Thing 23: Final Reflections

I think this class was the most valuable professional development class I've taken all year. I think it's been so valuable because these aren't just tools to help with instruction; with Web2.0 tools I can interact with and learn from other professionals in my field. I help my students understand character analysis and theme while also teaching them how to be responsible users and creators on the Internet.

My next step is to find more ways to use some of my favorite tools (Diigo, Flickr, Google Docs, Wikispace) and continue to search for more. As I mentioned in my voice thread, if I want to be successful in teaching my students to use the tools appropriately, I must use them myself.

The next step that I take may seem strange considering my enthusiasm for Web2.o tools, but I'm going to read about the criticisms of Web2.o. I remember reading a blog entry for one of the "things" and somehow stumbled upon an advertisement for a book that details the negative cultural, economic, and creative effects that Web2.0 has inflicted upon our society. I read an excerpt of this book on Amazon and while I don't think I agree with the points the author is trying to make, I still think it's worth taking a look at what the other side has to say.

Photo by aloshbennett on Flickr

Thing 22: Exploring some tools of my choice Part II

I have been interested in Jing since the first video I saw of Caroline's. I was kind of hoping that we would have a 'thing' all about Jing, but I guess exploring it myself is the next best thing. I can imagine creating 'how-to' videos for students, especially if they are using another web2.0 tool and working outside of the classroom. I think it would be interesting to have the students create similar 'how-to' videos. Jing also offers another way to comment on student work. I have not created a video yet with Jing, but it seems fairly easy to do and to share, which is an important aspect of Web2.0.

I used Audacity when I recorded my podcast (which by the way, has not loaded on our player yet--gonna have to check on that!) I don't really see much in the way of the typical Web2.0 social features on Audacity itself, but by creating recordings and podcasts on Audacity, you can then contribute them to other web2.0 sites like The Free Sound Project. Recording my podcast was a snap on Audacity and I don't really have anything to compare it to, but I thought the editing and effects tools were really cool.

Beautiful Tools by geishaboy500 on flickr

Thing 5d: A tid bit from my Google Reader

This blog post is in honor of my former co-workders and friends Kyle and Kristy Myers. They started their southbound hike of the Appalachian Trail today, and I have been following the events leading up to their first step by Kyle's facebook updates, tweets, and blog posts. Yes, I have their blog in my Google Reader and that's really what I wanted to share although I guess it's not really related to our class. But it's just such a huge undertaking and an awesome adventure that I wanted to share it with you all and maybe you'll start checking in on their progress, too. Also, in the short year that we worked together I definitely was impacted by the good-will and generosity they showed to others. In fact, they hope to join the Peace Corps as soon as they're done with their hike.

So, I found it quite serendipitous that when I went looking through my Google Reader I found the post Teachers Without Borders off to Africa on the Infinite Thinking Machine blog. I know that this class has helped me to completely broaden everything I do with teaching, from the planning, to collaborating, to instructing, and grading--and I had it all at my finger tips all along. The Teachers Without Boarders program is striving to help teachers who don't have that technology at their fingertips. As is mentioned in the post, not all teachers are at a point where they can just up and leave to help out abroad, but there are ways to donate (not just money) to the cause.
Oh, and here's a link to my friends' blog, Into the Wild.
**Just a note, the most recent post (Today's the day!) is dated April 30, 2009 for some weired reason, so it's lower on the page but it really should be June 17, 2009.

Thing 21: PageFlakes

PageFlakes, wow! Very cool tool! I did some playing around and tried to start a page based on gardening. I got a couple PBS podcasts successfully loaded(?) into a flake, so that was pretty cool. I checked out the different background themes, so now my Page has grass growing in the background to match the gardening subject matter. I found it fairly easy to add flakes to the page though I still have much more to do to it. Probably won't get it just the way I want before class is over...going to the beach tomorrow!!!! Woo hoo! Ok, back on task.

I love the idea of using PageFlakes to create webquests and I also really like the idea of helping the students to create their own. It's like a cool 'commonplace' where the students can store personal interests along with school related things. Very neat! What about a project that uses PageFlakes to explore a theme or setting from a novel? All on one page the students can pull up information relevant to the topic and I bet they'd get some pretty cool stuff! I also think PageFlakes could be helpful on a professional level, if you're discussing a topic or tyring to make a decision with your colleagues. I guess you could gather info from the web and place it all on a PageFlake for others to view and think about. This could be just the tool for me as I try to plug in to all the drama info I can get. I think the best part about Pageflakes to me is that it has all the awesome attributes of the GoogleReader, but even more narrowed down to what you want and all on one page so you can view it at a glance.

There are a few tools that we've learned about in this class that I've made a mental note to explore further and Pageflakes is definitely one.

Septa & Penta Flakes by chrstphre on flickr

Thing 20: Google Docs

I first learned about Google Docs at the beginning of this class and I started using one right away! I blogged earlier about how I used spreadsheets to set up contact info for the cast and crew of a show I was working on. Here's the link to my Google Docs Rock!! blog post. Yeah, I thought I was being clever with that title, but of course the friendly folks at CommonCraft already coined that phrase. : ) I've also used the word processing docs back before I had my iPhone as a way to jot down info that I wanted to remember and look at later. Sure that can be done on a piece of paper, but I'd be sure to lose that.

I like to take the students to the computer lab to work on papers, presentations, research, etc, but really wanted them to save their work somewhere other than our school's share file. For the last couple of years I thought about adding a flash drive to my list of supplies that the students should have for my class, but there were issues there of course. The price has definitely come down, so it's more feasible to ask for that item, but then there is still the issue of losing it or breaking it, as one of my students did this year. Google Docs takes care of that issue, and it's free. I know some students do not have internet access at home, but the internet is available for students to use at the public library if they would like to work on an assignment outside of class. The monitoring function is great for both the students and me. They can see their work progress and grow just as I can.

I might check out the form/spreadsheet document as a way to do quizzes and tests. I think it would also be nice to embed a practice test on a class wiki and then link that to the spreadsheet of answers to show the students what they may still need to study. I don't know how to do that just yet, but I bet it can be done.

Thing 19: Created my own podcast

First of all, it was soooo much fun making my first podcast!! I'm actually waiting for it to show up on our GCast Player; cross your fingers. : )

I would love to add podcasts into my teaching repertoire. Right now I'm still going back and forth about the best way to catalog and share info for my class (Wiki or blog?) but I'm sure that including a podcast subscription would be an excellent addition to either. I could record class lectures and post them for students who missed class or for all students to use as study tools.

I can see this REALLY getting cool when the students start making their own. There are so many applications for their use. The students can create podcasts as a running summary of class, much in the way that I described above, or they can take book reports to a different level. Research projects can also be done as a podcast. Maybe they still write the report, but they also create a podcast over it which allows them to add in sound effects, music, and interviews. Isn't that pretty similar to what goes on in a real-life news report? Podcasting can make the learning more applicable. And like many of the other tools we've learned about in this class, because podcasts are published and set up with an RSS feed, then the work is out there, being listened to by others. Not only does this hold the students to a higher level of accountability, but it also makes their effort seem worthwhile. There's no getting a grade on this and then just tossing it in the trashcan, you know?

Photo Credit: flatttop341 on Flickr