Thing 18

I have never been a big Facebook user.  I set up an account for another class a few years ago, but restricted it so that only the people in my class that I had to friend had access.  I had just recently closed it when we got the assignment earlier in the semester that required us to have one.  So, resticted to high heaven, is this one, too.  In fact, I've only friended two people so far, and they are both in this class.  I know social networking has its advantages, but I'm not a very public person, I don't take a lot of pictures, and if I don't want to speak to you directly, or at the least through email, I probably don't have that much to share. 

I know this sounds awfully pessimistic, but my family understands.  My sister and cousins are the only ones in my family that I even know have a Facebook account, and they use them mostly for playing games.  I'm sure there are some practical uses for Facebook in the classroom, but I can think of amny other applications and software that are more beneficial to the educator. I guess using Facebook as a messaging tool would be advantageous for a teacher and students. 

I think the most important thing for educators to consider regards privacy, especially when their personal Facebook pages are concerned.  Be careful what you post, should be the motto.  The privacy controls are the best part of both Facebook and Twitter.  I think that I will be more likely to keep my facebook account - or at least open one for family and friends - and delete my Twitter account.  I barely have time to check my email, much less tweets.

Thing 17

Oh my gosh, how fabulously cool is this Delicious.com?  I love the tags, so much more detailed than those you find on the regular search engines.  I love how you can add to them.  That way, you know you'll find it again.  Ok, so it's a bookmarking tool and not a search engine, but still, way cool.  I love the idea of being able to access your bookmarks anywhere.  Stacking is another plus, how much easier it makes it to find things.  I can see how this could be productive in an educational setting.  Each student could have their own account and bookmark things found using a school computer and then access them from their home computer.  Teachers could even set up pages for students to use.  I think Delicious.com is a wonderful site and I can't wait to get a huge of list of stacks going.

Thing 16

I chose iGoogle for my Internet home page.  I've always been a big fan of Google because of how easy everything is to manipulate.  The iGoogle page has so many different things to choose from and you can arrange the items you choose anywhere on the page.  I love the National Geographic Picture of the Day box, it's in the top right corner of my page.  My Google calendar is in the middle of the top row and to its left is the weather.  I also chose the CNN headlines box and the NPR news box.  As mentioned, I created a Google calendar.  I chose the Google calendar because it imports to my iGoogle page and can be accessed from my iPhone.  It also is incredibly easy to use.  To do lists are not my favorite.  I haven't found one that is quick enough to use regularly.  I like sticky notes.  I've downloaded sticky notes to my computer and usually have 3 to 5 of them on my desktop.  I'm even known to have several paper sticky notes around the edges of my monitor.  I can't help it! sticky notes are the best thing since tying a string around your finger to remember.  I love them!  I think that all of these tools could be beneficial to educators, parents, and students.  I would recommend all of them, especially the Google calendar.  I've already created one for my 2012-13 preschool class.  I think that communication is one of the most important duties of an educator and parents really appreciate an easy to access communication tool.  Google calendar is a great way for teachers to inform both students and parents about what is happening in the classroom.

Thing 15

I thought wikis were only found on wikipedia.  I never realized there were pages after pages of them on other sites.  I really liked being able to tweak the submissions of other authors.  Kinda felt good to have that kind control, but at the same time, I felt guilty for maybe hurting some one's feelings.  Oh, well, all fun in completing assignments!

This would be a cool thing to have in classroom. Students could work collectively on a project that could be entirely created on a wiki page.  Although I didn't explore it myself, I believe there are ways to restrict editing privileges to specific users. 

Thing 14

I have to say I really enjoyed this activity.  I've never worked with any of these sites, nor made a flowchart or mind map digitally before now.  I chose to visit Gliffy and make a flowchart.  Gliffy had a large choice of charts to choose from - I appreciate that.  A onestop shop for all your charting needs!  Bubbl.us was interesting, too.  Although I did not finish creating the mindmap I started, I had an opportunity to peruse the different options they had available.  I think I will use Gliffy more, for both personal and classroom use.  My certification will be pre-K through third.  I'm not sure how many of the students could figure out what to do on their own, but I'm sure the older students could make either chart after a tutorial on the programs.

Thing 13

I really enjoyed playing around with both Google Docs and Zoho.  I am more comfortable with maneuvering around Google Docs, but only because I've used it before.  This is the first time I used it to 'share' any of my work.  So, here is a link to an invitation I made and saved on Google Docs.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/18_qOprNmqZrjOqiR4Mdi5xiS66JpFko0zJv3MGFVW_0/edit 

And, here is a screenshot so can view it without leaving this post!

 

Zoho was a new experience for me.  I wasn't really sure what to expect.  It seems a lot like Google Docs.  I had worked on a flyer for a class during my undergraduate studies.  I was able to upload it to a Zoho writer document.  I was unable to 'share' it by using the 'post to blog button', so, I've taken a screen shot and inserted it below.

 

Of these two productivity sites, I prefer Google Docs to Zoho.  Some of this may be because I am already familiar with Google Docs, but I think the ease of access for so many to view an edit the same piece work is amazing.  Using Google Docs for collaborative projects in the classroom is a great way to get students used to working in groups and using web-based applications.  One assignment I have thought about using in lesson plans for one of my other classes uses Google Docs.  The assignment is for groups of four to work together on a flyer advertising the reading selection of the week.  The flyer must be created in Google Dos.  Students will have 15 minutes in one class period to decide a theme for the flyer, get a basic idea of how it should look, and assign responsibilities (who will write the text, who will format the layout, who will add the graphics, etc.).  All other work must be done individually.  This kind of collaborative work using Google Docs could be used in many different assignments.  Even peer editing of papers would be a way Google Docs could be used as a collaborative assignment.

Thing 12

Google is pretty amazing.  I actually have had some experience with some of the tools Google offers.  I love my igoogle page.  It is my homepage for Internet Explorer.  I have everything arranged the way I want it, with my Google claendar and the news at top of the page so I don't have to scroll down for this information.  I also have added the National Geographic Photo of the day because I love the photographs in the magazines, but I no longer subscribe.  I wasn't sure how to make my igoogle page public, so I took a screenshot and have included it here. 

The other Google tool I chose to include is the Google calendar.  I have never really kept a calendar, as mentioned in a previous post.  Well, thanks to the 23 things, I have started to attempt to keep an accurate calendar.  As you'll notice, I've actually entered events and because it's on my igoogle page - I even check it regularly.  Didn't really want to make my calendar public so I took a screenshot and included it too.

I think that both of these tools could be used in the classroom.  The igoogle page could act as a hub for websites and gadgets that the teacher and students use regularly.  Google calendar enables both teacher and students to create and share their calendars with others.  Calaendars can be synced (somehow, I'm still figuring that out) and it's really easy to copy an event from one calendar to another.  I would include a link to my creations - but you must be signed in as me to access my igoogle page and Google calendar.

Thing 11

And I thought the search engine on the google reader site was great, Technorati is even better.  I like how you can type in a topic and get instant results.  Topix is a lot like Technorati but the results tend to come from news websites that featured an article or blog response that contains the topic searched.  These websites cover a vast number of topics and are not always as specialized, or focused, on the one area of interest.  Familiarity made the Google blog search very comfortable to use.  The appearance and search tools are like all of the other Google search tools - familiar and easy to manipulate.  I think that Topix was the most confusing for me.  I didn't like the way the results were displayed.  I did find some useful sites dedicated to everything from preschool arts and crafts to solutions for problems with Toyota trucks.  What was a little weird was the feed for a blog The most unusual thing I saw was a forum comment written by a mother written by a mother who was upset because her kindergarten daughter brought home vocabulary words.  One was the word gun and it was accompanied by a picture of a burglar carrying a gun. Weird!  I would prefer a picture of a cop carrying a gun.  I was surprised to find hundreds of results when I Googled "blog search engines."  I had no idea that it would be so easy to find blogs that focus on my interests.

Thing 10

Ok, this is what I've been talking about!  Something that makes this technology easier is exactly my cup of tea.  I have little time on the computer that isn't dedicated to work, school, or paying bills.  Anything that saves time is a plus.  I really like the RSS feeds and readers.  Culminating all of the blogs and websites that I frequent often onto one page is magnificent.  The red subscribe button that acts as asearch engine for blogs is useful for the classroom as well as for personal use.  I'm not sure how many blogs are part of the search, but for every topic I entered, a plethora of blogs and websites were available.  I think that teachers can take advantage of the opportunity to view all blogs and sites the follow on one page which saves time.  Teachers who require students to create and post blogs can view all of them at on the same page.  I didn't think there were five + blogs that I would even be interested in - well, interested enought to go to each one and check it - but having them all together makes it simple enough for even me to want to do it!

Thing 9

The custom image generators are a blast.  The number of websites dedicated to this is amazing.  You can create just about anything your heart desires.  I did not upload any of my own photographs to manipulate but saw the different ways that look like lots of fun.  Some of the cartoon makers made me think about the greeting cards with the old, vintage photos and a really snide comment on the inside.  I'm going to have to do that with some old family photos and one of the generators.  Can't wait!



I first visited Image Chef Image http://www.fansigngenerator.com/  and created this star.  Although it's not exactly what I was picturing, it's close enough.  I though it might work well as sign for the star student each week in my classroom.  I'll keep looking and maybe I'll find another star that I like better.

http://www.fansigngenerator.com  was my next stop on this journey to image generators.  There were many templates which to choose, but a caption popped into my head when I saw this one.

Although I do not believe I will be using this exact picture in class, the fan sign generator  could be used to make signs for the classroom or library.

Thing 8

Mosiac Maker is wonderful!  I really am going to open a Flicker account and make mosaic pictures with my personal photographs.  For this assignment, I chose the option to fill my mosaic with Flicker pictures with a 'crayons' tag.  The mosaic maker I would probably use more for personal use.  I just wish that when you tried to edit the mosaic, you could change the location of the pictures, or get rid of one that you don't like.  I guess the way to do that would be to choose pictures individually, another option in Mosaic Maker.  I like the idea of sharing pictures online, but only if you can be very selective about who gets to view them  I would not want a picture of my children available for just anyone to use, like many pictures on Flickr.  I would definitely get permission from the parents in my classroom to take and display pictures of the students.

Thing 7

By: simplesunflower

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7174/6402105723_be8f32ebb9.jpg 

 

What a wonderful way to find pictures to use in class.  I searched for 'preschool art' and found a large supply of pictures available and have collected some excellent ideas for art in my preschool class.  I think that Flicker has just become my go to for image searches.  I can see myself using Flicker to find pictures to use as examples of any number of things: vocabulary words, science topics, places, historical figures, etc.  I enjoyed learning about the murals, collages, and mash-ups that can be made with pictures from Flicker.  One thing I did find interesting was that some tags are not very specific and the pictures with the same tag are far out of context.

Thing 6

I'm embarrassed to admit this, but, I rarely write anything on a calendar.  I know, you're probably thinking that I use a calendar app on my iphone - I don't have an iphone.  However, I do play with my daughter's or son's iphones occasionally.  Back to the calendar.  I put appointment reminder cards on the refrigerator and that's about it.  So, I went out on limb and decided to investigate Google Calendar.  It's wonderful!  In addition to being free - which is always a plus - it is incredibly easy to use.  Google Calendar allows you to create calendars of just about any date range and you can customize the design in numerous ways.  You can also share your calendar with others and import information from any other Google calendar - maybe from other programs or applications, I'm not certain yet - and other users can import your information.

There are many items you can add to your calendars.  Little person icons can be added to any appointments or events scheduled that include quests and alarm clock icons can be added to any date that has a reminder attached to it.  I haven't yet seen everything that you can add.

Google Calendar would make an excellent classroom resource.  Teachers could have a calendar with scheduled events - homework, topics being studied, etc. - from which the students could import items into their own calendars.  This would be a great lesson.  Students could learn how to create and manage their calendars - never an excuse that "I didn't know it was due."  Parents could also benefit from this Web 2.0 tool.  As long as they have an internet connection, parents would always know what was happening in their child's class. 

I've started my calendar and am proud to say that I actually have 4 events entered.  I'm even toying with the idea of making a calendar for my preschool class and inviting the parents to create one of their own - or at least keep track of mine.

Here's the link.  I highly recommend it.

https://accounts.google.com/NewServiceAccount?service=cl&continue=https://www.google.com/calendar/render?pli%3D1%26auth%3DDQAAAIUAAACSaoLxAfxDomDgzmfsClLNHgc3jPfwxmJcLx2dyM5d-KktZgMRFd3smqQJ20ZD5Y7WcXOV3pEbov8aZc1Lad2-lCs9zEtNa7a1c8QBUu7UL5HjvU5nt5PRuncC_yvstuQd5wpQOnF5TR1yIniKzRxZk_unW9ocP-ERBeM77iMmj-gsqmeJCnJ81GyRkLLJDTY&followup=https://www.google.com/calendar/render?pli%3D1%26auth%3DDQAAAIUAAACSaoLxAfxDomDgzmfsClLNHgc3jPfwxmJcLx2dyM5d-KktZgMRFd3smqQJ20ZD5Y7WcXOV3pEbov8aZc1Lad2-lCs9zEtNa7a1c8QBUu7UL5HjvU5nt5PRuncC_yvstuQd5wpQOnF5TR1yIniKzRxZk_unW9ocP-ERBeM77iMmj-gsqmeJCnJ81GyRkLLJDTY

Thing 5

The technology available today provides opportunities for varied forms of communication.  We are able to communicate with anyone, anywhere - as long as the are connected to the internet.   We are no longer limited by time and location.  For education, the possibilities are endless.  After perusing the selected readings, I decided that I believe School 2.0 is the future of all schools.  Being able to supplement in-class material with material that can be accessed from any internet connection is remarkable.  In addition, the use of discussion boards and blogs can enhance communication, anytime it is needed and not just during face-to-face classes.  School 2.0 is not just distance learning or video conferencing.  It is a whole new avenue for teachers and schools to utilize that will enable them to reach more students and provide much more information to those students.  When I look at websites that describe interactive textbooks, I'm amazed.  These interactive textbooks make it so easy to click or touch certain areas on the screen to open windows that provide more information, which save an enormous amount of time.  I think the future of School 2.0 is very exciting and full of endless opportunities to make educating easier and less time consuming.

Thing 4

By allowing numerous people to communicate via the web, blogging has made it easier to become a part of a larger group.  Following and commenting on blogs helps the users feel a sense of community.  The interaction between bloggers and those that comment also adds to the sense of community.  Blogs give people an opportunity to find, and communicate with, others who are interested in the same topics or issues.  The "Cool-Cat Teacher" blog shared some very interesting recommendations.  Commenting on someone else's blog can help you gain viewers to your own blog, as long as you draw attention to it in your comment.  Good advice, especially if you want reach more people with your own blog.  Another interesting point made on the same website involves commenting etiquitte and encourages teachers to "teach commenting."  I've always believed there needs to be a font for sarcasm, many feelings could be spared.  The "10 Techniques to Get More Comments" blog had some great pointers.  "Be open-ended" and "make it easy to comment" are two pointers that would encourage comments.  I also liked the "be humble" and the "be gracious" recommendations.  I think everyone should strive for these in all areas of their lives.

Blogs I am following include:

EDUC 5540/23 Things/Katrina
  

These are a few of my favorite 23 Things!

23 Things I Did And You Are Reading About

23 things

Luanne's 23 Things


http://www.spreadlovekanda.blogspot.com/









 

Thing 2 (continued again!)

Forgot to mention earlier how I decided on my posting name and the name of my blog.  I almost used my last name - as most teachers - but decided to use Ms. Alicia as my posting name because that is what my current preschool students call me, and I really want to teach preschool once certified.  The name of the blog just sort of came together.  A combination of the 23 things and my posting name.  As for the avatat, I think it looked alot more like me before I made revisions.  Originally, I was wearing blue jeans and a casual shirt, but changed my avatar's appearance to reflect more of a "teacher" look.  When I first completed the update, I realized my avatar looked almost identical to Dr. Wall's avatar, so I changed it again.  I'm pretty satisfied with the final result.

Thing 2 continued

Finally got my avatar on the blog - what a relief!  I've even gone back to DoppleMe and made revisions.  I thought I would have to edit the avatar on the blog, but it had already been updated.  This may sound like a small thing to you, but I'm thrilled!  As I am sure I will struggle with future assignments, hopefully I will continue prevail, building more confidence along the way. 

Thing 3

Registering the blog was interesting.  Obviously I've been on this site before because I seem to have a question that was added 3 years ago.  Can't wait to find out what that is about.  I've been looking ahead to some of the other 23 things and have decided that everyone was right - this is going to be the fun class.

In the future, I believe a blog would be an incredibly useful tool, especially for a teacher.  Not only could the blog be used in classroom, it is a great way to stay connected to the students and parents.  Email is nice - definitely handy - but this is better.  I used to think blogs were all about narcissistic people blabbing about themselves, but this is more of a discussion board.  I know, I know!  But you must remember, I said I was not native to this technological world.

A personal blog to keep track of classroom successes and failures would also prove helpful, especially if I teach the same course/grade each year.  I've never really been one to keep a journal, but something that would allow me to reflect on past experiences, both good and bad, could aid in decisions about future assignments and activities. 

Thing 2

Well, I've done something wrong, cannot wait to find out how to fix it.  I have not quite figured out how to attach the Avatar.  I shall continue this post after I settle the little one into her new home.  To be continued...

Thing 1

Well, I know every one calls this the "fun" class, but I'm so anxious, I can not seem to think straight.  You see, I'm a technological immigrant.  Although I feel very comfortable manuevering around the web and running certain programs, most of this is new to me.  That is why Habit # 6 is the hardest for me.  Use technology to your advantage.  Sounds great - but scares the you-know-what out of me.  I guess that is what I want to gain from this class - technological confidence.  The really good thing is that the easiest Habit for me is #3 - view problems as challenges.  I have always been a very optimistic person and usually find challenges exciting.  So, this technological difficulty that I have is definitely a challenge that I look forward to conquering.  Setting up my blog was not as difficult as I first imagined, but I'm still having trouble with some of the background colors in some of the boxes.  Must keep working on that. Now, for my first challenge, adding an avatar!