I have enjoyed experimenting with new Web 2.0 tools over the past few weeks. There are so many new and useful things available, but it can be a little overwhelming at times. Even though I have had a good time exploring all of these tools there are definitely some I would use more than others.
One tool I am really excited to use are screencasts. I am currently teaching computer classes to 3rd-6th graders and I find myself repeating the same steps over and over again. I hope to use screencasts as a resource to students. I will record what they are to do and post it to our webpage so if they don't remember the directions or are trying to work on it from home they have something to look for guidance. I will be able to measure the effectiveness of the tool by paying attention to students attentiveness during class. Most students who don't know what to do are looking around or goofing off. I am hoping using screencasts will help improve their attentiveness and productivity. I plan on using Jing to produce my screenshots. It is very easy to use and will only take me a few minutes to produce each tutorial. The only resources I will need are my computer and a microphone in order to complete the videos. I know realistically I won't be able to produce tutorials for every lesson, but if I could make sure to cover the things we use the most that would save me a lot of time in the classroom reteaching! Also, once they are created they can be saved so I will have them for next year!!! I am hoping to have at least 1 screencast a week and add it to our web resource page.
Other tools I will continue to use as part of my professional learning network are RSS feeds and Twitter. The more I use the tools the more I realize how valuable they can be. I don't know if I will ever use them to the extent that some people do, but I have found great resources through both of them!
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Monday, January 16, 2012
CEDO 535 - Week 5 - Social Networking
I have had fun exploring some new web 2.0 tools this week. One of my favorite finds was twiducate, an online social networking site geared towards schools. It allows teachers to create a social networking site that is private to just his/her students. I like the idea of using Facebook to communicate with students and parents, but don't feel that it is secure enough to use for school purposes. Not all of the students have Facebook accounts and I think I would have a hard time convincing parents to allow their students Facebook accounts with all of the negative attention it gets. Also, Facebook users are supposed to be 13 and older which my students don't meet that qualification. I think twiducate would be a great alternative. Students could still connect with each other and if the teacher wanted to they could connect with other classrooms around the world. Definitely a tool I will be taking a closer look at.
As far as the other work for this week.... my wiki has taken up a lot of my time. I decided to create a wiki instead of using the current Google Site I created for another class for a few reasons. One, I have never created a wiki before and I thought it would be a good experience. Two, my district blocks all Google Applications including Google sites so if I created one for school I would never be able to use it at school. (very frustrating, but that is another blog post!) So far I have a few things on my Wiki and am excited about some of the other things I want to add, but I feel like I am moving at a snails pace getting it completed. It isn't as easy as I thought it would be. On a positive note, I definitely see how useful it will be when finished and I am excited to share it with my coworkers. I just wish I had more time to put more into it which seems to be the theme of my blogs... if only I had more time!!!
As far as the other work for this week.... my wiki has taken up a lot of my time. I decided to create a wiki instead of using the current Google Site I created for another class for a few reasons. One, I have never created a wiki before and I thought it would be a good experience. Two, my district blocks all Google Applications including Google sites so if I created one for school I would never be able to use it at school. (very frustrating, but that is another blog post!) So far I have a few things on my Wiki and am excited about some of the other things I want to add, but I feel like I am moving at a snails pace getting it completed. It isn't as easy as I thought it would be. On a positive note, I definitely see how useful it will be when finished and I am excited to share it with my coworkers. I just wish I had more time to put more into it which seems to be the theme of my blogs... if only I had more time!!!
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
CEDO 535 - Week 4 - Social Bookmarking
I am still struggling keeping up with all of these new, wonderful tools that keep getting thrown at us. I think RSS feeds, Social Bookmarking, and Twitter are great and I can see the use for them, but I can't seem to find the time in the day to really use them to their full potential.
I am excited to start using social bookmarking. I have heard about it throughout the courses, but have yet to actually really use it. I have set up a diigo account and have just barely started using it at school and home. I think it has a lot of wonderful features. I would like to use it with my students when they are doing their research projects. I think it would be a great way for them to keep track of useful sites they find as well as put notes in as to what they found in each site. I am not sure if I will use it with them this year, but would like to have it in place for next year.
I am also excited to do a podcast. Again, podcasting is something I learned about a few years ago. I even went out and bought Podcasting for Dummies, but I never created one. I can see using podcasts with my class a lot. I would like to have them make their own and post them to our blog. Hopefully, this is something we can do this year. There are so many cool things out there to use in the classroom the problem is making sure you find effective ways to add them to your curriculum without taking away from the things you have to teach! I love using technology with the things we are already doing, but because most of the technologies are new to the students it ends up taking us way longer to accomplish the task.
I am excited to start using social bookmarking. I have heard about it throughout the courses, but have yet to actually really use it. I have set up a diigo account and have just barely started using it at school and home. I think it has a lot of wonderful features. I would like to use it with my students when they are doing their research projects. I think it would be a great way for them to keep track of useful sites they find as well as put notes in as to what they found in each site. I am not sure if I will use it with them this year, but would like to have it in place for next year.
I am also excited to do a podcast. Again, podcasting is something I learned about a few years ago. I even went out and bought Podcasting for Dummies, but I never created one. I can see using podcasts with my class a lot. I would like to have them make their own and post them to our blog. Hopefully, this is something we can do this year. There are so many cool things out there to use in the classroom the problem is making sure you find effective ways to add them to your curriculum without taking away from the things you have to teach! I love using technology with the things we are already doing, but because most of the technologies are new to the students it ends up taking us way longer to accomplish the task.
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