The Google Reader is a great tool for monitoring and organizing the blogs you have or are following. I personally have set up several list of blogs that are organized by their unique topics.
In a classroom, students can use the Google Reader to monitor fellow students and teacher blogs by course subject or content area. Of course, that depends on how the blog is tagged (another topic).
Google Docs are easy to create and accessible on any computer with Internet connection. It is all saved on a web server, so your documents are easily retrieved without having to save, send, or open via email, flash drive, etc.
Google has managed to put together the tools we use the most on the web for convenient and easy access. No more searching for the document that was saved as one version or on an old operating system and now requires a new version. Oh, did I forget to mention it is FREE. All you need is a connection to World Wide Web.
Tool 2: Building Community & Comments
I must re-state what Mr. Richardson spoke on in his YouTube video. Safety and ethics must be taught before releasing our students onto the Internet to participate in PLN's. But, once those two very important standards are introduced, the sky is the limit. Online communities and PLN's are not going away and most likely will impact more of our classroom time in the future than not. As we move forward with incorporating technology in the classroom, the Internet won't be far behind and will be come a standard format to teaching and possibly assessing.
The point that educators may be behind when participating and creating these online communities and PLN's stood out to me the most. Mr. Richardson stated that our students are already doing these things, so why resist the inclusion of them in our classrooms and curriculum? Again, the Internet has impacted just about every facet of life, education has to utilize these tools in order to educate our student users. Others wise, will lose their interest with archaic formats.
When I began my 11 tools journey, many of my fellow educators had not begun their blogs, so choosing ones to follow were few. I have since begin to follow Kimmy's 11 Tools , Life Long Learning , Live Laugh & Learn, Shopping Teacher, and Teaching and Technology. Three are from my WWe campus and two are other SBISD campuses. Check out their blogs to see my comments.
The point that educators may be behind when participating and creating these online communities and PLN's stood out to me the most. Mr. Richardson stated that our students are already doing these things, so why resist the inclusion of them in our classrooms and curriculum? Again, the Internet has impacted just about every facet of life, education has to utilize these tools in order to educate our student users. Others wise, will lose their interest with archaic formats.
When I began my 11 tools journey, many of my fellow educators had not begun their blogs, so choosing ones to follow were few. I have since begin to follow Kimmy's 11 Tools , Life Long Learning , Live Laugh & Learn, Shopping Teacher, and Teaching and Technology. Three are from my WWe campus and two are other SBISD campuses. Check out their blogs to see my comments.
Tool 1: Blog Set-up & Registration
Up and ready to go. I left my old avatar I used last summer, but added the Voki avatar on top. I love how you can add voice to the avatar, but Voki needs to expand your choices of avatars. Maybe I didn't spend enough time surfing the site.
I use blogs as a cool way to journal and share my thoughts. Lately, my daughter has used hers to chronicle events and school years. There are many ways blogs can be incorpoarted into the classroom. Blogs can be used by a single class or used individually. It can chronicle the school year, serve as a way of pen palling with other students, be a student journal, or a place to grow their personal writing skills. These ideas can be combined too.
Just remember, blogs must be shared in order to serve their purpose, so be careful what you write and post.
I use blogs as a cool way to journal and share my thoughts. Lately, my daughter has used hers to chronicle events and school years. There are many ways blogs can be incorpoarted into the classroom. Blogs can be used by a single class or used individually. It can chronicle the school year, serve as a way of pen palling with other students, be a student journal, or a place to grow their personal writing skills. These ideas can be combined too.
Just remember, blogs must be shared in order to serve their purpose, so be careful what you write and post.
11 Tools for the 21st Century Learner
OK, I finally recovered my user name and password for this blog. I used it last summer for 23 Things. Now it will serve the purpose for posting for the 11 Tools for the 21st Century Learner. Please just consider this a break in the page.
Things #23
During the course of the 23 things we explored, I think I enjoyed the experience of podcasting the best. It was just as challeneging as others, but the reward seemed greater for me. I also enjoyed the mashups. I love taking pictures and having a creative outlet in which to manipulate and create new images was great. I'll surely use these and share them with others.
23 Things awaken my senses to the fact that the Internet is forever changing and evolving. New apps are always being crrated and there will forever be new things to explore. And all of them can only enhance the web experience. I will embrace all with eyes wide open. By the way, from this experience, i am now Twitting, I have a thriving Facebook family, and I will blog for myself this fall. 23 Things inspired me.
I can't say I was surprised at the level of exercises asked to complete. They were appropriate for the course and players. Improvement of the program can only come through new advances to the Internet. I am sure as more is developed 23 Things will advance right along with it. Your doing a great job showing the novice surfer the underground world.
I do plan on completing Library2Play2.
One word to describe my learning experience....Geeked (somebody who is a proud or enthusiastic user of computers or other technology, sometimes to an excessive degree).
23 Things awaken my senses to the fact that the Internet is forever changing and evolving. New apps are always being crrated and there will forever be new things to explore. And all of them can only enhance the web experience. I will embrace all with eyes wide open. By the way, from this experience, i am now Twitting, I have a thriving Facebook family, and I will blog for myself this fall. 23 Things inspired me.
I can't say I was surprised at the level of exercises asked to complete. They were appropriate for the course and players. Improvement of the program can only come through new advances to the Internet. I am sure as more is developed 23 Things will advance right along with it. Your doing a great job showing the novice surfer the underground world.
I do plan on completing Library2Play2.
One word to describe my learning experience....Geeked (somebody who is a proud or enthusiastic user of computers or other technology, sometimes to an excessive degree).
Things #22
I just so happens that my high school alumni use Ning to power our social website. The site is a Facebook knockoff where you can upload pictures, share personal information and interest. You can also write messages for the public to see or send private messages for a specific person only.
Within the site are groups broken down into year of graduation and even clubs you were once involved in. It neat and is a one stop place to find freinds and information on reunions.
I think we are going to see more Nings in the future being used in school to spark classroom discussions online outside the clasroom or simply to keep students/educators connected and collaborating beyond the staff meetings.
Within the site are groups broken down into year of graduation and even clubs you were once involved in. It neat and is a one stop place to find freinds and information on reunions.
I think we are going to see more Nings in the future being used in school to spark classroom discussions online outside the clasroom or simply to keep students/educators connected and collaborating beyond the staff meetings.
Things #21
I really liked this project. It did take me a moment to figure everything out (how to record voice, synchronizing the pictures, etc.), but once I got it down I was excited. I can see me using this in my class to personalize lessons for a specific student or tailor it for a direct focus. As a matter of fact, it can be used by anyone for any purpose. It is truly that easy.
I recently went to Atlanta and ahd the privilege of visiting the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center. So, I choose to create a podcast on my visit. See below. As I do more, O hope the quality will improve. Enjoy.
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