Blogging

I really did not have good luck with my voicethread.  Even though I could hear it when I practiced it, I could not hear it from my home computer.  What a bummer.  I am not sure what the problem is.  I really like embedding a small video with instruction about how to do things.  It makes instruction much more fun.  Even though I am not in the classroom, I do have the opportuntity to do presentations for my faculty, and I hope I can be more interesting by using these new tools.  Thanks for this opportunity!  I plan to practice, practice, practice.  Kathy Wood

Everytime I think I am close, I realize I do not know as much as I would like to know.  Today I was reading my Google Reader and I came across this podcast about inserting hyperlinks into email.  I though I knew how to do this.  Of course I do not do it very often, so I was missing one step.  The podcast and accompyping  video was very helpful.  I learn much better with pictures rather than just reading something.  I think that is why I have enjoyed this course so much.  Now if only I could figure out a way to use all of my new Web 2.0 finds – I will be in business.

OK – Not really sure why this is called a flakes page, but I guess it is because the branches of a flake go in many directions and on this site you can add many different branches with information that is useable and shareable. 

Wiki pages are fun, but I think they do the same thing – share information.  What I did like about the teacher pageflakes is that you can access and dowenload information very quickly.  I like that part.  You can also find information a lot quicker.  At my admin meeting this morning we talked about embedding podcasts on our website that are simply instructions and reminders about dismissals for inclement weather etc.  I think we might try it out this winter.  But a pageflakes for the website might even be more interesting.

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Who knew??  Google docs is so much easier to use than excel.

As an adminisitration I would love to create more data based information for the teachers with regard to test scores.   Spreadsheets can be transformed into presentations that calrify trends in our students’ learning. 

Tracking report grades would be another way for me to share trends in a grade level or for a particular student.

FInally, since all schools must particpate in accreditation, using the forms are in google docs would allow one to create a fairly easy survey to send to a particular group as a means of a data gathering. 

All of these methods encourage collaboration, and our school does collaborate, but I see these methods as a simpler way to communicate. 

If you would like to hear my 17 seconds of fame, click on 17seconds!!

I have used youtube on lots of occassions.  My kids ( all grown) have taught me how to log on and view various videos.  I found out how to draw feet when I clicked on “How to Draw Feet“ There was a little blurb about one of the speakers characters at the start of the video then the feet drawing directions. It is a lot easier than I thought.  I also found 2 videos about teaching science, because I used to be a science teacher.  My “just for fun” video on youTube is the one of my grandson;learning how to roll over.  Very cute – of course I am the grandmother.

Teacher Tube was a surprise for me.  I did not know it existed.  I liked the topics on the first page, especially the one about the 42 presidents.

I am familiar with podcasts, because the archdiocese uses them on thier website.  It is an easy way to catch a live report of a presentation or a news report that occurred when I was not able to attend.  I think I like the idea of using podcasts in the classroom, because it is a good way to deliver a role playing exercise from the students.  It appears to me that podcasts are the replacements for VHS and CDs.  What do you think?

The Library thing experience was really great.  I love to read and I had no idea that this site was available.  Better yet, it was good to be able to read other people’s comments about books that I have hesitated to buy because I wans’t sure that I would be interested.  Library thing would be great for directing students to additional books by authors currently being studied in school.  It is also a place to share other books that have similar themes, author styles and so on.  It is a good deal

I enjoyed using delicious.  Since I was deeply influenced by the name, the first place I went was to bakeries.  I am from the NJ and NYC area so I decided that would be the best place to look.  I was right  That made me nostalgic so I decided to check out my home town of Westfield , NJ.  I also went on to vist Notre Dame of Maryland where I went to college.  It was fun, and I could really get used to just surfing along like this.   This site was really useful in many ways, but what I noticed right away was that most of the work is already done.  All you have to do is click on some of the tags that already exist and voila!!!