wikispace and go from there. Of course, I may change my tune after I've joined a Ning and played around on it a good bit more.

I was hesitant to join Twitter, just as I was with Facebook, but I've really enjoyed being on it and consider Twitter to be a part of my small little PLN. Like Facebook, I am using Twitter for the personal sector of my life. I don't really post things about school, teaching, technology, or professional development on it so I'm glad to have Plurk to fill that need. I could see my students using something like Shout'Em or Edmodo, but again, I'll have to play around with that more, too. I think microblogging sites like those for class would be more beneficial if every student had a computer or could use their cell phones during class. A big part of the appeal and purpose is the 'real-time' aspect of microblogging. If the kids have to wait for a computer or wait until they're at home to post a quick comment, then they might as well just be responding on a blog or wikispace, or even a VoiceThread.
On a side note, the idealist part of me really wishes that students could use cell phones in class from time to time. Since I've gotten my iPhone, I've used it numerous times during class to aid the lesson or instruction. I've even learned of a cool website in my Twitter feed and used it during the next class period. But then there is the realist side that knows the use of cell phones could be abused, so whattya gonna do?

And now as my social networks keep expanding, as well as my list of usernames and passwords, I have to figure out what hat to wear at what time and how I can streamline or if I should streamline at all. This will be a good task for the months to come, I think.

Photo courtesy of David Spender on Flickr

Thing 16: Thoughts on a PLN

Getting started with Web2.0 is exciting at first- so many new tools that are cool and seem like they'll intrigue the students. But once you delve in, you may find that there is so much to see and do and become overwhelmed! Or you could feel like the little key on the keyboard, all alone. That's where a PLN will definitely help out.

• Before this course I had just recently joined Facebook. I turned my nose up to it for a few years, but soon became obsessed. It's a great way to keep up with friends, plan activities, encourage others, and, yes, shamelessly snoop around if you're bored.
• I'm sure that I'd had the notion of learning from other professionals online, but I guess I didn't know where to look or where to begin.
  
• I think PLNs are so necessary for teachers trying to incorporate Web2.0, or similar, tools into their instruction. Just recently I think I've started to branch out and add to my PLN. It happened just by searching my Google Reader, finding blogs I loved, and following them. I've already expressed my adoration for The Free Technology For Teachers blog that I also follow on Twitter. I get updates all during the day and have been able to use many of the tips and pass on others. I've got such a wealth of info at my fingertips, and that's just with ONE person! PLNs save time!
• There is also a nice community feel to a PLN which I experienced on Facebook, but didn't expect in the professional realm. It's nice to see comments posted by fellow bloggers and hear how others are trying to figure things out and become better at what they do. After a while, it's like you feel connected even though you've never really met.

Alone on the keyboard by fdecomite on Flickr

Challenge Thing 15: Library Thing

Ahhh...summer is approaching and I can just hear the flip, flip, flip of pages now. I LOVE reading over the summer. Even now as I'm typing, I'm thinking of all the things I can't wait to read and Library Thing will definitely add to that list!
Some key points:

• Under the Zeitgeist tab, I found that many of the most tagged authors were ones I'd never heard of--great way to find out about new authors.
• An instant resource for students to find books based on what they like. I have several students in mind who can never find anything in our school library, and well...I haven't read every book ever written. Lame I know, but I haven't. Library Thing would be a great resource for those kids to use to find books that are right up their alley.
  
• Ever been teaching a book from the book room, or part of the set curriculum and wish you had another companion novel that was set in the same time period or same theme, but different genre or POV? Or maybe was on a lower or higher reading level? You can use tags to help you find that book!
• Kids can sign up, join groups, and further their life-long reading practice.
  

The Love Book courtesy of Photos8.com

Thing 14: YouTube and Teacher Tube

YouTube Video: It is kinda lengthy, but it's a Michael Crichton book, whattya gonna do?



I like this video because it highlights several things about using technology in the classroom. First of all, the student says he wanted to do this video version instead of the usual boring PowerPoint slideshow. This book report is creative and the amount of effort and work that went into it is obvious. It definitely was not thrown together, scribbled on a piece of crumpled paper on the bus, or cut and pasted onto poster board from the internet. As a mentioned above, it's an 8:04 minute long video! Have you ever had a student do a presentation for that long...and keep your interest? Again, it's obvious that this student read and understood the book. Doing a book report in this manner meets the criteria I think a book report should have--evidence that the student read and understood the book and a rating of some sort (should other students read the book or not).
And speaking of those book reports that are thrown togehter last minute, written to meet exacting standards of the rubric instead of showcasing what the student finds important, with little enthusiasm, check out this other video that I stumbled upon. A classic!
Book Report from You're a Good Man Charlie Brown on YouTube

In my perusal for Greek Mythology videos I found a 'how-to' for creating eye makeup inspired by none other than Aphrodite herself! I honestly never thought to check YouTube for hair and makeup tips, so that was an interesting surprise. I subscribed to the BeautyScope channel...heh, heh, funny thing that it was under my husband's YouTube user name.

I think 'how-tos' and book reports are just the types of videos that would be great for students to create and post on Teacher Tube. Check out this cutie pie doing a presentation on Greek Mythology that would work well to introduce a unit.

Thing 5c-Google Reader(ish) Find: Public Domain Images and Music

I must confess: I didn't actually find this cool stuff in my Google Reader; I found it in my Twitter Feed, but I have since added the blog, Making Teachers Nerdy (http://mrssmoke.onsugar.com/) to my RSS feed and am excited about receiving updates! Actually, believe it or not, I was not too jazzed with what I was finding in the good 'ole Reader, and decided to check out some of my stored 'favorite' tweets that I had been too busy to look at earlier. Nothing like an approaching deadline to get me back on track, right? The author of a current denizen in my reader, Mr. Byrne--author of Free Technology for Teachers, tweeted "best places to find public domain images" which led me to a super resourceful blog post by Mrs. Smoke that contains links to several sites providing images and music in the public domain. I've also added the blog post and some of the links on it to our group Diigo account because I think it's just so dandy. Flickr Creative Commons searches are awesome, but if your students don't have an account, you can run into a snag. I've pondered recently the logisitics of allowing a class full of kids to use my account and it just seems like a hassle. The sites listed on Mrs. Smoke's blog don't require an account, so problem solved. (I'm saying that quite a bit lately. Yay!!) Plus, all the pics I saw were student friendly. My intent was to include several cool pics I found so that you could see the quality and artistic touch that they have. However, I can't figure out how to get a picture to go anywhere but the top of my post, so I failed on that one, but hopefully you'll check them out on your own. As a final note, I definitely recommend following the blogs I've mentioned here.

Photo Credit:

Red Matches from Photos8.com

Thing 13: Voicethreads

Another exciting Web 2.0 tool! I've never seen a Voicethread before, and when I was exploring the ones on the course page, I honestly thought that I would just skim a few and move on, but I checked all of them out. They just drew me in! There are many ways that Voicethreads can be used in education, and I am happy for the resources and links we received that will inspire ideas. One downside is the availability of microphones for the students. I called in my comment on the wiki page because I was at home without a microphone, but with the free version you only get 3 minutes and I don't know if kids would pay to use this if they don't have microphones at home. So, with that in mind, even though I like Voicethreads better, Slideshows may be easier for all of my students to create. What I really like about Voicethreads, regardless of how they are being used in class, is that everyone is able to listen and speak. For some the excitement is in the live discussion, in the heat of the moment, but often times all the voices are not heard and other ideas are not explored. I really like that a Voicethread can allow for those voices and ideas to be represented.

Sewing Needle by Anderson Mancini on Flickr

Thing 12: Exploring Web 2.0 tools

All I have to say is: Blabberize made my day!!! My husband and I have a joke that were it possible, we would pay money for our dog to have the ability to talk for a day. Well, Blabberize is the next best thing, and it's FREE! I knew my kids would love playing around with it, too, so I incorporated it into their autobiography project in Language Arts. I hope to post at least one sample soon...it's taking a while as I mentioned in my last post. : ( It's not taking forever as far as the website is concerned; it's just the students finding images that's dragging on and on. Anyway, enough of that topic.
Because I'm hypersensitive to what kind of shenanigans the kids could get into online, I put some thought into creating an account for my class Blabbers. I made an account name that all my students use that is attached to an email address I have that they do not know. I am the only one with the account password. Since only I have the password, that does mean that I have to be around everytime they want to save their Blabber, but it only takes a second to type in and it prevents them from getting on during the summer and posting something inappropriate under my name. Another function of Blabberize that I like is the ability to make the Blabbers private. Blabberize has the social aspects of a Web2.0 site because you can search Blabbers that have already been created and comment on them. Additionally, before you are able to save your Blabber you must title it, create a brief description, and provide tags, other aspects of Web 2.0. But again, thinking about the safety of my students I will keep their Blabbers private in our account. Also, some students are using Google Images and I don't want to publish those for all to see on the web.
As for how Blabberize can function in a class, I see kids creating Blabbers as characters from a novel they're studying. They have the ability to make multiple characters talk in one picture, or have characters engage in a dialogue, switching back and forth between pictures. Pretty cool and if a microphone is not available, you can call in your audio over the phone.
Another tool I got very excited about was Doing Text. Revision is a major part of the writing process and online 'peer sharing' is so much more fashionable these days. Making revisions online is a bit neater and easier to read. It also allows for the student to do the work in a comfy setting and affords them a bit of time to think about what he wants to say. I also thought that different classes could offer comments on one piece. For example a lit class taught by me and the same class taught by another teacher could share class notes and ideas on the same piece of literature. Or what about some cross-curricular learning? Say you're reading a historical work and need some inforamtion about what the social climate was during that time? You could hook the writing up with a history class and get info line by line.

Now, the selling point for Doing Text is that you don't have to sign up to use it. You can simply send the URL out and get comments on the text. I didn't find that to be the case on the demo, but maybe that was because it was just for practice. I'll have to check into that more later.

Thing 5b-What I found in my Google Reader

First of all, how awesome is the 'starring' function in the Reader? It's turned out to be very helpful for me since I'm always short on time. When I skim over the items in my Reader and star the interesting ones, I can easily check them out in detail when I have more time. Many of the items I starred for this assignment were from the Free Technology for Teachers blog. I particularly liked the info on Google Similar Images Search. Good lord, do I need to make my students aware of this...starting tomorrow! They are taking FOREVER and a day to choose one picture from Google Images for a project and while I appreciate their meticulous attention to the task, frankly it's getting old. As the "Applications for Education" section of the blog notes, Google Similar Images Search should help students refine their internet searches and so "find relevant resources more quickly."

And here's something that's totally cool and very new! Again, another starred item that grabbed my attention a couple weeks ago and I wish I would have made time to read more about it then. It's the Free Music Archive which I read about on the Free Technology for Teachers blog post by the same name. The name says it all: free music that is legal to download and use in videos, slideshows, podcasts, etc. You can look at the specifics for each song on its 'track page.' The site is very well laid out and easy to navigate. You can use the music even if you're not a member, but joining gives you permission to leave comments, tag, make friends and other Web 2.0 things. Pretty neat, but there is a disclaimer. The music is for everyone and so not all songs may be appropriate for school.

Photo source:

Pink Sherbet Photography D Sharon Pruitt on Flickr