Whew! This one took a while! I could see it being a valuable tool for a class collaboration tool (i.e. an ongoing newsletter to keep parents informed?), but I'd have to get much more efficient with it! But like everything else, the potential is there ... it's the time that's not always available!
Here's my first effort at Photostory ....
edit: I can't get my video to upload. I've tried and tried and am about to lose it, so I'm going to return to it and try again. :)
Monday, July 14, 2008
Thing #20 - YouTube, TeacherTube and Zamzar
YIPPEE! I found Schoolhouse Rock clips on TeacherTube!
Every year I offer extra credit for students who memorize and recite the Preamble. Schoolhouse Rock has the best little diddy (it really does stick in your head!), and I love to play it for my kids ... over, and over, and over. The problem is, hauling out the VCR, rewinding to the perfect spot, and then doing it repeatedly for such a short clip is pretty time-consuming.
Now (with the help of my brand, shiny new ACTIVboard and projector), I can show video clips with ease! I'm so excited!
The TeacherTube clips we've used in this 23 Things course have been so helpful. In fact, I think it's one of the best resources I've come across over the past month. I've forwarded several helpful clips on to others as well. They're fantastic in their simplicity.
Every year I offer extra credit for students who memorize and recite the Preamble. Schoolhouse Rock has the best little diddy (it really does stick in your head!), and I love to play it for my kids ... over, and over, and over. The problem is, hauling out the VCR, rewinding to the perfect spot, and then doing it repeatedly for such a short clip is pretty time-consuming.
Now (with the help of my brand, shiny new ACTIVboard and projector), I can show video clips with ease! I'm so excited!
The TeacherTube clips we've used in this 23 Things course have been so helpful. In fact, I think it's one of the best resources I've come across over the past month. I've forwarded several helpful clips on to others as well. They're fantastic in their simplicity.
Thing #19 - Web 2.0 Awards List
OK. This is supposed to be educational-related, so I'll try to spin it in that direction! teehee!
Who wouldn't love Etsy?! Over the years, I've rapidly become a nearly online-only shopper. And around the holidays? Forget it! You won't find me out at a mall. I love online shopping, and I don't really consider myself a big shopper. But you just can't beat a few clicks of the mouse, and coming home a few days later to find your package nicely wrapped up and sitting on the door step.
The great thing about Etsy is that everything is handmade. And there are some really fun things for the classroom too! See ... I AM making this school-related! :)
Just do a search for "classroom" and some really great stuff will pop up!
I LOVE THIS SITE!
Thing #18 - Online Productivity Tools
I chose to do my exploring with Google Docs ... simply because I was already registered, and because of the familiarity of the Google format.
My initial reaction to this was, "When and why would I use this when I already have MS Office?" So my next task was to do a bit of exploring. After looking into it further, I realized that there is some definite value with using Goodle Docs.
There's an area I found on Google called Google For Educators that has a bunch of input from teachers on how they use Google Docs in the classroom. It was very helpful! The description from Google was probably the best I found on the subject:
Google Docs is an easy-to-use online word processor, spreadsheet and presentation editor that enables you and your students to create, store and share instantly and securely, and collaborate online in real time. You can create new documents from scratch or upload existing documents, spreadsheets and presentations. There's no software to download, and all your work is stored safely online and can be accessed from any computer.
This seems like it would be a fantastic tool in a lab setting with students. I'll definitely have to explore it some more!
My initial reaction to this was, "When and why would I use this when I already have MS Office?" So my next task was to do a bit of exploring. After looking into it further, I realized that there is some definite value with using Goodle Docs.
There's an area I found on Google called Google For Educators that has a bunch of input from teachers on how they use Google Docs in the classroom. It was very helpful! The description from Google was probably the best I found on the subject:
Google Docs is an easy-to-use online word processor, spreadsheet and presentation editor that enables you and your students to create, store and share instantly and securely, and collaborate online in real time. You can create new documents from scratch or upload existing documents, spreadsheets and presentations. There's no software to download, and all your work is stored safely online and can be accessed from any computer.
This seems like it would be a fantastic tool in a lab setting with students. I'll definitely have to explore it some more!
Thing #17 - Rollyo
Hmmmm. This is one of the few "23 things" that I'm not sure how much I'd use. Unless I'm totally missing the boat, it seems to me like one would have to perform a LARGE number of broad-subject searches with few results, in order to feel the need to use something like Rollyo.
I actually used some sites that I've been saving from my del.icio.us files to compile my Rollyo search list. How's that for multi-tasking new information?! :) Because this was sort of a demo, I wanted to find a specific category to cover. I chose one of my other summer goals/projects -- scrapbooking. I've just started getting into it, so I've been saving a bunch of beginner sites. I don't have much yet, but maybe I can build on it! Here's my contribution: scrappingwithfarrell
I actually used some sites that I've been saving from my del.icio.us files to compile my Rollyo search list. How's that for multi-tasking new information?! :) Because this was sort of a demo, I wanted to find a specific category to cover. I chose one of my other summer goals/projects -- scrapbooking. I've just started getting into it, so I've been saving a bunch of beginner sites. I don't have much yet, but maybe I can build on it! Here's my contribution: scrappingwithfarrell
Thing #16 - Wikis
The FIRST thing I thought of when watching the TeacherTube clip was those annoying "respond to all" emails we all receive, especially at work! You know the ones I'm talking about ... where one person sends an email to a group ... and then, it never fails. One person responds back without reading the other responses first, and everyone gets confused. Argh!!! The most notorious situations for this chaos seems to be organizing a meeting time. What a mess.
Seems like some type of ongoing campus wiki could ease some of that confusion. It sounds like all we need to do is set up, and bingo! We're up and running! Think I might just take the bull by the horns this fall and look into it (with the assistance of our lovely librarian, of course!). :)
The sky (or the firewall!) is the limit, I guess!
Seems like some type of ongoing campus wiki could ease some of that confusion. It sounds like all we need to do is set up, and bingo! We're up and running! Think I might just take the bull by the horns this fall and look into it (with the assistance of our lovely librarian, of course!). :)
The sky (or the firewall!) is the limit, I guess!
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Thing #15 - Library 2.0
While it's exciting to watch all the technological changes taking place in the world around us, especially in the 2.0 realm, it's also somewhat sad, and just a little bit scary.
I'll start off with my "old fart" opinion. In Rick Anderson's Away fromt the "icebergs" article, he talked about three obstacles threatening progress in the world of libraries. Right off the bat, he discussed massively scaling back (or even eliminating?) the "just in case" collection of materials with which we're all so comfortable. Sure it's becoming harder and harder to collect every hard copy of printed materials and resources. But like the dying breed of the Sunday newspaper, there's just something nice about holding a resource in your hand and flipping through it, page by page. The thought of losing all of that seems sort of sad.
On the flip side of things (time for my "realist" opinion!), the guy has it right. He recognizes the need for change, yet reminds us all that we can't survive if we abandon our "core principles and values" with every passing new fad. He acknowledges the need for a shift in direction, which is basically, what this whole new revolution is all about. We're all still learning and seeking, yet finding differernt ways to go about gaining the necessary knowledge to get where we're wanting to go.
It's very overwhelming, but also exciting!
I'll start off with my "old fart" opinion. In Rick Anderson's Away fromt the "icebergs" article, he talked about three obstacles threatening progress in the world of libraries. Right off the bat, he discussed massively scaling back (or even eliminating?) the "just in case" collection of materials with which we're all so comfortable. Sure it's becoming harder and harder to collect every hard copy of printed materials and resources. But like the dying breed of the Sunday newspaper, there's just something nice about holding a resource in your hand and flipping through it, page by page. The thought of losing all of that seems sort of sad.
On the flip side of things (time for my "realist" opinion!), the guy has it right. He recognizes the need for change, yet reminds us all that we can't survive if we abandon our "core principles and values" with every passing new fad. He acknowledges the need for a shift in direction, which is basically, what this whole new revolution is all about. We're all still learning and seeking, yet finding differernt ways to go about gaining the necessary knowledge to get where we're wanting to go.
It's very overwhelming, but also exciting!
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