23 Things Conclusion

I am astounded with the wealth of information out in the web!  I have gained several tools and have come up with several ideas that I will use in my classroom.  Hopefully the ideas will work, but as I have learned since becoming a teacher practice is everything!  Blogging and Flickr are the two tools that I found to be the most important in my job.  Blogs can be useful tools in the classroom and I plan on implementing a classroom blog as soon as Fall Break is finished.   I think that in order for me to continue learning about Web 2.0 is to practice.  I need to research (using Google of course) all of the different apps and play around with them.  The only way I learn is by doing.  The only criticism I have about the 23 Things program is the length of time given to completing it.  I felt rushed on each Thing and if I had more time to play around with each item I may have found more uses.  I have bookmarked the blog and will continue to look at it and see what has changed and to go back and play with the apps I was not able to spend a lot of time on.

Thing #23

The Fair Use law is very important in education.  Too many times have I seen teachers use films in place of teaching.  Granted I would love to show a Disney film instead of teach, but if I violate the copyright what example am I showing to the kids?  23 Things got the idea from 43 Things and APSU followed the Fair Use law and gave credit where credit was due.

Thing #22

Science Friday Podcast

I chose my favorite podcast: Science Friday.  This is an NPR program that I listen to every Saturday.  I am a social studies teacher, but I love science (I almost chose to teach science instead of history). 

I don't know if I will create a podcast with my students, but I am interested in doing so in the future.  I would have to research and play around with creating podcasts more until I feel more comfortable.  I have had some trouble finding a podcast that is geared towards my content, but I found that the Education Podcast Network to be a great tool.  I discovered a good podcast that I may subscribe, but will definitely bookmark!

Thing #21

I enjoyed working with Animoto.  I didn't have a lot of photographs that would make a good 30 second video, but in the future I will probably purchase a video with longer time.  Every year I have my students create a project over Egyptian culture.  I included photos of some of the best projects in my 30 sec vid, but next year I would love to show all of my projects to everyone.  Maybe even post the video on the morning announcements!  This would show off student work and give them pride in what they do!


Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

Thing #20

I am in the final stretch!  I thought that I would celebrate by embedding a Youtube video of my favorite cinema action hero.
I chose this video mostly because I love the Indiana Jones films, but also because the movies inspired me to become a history teacher.  My love for history stems from the movies and every year when I teach my students about archaeology I allude to Dr. Jones (even dress like him) and connect our imaginations to make it more relevant. 

I don't really have much to say on what I dislike.  The only thing I hate is the inability to download the video itself to my computer.  My school system has Youtube blocked so all of the good teaching videos cannot be used.  It is a shame that such a good tool is unable to be used, but I understand due to the material that is most definitely inappropriate for school.

Thing #19

I am a member of Facebook and Goodreads.  Facebook is a good network because I have a lot of friends who already have accounts. Goodreads is nice because I love reading.  I would enjoy connecting with my other friends who read, but sadly few have an account.  I think the most interesting and appealing thing to Goodreads is finding new books to read.  I am a huge read-for-pleasure person, but lately I have been reading for work.  Maybe this could help me find good books connected to my career.

Thing #18

This must be the easiest assignment for the 23 Things! 

I already have a Facebook account set up.  You can find it at:  Philip Authier's Facebook link

I think that it is imperative that teachers learn about Facebook and understand the basic concept regardless if they have their own account.  Students with internet access will most likely have an account or will get one in the future.  I feel that Facebook is more user friendly than Myspace.  I have an account with both networks, but found Myspace required more knowledge on html than Facebook.  The concept behind Myspace is good, it creates your own personal webpage, but Facebook is much better for socializing. 

I don't believe that either website has a school application.  The news media has reported on many abuses students and teachers have made.  I personally do not have any students on my friend list.  I will "friend" co-workers and adult friends, but I would be wading into a professional swamp if I added current or past students to my profile!

Thing #17

I like the idea of a social bookmarking website.  Several times I have been disappointed in going to work and looking in my bookmarks for a website that I discovered but found out I bookmarked it on my home computer!  Allowing students to set up delicious accounts would enable me to share links to educational websites that are appropriate and will hopefully cut down on the time spent typing in or searching for the URL needed. 

Thing 16

I previously looked at using iGoogle, but didn't like the format at the time.  I guess I just needed a few days to let the idea simmer a bit.  I created my own homepage using iGoogle.  I chose iGoogle because I have begun using Google in so many different areas.  I can keep track of my Gmail, blog, and group accounts.  The best part of iGoogle is the option to install a calendar gadget.  I created a Google calendar and linked it to my iGoogle page so that I can keep up-to-date on important events.  Birthdays, due dates, etc should not be difficult to remember anymore!

I found the To-do lists were too much work.  I can use the calendar app on my iGoogle homepage to keep me updated. 

I would recommend iGoogle to all of my teacher friends.  It is very helpful in keeping track of dates, plans, etc.

Thing #15

I remember my first exposure to wikis was in college when I discovered Wikipedia.  I understand that you should not trust everything on Wikipedia, but I really enjoy the fact that there is a free online encyclopedia that anyone can contribute to.  I have long planned on creating my own wiki.   I am always searching for safe websites that my students can visit and research information.  If I created a wiki for my topic and provided safe links, relevant information, and a place for students to collaborate I may be able to solve that problem!

Thing #14

I have used mind mapping and flow charts in my classroom so I am familiar with the concept.  I am very pleased to see that I can also create online versions of mind maps and flow charts. 

Mindmeister--I really enjoyed this web app.  It seems very familiar to Inspiration, an app that is already installed on my school's mobile labtops.  I use the mind map tool to create different webs when I need my students to compartmentalize information in a certain topic.  Achievements from ancient India such as inoculation, metallurgy, astronomy, mathematics, surgery, writing, etc lends itself well to a tool such as Mindmeister. It could also be used as a collaboration tool with an entire class working on one mind map!

Gliffy--I particularly enjoyed the capabilities of Gliffy in regards to creating Venn diagrams and other graphic organizers.  I plan on creating a Venn diagram over the religions of Hinduism and Buddhism sometime next week as an assignment.  This web app will allow me to create a Venn without having to format it inside of a word app. 

The biggest faults I see in using both apps is that it requires or requests pricing information.  I am a bit wary of sending my students to websites where they could possibly enter private information. 

Thing #13

I have wondered about the benefit of online webapps for the past two years.  I think that the idea is a great idea and it can work for so many different areas.  I could use the web based word processor to send assignments to my students and enable them to add information as needed.  The only problem I see is that in order for someone to share a document from ZOHO or Googledocs they must have a valid email address.  I don't want to open up the same document I would use for my students to the entire web.  I am too paranoid (rightly so I believe) that someone would log on and edit the document. It shares several features with word processors such as Word, but I like the availability.  The next time I update my computer, I may not purchase an office package since I can get the same thing online for free.

Thing #12

I choose Google calendar and Google translate as my two Google tools.

Calendar  I choose Google calendar because I am always having trouble with parents or students who do not understand the due dates for assignments.  By creating a calendar and updating when assignments are due, the end of grading periods, etc; I can cut down on the confusion.  I would have to communicate this at the beginning of the year, but I really believe this would work. 

Translate I have heard of Google translate and I even have the app on my cell phone.  I haven't had a ELL student in 3 years, but this is a tool that would be of great help to such a student.  I can translate assignments into the student's own language.  Parent communication would be much easier.  I could even use it to teach my students about the five Romance languages (Romanian, Spanish, Italian, French, and Portuguese). 

Thing #11

I mentioned in my previous post that I found the RSS feed tool difficult and confusing to use.  I thing I may have to change my opinion. The Google blog search was the easiest to use.  It was not as confusing as technorati.  I found that technorati would search for a blog, but I had to click on different links until I got to the blog itself.  I don't know if there was an easier way, but Google gave me the links directly after I click the search button.  I found several different feeds.  I enjoy reading the news.  I hardly watch television during the week anymore so I have to get my news through the internet.  I read several different websites (CNN, Yahoonews, USA Today, etc) and the RSS feed tool helps me save some time. 
I added a blog that centers around a favorite book series, The Wheel of Time.  Since I check this website often I figure it could give me incentive to use the RSS feed.

I recently began a new hobby and the RSS feed tool can help me learn and keep up-to-date.  I have begun to flintkapp (creating stone tools like arrowheads) and I found a few blogs created by fellow flintkappers.  It surprises me that someone who is interested in a hobby that uses the most primitive means to make tools would actually have a blog describing how to do this activity.  On second thought I shouldn't really be surprised since I myself belong to that group!

Thing #10

I have used RSS feeds before but I was confused on how to work Google reader.  I shouldn't let this stop me from using it however.  I personally check multiple websites every time I log onto the web.  If I made it a habit to use Google reader instead than I could save time by checking one website and seeing new (if any) updates.  I could use it in the classroom by having my students create their own blogs and add them to my RSS feed.  I can keep track on when my students make posts.

At first I felt that this would be something I would not use in the classroom or personally.  I started to experiment and brainstorm until I come up with a few ideas.
#1-I could use the image/text generator as a secondary title on a blog post.  This will help keep the post interesting and could even be a good hook to a lesson.
#2-I chose the second image because I am the drama club's sponsor at my middle school.  I can advertise drama productions on line and maybe bring more people to the show!

http://www.imagechef.com/ic/product.jsp

Thing #8

I love Big Huge Labs!  I chose this app mostly because I am familiar with the website.  I have previously created my own motivational posters for personal use, but it could easily be adapted for the classroom.  Students could create a poster for vocabulary words and match an image to the word. I am a bit hesitant in using this app because of the specter of privacy problems.  Is it safe to teach my students how to download and share pictures online?  They could go home and upload inappropriate pictures and this thought makes me hesitate.  I could look at it as a way to show them positive ways to share photos.

Thing #7

APSU 23 Things
Originally uploaded by fantasticwrite

Flickr and photosharing can be pretty confusing. This picture is of my classroom of course (I chose the one where it is actually clean). I plan on using a blog by the second semester and using images and sites such as flicker allow me to expand my teaching. I have said time and again that social studies can only benefit from using images. Students need to see real artifacts in order to see the relevancy in our subject. I may use flickr as a personal tool so that my family can see what I am doing. I even like the video options. I recently purchased a smart phone that allows me to do multiple things like videos, blogging, picture sharing (beyond texting), and browse the internet. The only reservation I have is the public aspect. I will of course watch what I post online, but everything you put online can be accessed somehow.