micha’sblog

• How would you describe this course to a colleague?
• An excellent introduction and interactive tutorial on the use of Web 2.0 tools.
• What was the best part of the course and why?
• I feel the best part is all the tools I am walking away with and able to use.
• What will you take away from this course to use in your classroom?
• I hope to set up a Wiki/Blog for my students.  It will have areas for students who need extra help, short fast explanations, and help with those who missed class.
• What is one thing you would change about this course for the next group?
• I would change the amount of time commitment given to greater than two hours.  Maybe a little more required interaction.  Keep the course content, it was great!
• Would you recommend this course to anyone else?  Why or why not?
• Absolutely.  I think it was a great way to learn on your own with help and backup.  I also liked seeing what everyone else has done with the same tools.  Multiple great ideas.  I am certainly leaving with the feeling that it was time well spent!

My tool of choice is  online digital whitboards.  I chose this tool for the many reasons.  Even though most of my lectures are on powerpoint, I find that  my students benefit from “seeing” the steps done.  The what if you did this questions most of the time can not be addressed properly in the powerpoint.  I looked at two examples of this tool; dabbleboard.com and offtype.net.

http://www.dabbleboard.com/

http://offtype.net/

Both of the sights use the mouse to draw with.  Dabbleboard can be interactive, has recognition ability for different shapes and can import files.  Offtype can be displayed in miniature on your blog as a widget, but does not seem to have the power of dabbleboard.  I plan on playing with both of these more and using one (or both) next year  as a learning tool for class.  I can see specific applications with some of the complex organic formulas, equations and mechanisms.  It will be much easier to show where and how the bonds are breaking and electron movement.

Media Sharing deals with the sharing of photo, video (homemade or broadcast) and music in a social networking setting. The Creative Commons (CC) is a nonprofit organization devoted to expanding the range of creative works available to be shared on social networking sites.  The creative commons allows people to share their work at the level they feel comfortable and still retain copyright control.  The Fair Use and Copyright for Teachers explains how media that is not on the creative commons can be used in an educational setting.  It is the responsibility of the teacher to make sure media is used in a proper and respectful way to the copyright holder. 

• What did you learn?
• I learned how to embed media into social networks.  Up to this point I have only embedded links.
• How will you use what you have learned?
• I will use this to add to my teaching presentations, future blogs and wikis.
• How did you feel about this tool?
• I really liked this tool.  It was a little frustrating at times because some of the sites were very slow, or I had a hard time joining.
• What do you not want to forget about this tool?
• I have taken many notes on this portion of the class.  I know what I don’t use I will forget!
• How can this be used in the classroom or in your educational role?
• This tool will add to my presentations and hopefully help in the online tutorials.  It will also add an aspect of fun to some dry parts of the class.
• Would you use a shared media like playlist.com?
• Sure.  I have already built a playlist for me!
• Should you use this in the classroom or your educational role?
• As long as Fair Use and Copyright is respected this can be an amazing augment to the classroom, teacher or student produced.
• What questions do you still have about these tools?
• I want to play around with these tools some more.  I feel fairly confident that the help portions of the sites will answer what I need to know.

A few good tunes!

I have used this Youtube video in my class previously.  I like it because it shows the periodic property of reactivity as you go down a group on the periodic table.  I have heard rumors that some of the explosions are not really because of the chemical reactions they claim.  However, the students really like it and it does get a valid concept across.

I enjoy bird watching and am a backyard amateur.  It amazes me the numbers and kinds of birds we see in our backyard.  I have a group of 4 Hummingbirds that visit my backyard feeder.  I believe this is a Blackchinned Male.

What is a Wiki?

A Wiki is an interactive Web page that is easy to use and organize.  Nothing on the site is considered permanent, so information can be added, deleted, edited, or unedited by the members of the site.  The site itself or parts of the site can be open or closed to interaction.  A great informational, educational, or social venue.

Three Reviews on Wikis:

http://21ctools.wikispaces.com/

A great instructional site.  Simple and to the point instructional how-tos.    I definitely will reference this site in the future.  Also a great site for teaches who want to bring technology to the classroom.

http://web2thatworks.com/index.php?title=Main_Page-

A site that gives tools and strategies that help with classroom integration of technology.  Some great examples of how the technology is used from contributing teachers.  I wish I had been here a year ago!  I can see myself using this site a lot for examples and ideas.

http://welkerswikinomics.wetpaint.com/?t=anon-

An economics educational site.  This is a learning site for test (AP,IB,Classroom) practice, graph analysis and exposure, and online study groups.  I can see myself setting a wiki up for my classroom much like this one.

Reflective Questions:

• What did you learn?

I learned from the ground up on wikis.  I really had no clue as to what they where before this time.  I feel confident I could set up my own wiki now.

• How will you use what you have learned?

I will use the information I learned on wikis to set up a classroom wiki.  I also would like to bring this information to my school and see if we can set up a school wiki for technology use with examples of how others are using it.

• How did you feel about this tool?

I like this tool.  Probable one of my favorites.  I like the interactive nature of the wiki.

• What do you not want to forget about this tool?

I do not want to forget anything.  Especially how to set one up!

• How can this be used in the classroom or in your educational role?

I liked the idea of notes being posted daily by an assigned student. (A different student each time.)  A great place for an interactive student study group.  Also, a wonderful tool for staff development.

• Should you use this in the classroom or your educational role?

I can see this used in both my classroom and as an educator.

• What questions do you still have about this tool?

As always, I find it hard to find questions on the basics.  I think I will have a lot as I work with the tool more.

What is a Podcast?

A Podcast is an audio, visual, or video recording produced on a computer using a microphone and a camera if video is wanted.  The content is then posted on a website (blog) and broadcasted over a network.  The podcast is personal and available on demand to a listener or viewer on a computer or downloaded as an MP3 file. These podcasts can be created by anyone with the proper equipment and programs and can be on vitually any subject.

What qualities /feature do you find common among the best podcasts?

Interesting topics and good speaking skills.

Does my podcast share these features?

I hope so.  My podcast is more reflective in nature and I am often critical of what I sound like recorded.  I did practice a lot before accepting the final recording.

How might podcasts be useful in my classroom?

I can see a place for podcasts in my classroom.  Instructional podcasts, video demos and virtual field trips would all be possibilities.  I can also see these done by both teachers and students.

My podcast:  An educators reflections on moving

moving1

Reasons to Create/Use Podcasts

Among many reasons to create and use podcasts in education, consider the following list created by Round Rock ISD ITS:

Professional Development for Teachers and Staff

• ITS create content for teachers to learn technology skills
• Principals create content for school procedures and planning
• Instructional coaches create content for teachers in high-stakes learning areas

Teachers Create Content for Students

• Mini-Lessons-to-Go
• Vocabulary Practice
• Video Demonstrations and How-Tos
• Lectures and Class Discusssions
• Virtual Field Trips

Students Create Content for Real-World Audiences

• Publish Essays and Journals
• Share Content Knowledge
• Video Demonstrations and How-Tos
• School and Community Events/News