Thing #8

Flickr Mashups for Evelyn

Flickr mashups could be used many ways in the classroom.  I was able to find many links that create letter mashups, word mashups, and picture mashups.  I enjoyed using these sites because there are many ways to show students with different learning abilities things we are learning for the day in class or as an exit activity when the students are leaving.  I do not mind sharing photos online, because I do have a facebook that I upload photos to daily. Though, I do think there are some things that should not go on to the internet and be viewed by the world.

Thing #7

I loved using flickr.  I had never used this site before now because I normally go to photobucket to find photos.  I really enjoyed searching for photos and trying to find a photo that interests me.  I really enjoy sunsets.  I enjoy sunsets better on the beach.  I found this photo very interesting: I had to snap shot this photo from my Iphone, that is why you see the border around the image.  This scene is just breathe taking.  I love the clouds and the way the water reflects the sun so delicately. It was very easy to find this photo because all I had to search for was the tag "sunsets".


http://www.flickr.com/photos/cubagallery/5599620163/

Image Citation: "Sunset Sky." CubaGallery. 8 Apr 2011 <http://www.flickr.com/photos/cubagallery/5599620163/>.

Thing #4

Whenever you have things such as blogs or videos on youtube, you want to have some sort of feedback.  People do not post thing online for no reason at all.  They want to know what people think about what they have posted.  I thought it was important to show the person that you actually took the time to read their posts and that answering with a "yeah", is not a good way to show insightful commenting skills.  Commenting also gives the blogger a chance to actually "know" the readers on a level of understanding; lets the readers know that their comments are important.

I decided to follow Jasmina Kulovic (http://jasminakulovic.blogspot.com/), Sarah Felts (http://sarahmariefelts.blogspot.com/) , Johnna Conners (http://johnnaconnors.blogspot.com/) , Jessi Wright (http://education3040-wright.blogspot.com/), and Kyle Thompson (http://kyledt27.blogspot.com/) inside our blogger group.  The two that I choose that are not inside our group are The Pioneer Woman (http://thepioneerwoman.com/) and Grace Booney (http://www.designsponge.com/)

I commented on Jasmina Kulovic's post about how she found Amazon useful when using her kindle.  I thought it was interesting how she figured out you can upload the Kindle application to another device and still use it as if it were the Kindle.

Sarah Felts made a post on the new and improved Google that she has new discovered.  My thoughts were exactly like hers.  I did not know Google had so much to offer for being a search engine.

I loved Johnna Conners' post for using Flickr.  I LOVE the beach.  So seeing the photo she chose was pretty awesome.  My photo was very similar but I concentrated on the sunset on the beach.

Kyle Thompson had a great post about how he never thought he would be blogging about different things.  He made a great point that he could use blogging to keep in contact with different teachers in the same grade as him.  They could share lesson plans and also become aware of what he was doing in class.  I never thought about using blogging with other teachers too.

I have fallen in love with The Pioneer Woman's blog.  I also enjoy seeing her photography and seeing her cookbook come to life.  I commented on her latest post, which included pictures of her hound dogs.

I have also gotten into the newest blog i was able to find Designer Sponge.  I commented on her post about vintage items.  I love finding vintage things, and then incorporating them into my room, or in my bathroom!

Thing #6

I was supposed to discover a site that has useful tools and interesting features.  I didn't have to look hard in the list of "Web 2.0 Awards".  I chose a website that I have already discovered and enjoy using.  This website is http://www.twitter.com/!  I think that Twitter is a genius website, that I am completely obssessed with.  The number one thing I like about using Twitter is the ability to find out information, fast!  When the earthquake happened, I found out from Twitter.  When Amy Winehouse died, I found out from Twitter.  They have a great way to trend topics through hashtags(#), which allows you to just go to the search bar to see if any new information on a topic is streaming through Twitter's news feed.  You can "follow" people on Twitter from the cast of Jersey Shore, CNN Breaking News, Barrack Obama, and even Oprah!
The only thing I could see Twitter being useful for in school, would be finding other people's opinions on the nature of a subject.  Even with other people's opinions, it can get explicit because the sight isn't monitered for bad language, so it may not be a permitted site in schools.

Thing #5

Okay, I get it, things are modernized and schools are becoming more technology savvy but I don't want things to go too far.  I personally think that technology is a wonderful invention.  It is great to have students on the computers, learning how to use websites as resource tools for essays, projects etc.  I even think that having an alotted time set up for the children to get on the computers to do blogging during their daily classroom activities is a good way to teach them technology.  I also believe things will be taken to the extreme with internet usage.
School 2.0 means more computer use during the school day, and at home.  If given the chance, School 2.0 can be taken over board.  It will soon be taken from a "free and open source software" to a classroom instruction world wide web program.  The teachers that have been in my life is what have influenced me, not the computers I sat in front of researching on every once in a while.
This new technology focused school (School 2.0) will give focus to the computer generated learning enviorment.  I think that it may get to the point where the teachers' evaluations will be based on the computer software they are using, rather than the structured lessons they prepare. 
It may be a good thing to have in schools, and then again it could just be a modern way to teach children on many different subjects.

Thing #3

As a teacher, blogging can be used in many different ways to increase student to student communication.  Facebook is a trend that has already exploded and still to this day is used by major companies, bands, etc. to get their name and information out there.  Creating a blog could be a "facebook" inside the classroom.  It could give students the opportunity to post comments to describe their opinion on a subject.  If the teacher plans to discuss a certian subject during the class, they can post links for them to read and give their opinion on.  This can also be used for teacher to parent contact.  Not only can it strictly be used for parent opinion or insight, but show the parents what exactly is going on while their child is at school. 

Thing #2

I decided on my blog name and posting name the easiest way I could.  I wanted something easy to remember, and that would be my name itself.  It was fairly easy to create my blog.  I have a lot of experience with computers and technology, so navigating through the site was a breeze.  My avatar reflects me the best way it can.  My favorite color is green, and I have a pet cat at home that is orange.  I didn't think it would make sense to create an avatar that did not represent me, because who wants people to think you're someone you are not?

Thing #1

The easiest habit from the 7 1/2 Habits would probably be, "Begin with the End in Mind".  If I don't set goals for myself, I will not get anywhere.  I am constantly coming up with big ideas, and these big ideas cannot happen over night.  So, I set a goal for my outcome and then it usual makes the end a lot smoother.  The hardest habit that I have come across before is, "View Problems as Challenges".  I sometimes catch myself viewing a problem as a BIG problem.  I do not focus on what I could possibly learn at the end of things, I usually go straight toward the negative outcomes.