Thing 8-Revisited...

Thing 6 - v. 2.0

Reflect - Blog Prompt for Thing 6
Create a post on your blog about one of the photos you downloaded. Why did you choose a particular photo? What is it about the photo that you found interesting? Be sure to include the image in your post. Use Blogger's photo upload feature to do this.

I downloaded a photo of some people playing Frisbee. I like to play Frisbee. It was a nifty photo. I don't dive for the Frisbee any more like in the picture, but it was swell to see a good action pic. Also, I don't play in the snow, the Frisbee gets too brittle. And, it hurts to catch it.

It was pretty easy to do this, and I see myself adding lots of photos to my blog. At first I thought I'd just use Google to find photos, but this can be pretty neat, also.

Thing 4 - Version 2.0

C. Reflect - Blog Prompts for Thing 4
It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of blogs out there - how do you handle information overload and how do you think RSS might help with that?

This is the one tool I didn't think I would use all that much. I don't like to limit my incoming information just to what I am interested in...because I often find something new (like 23 Things) that I would otherwise have missed out on.

Also, I thought of all the tools we used, this was the most cumbersome. I didn't really get a good feel for it, even after making changes in a later Thing.

Maybe it's just something I need to work with a bit more to really see how it can be beneficial to me.

Thanks!
Tom

Thing 23---And now the end is near.

Blog Prompts for Thing 23
Take a few moments to reflect on your journey. You've covered a lot of material over the past ten weeks. What does it all mean? How has your thinking changed between Thing 1 and Thing 23? Has this program changed how you view the Internet or how view teaching in the digital world? What plans have you made for using these tools in and out of the classroom? How will you continue to learn about Web 2.0 tools? What are your big "take aways" from this experience?

I am 23 steps closer to being a more effective, efficient and updated teacher. When I started teaching, everything was chalkboards. Then, I went high tech and used printed overheads! Wow! Those were spectacular. Then, when we got a TV in every room with a computer...I did all my notes in Powerpoint.

But, now, I can see posting all my notes. Having students teach each other (and me) and come up with exciting new ways to learn.

I am definitely going to use my blog at school and probably make a new one or two for home projects. I love the Wiki and will definitely use that. I am looking into making my own Podcasts and already downloading a ton of stuff on Astronomy, hoping to create a new science class elective.

I saw the post at the 23 Things site about 43 things. I think I'll look into that.

I am taking away some amazing insights into Web 2.0 (didn't even know it existed) and hoping to begin to use nearly all of it.


Thanks for the class. Hmmm, a "class". Not exactly what we thought of 20 years ago, eh?


PS: I'm hoping to go back and clean up some of my older posts. Not sure if I can re-order them. Sorry if I got stuck and had to try to do my best. It really has been a great learning experience.

Thing 22 - Creating a Wiki

C. Reflect - Blog Prompts for Thing 22
In your blog post be sure to include the link to your wiki. Then discuss your feelings about using a wiki. How does a wiki differ from a blog? When is one more appropriate to use than the other?


Here's the link to my Wiki:
https://brownscience.wikispaces.com/

I like the idea of using a Wiki. I'm not sure I want to give up the control to my students or other teachers. But, I suppose that's to be expected. We're in a whole new ballgame, aren't we.

A Wiki seems a bit more user friendly than the blog. I think the blog is less usable across big distances, whereas I could envision using a Wiki to collaborate with a teacher in Canada.

I am pretty excited about the long-term possibilities of my new-found tech abilities...oh, wait...that's Thing 23, isn't it.

Thing 21- Exploring Wiki's

C. Reflect - Blog Prompts for Thing 21
Describe a wiki you found that inspires you to create one of your own. What hurdles might stand in the way of your using a wiki? What would it take to remove the hurdles? Is it worth the fight?

Even though I teach high school science, the Wiki from the 5th grade class that had the Hannalee story was really good. If 5th graders can be so creative and dig deep into a subject, maybe my 10th graders can, too!

Also, I really liked the Wiki on How To...do something. I went to the science portion (of course) and found out how to spot meteorites. I'll be looking everywhere, now.

Hurdles. The thing with the 100m hurdles is there is one every 10 m. I'm hoping to get past the first one and not have to do the next 7. But...I think that would be cheating. So, I'll have to ask my tech guy how I can be added to our Website and try doing some Hannalee type stuff to get a Wiki going. Oh, I want to do a Podcast, too...wait, maybe I should save this for Thing 23.

Is it worth the fight? Well, some of these sites were well-maintained and very informative. One I went to had a dead link that irritated me enough to leave it immediately. So, I'm hoping the fight will be minimal with maximal student participation.
Thank you.

Thing 20

C. Reflect - Blog Prompts for Thing 20
Include in your post the name of at least one podcast to which you subscribed. Describe your experience using the various search tools. Which do you prefer and why?

I decided to subscribe to a couple of science podcasts. One of my all time favorites is NPR's Science Fridays. They are simple to understand and are very informative.

I just clicked on the Science category, and a whole lot of podcasts appeared. I also subscribed to Grammar Girl, since my kid wants to be a writer and some of her friends call her Grammar Girl.

I didn't use the Search option, but watching the video makes it look pretty straightforward. My "Grammar Girl"'s class did a podcast last year and we listened to it. I'm wondering if I can search for it still, or do they decay over time?

I downloaded iTunes at school on my Windows computer and expect to do some listening and possibly creating my own podcasts. Our school district has a bunch on their web site (that I found out about today), so it seems pretty simple and cool.

Thing 18

B. Reflect - blog prompts for Thing 18
What did you like about the presentation you embedded? How might Slideshare be useful in the classroom? out of the classroom?

Unfortunately, the Slideshare did not work at all for me. My Mac wouldn't go to the site. The embedded video/slidshow didn't work.

I really like the idea of sharing slideshows. I think re-inventing the wheel too often gets a bit boring, and once these bugs get worked out, I will definitely try out this site. Maybe I'll try it at school on a Windows computer.

I wonder how other teachers make slideshows and if they pizzazz them up, or leave them a bit dull, to maintain classroom decorum and management.

I'd really like to have students make their own slide shows (as I've done in the past) using this format and possibly use them to teach each other the state-mandated standards. This is one site I'm really looking forward to trying.

Thing 17

B. Reflect - Blog Prompts for Thing 17
Give a review of the tool you explored - what worked, what didn't work, how might it be used either in or out of the classroom?

I took a look at "LibraryThing". It was very easy to add books that we own. I could quickly tag them for future reference. I also added a comment on the family who was adopting a cat, soon.

There were so many groups, I don't know where to start. I like the idea of having people post the best books they've read and having multiple reviewers.

Finally, I was able to click on "Local" and find libraries and bookstores within 5 miles of my zipcode. Very cool. It even had a Google Map with directions when I clicked on it.

This is a site that worked very well and was very user friendly. I can see adding all the science books I have or having my 9th grade daughter add the books she's accumulated over the years.

In the classroom, my "readers" might enjoy adding their favorites and seeing what others say about books they read. A very nice site that can make my home and school life more organized. I give it 3 out of 4 stars. Probably not as useful in the classroom as some other sites I've been to. But pretty cool, nonetheless.

Thing 16

C. Reflect - Blog Prompts for Thing 16
How might you use this tool in your personal and professional life? What issues come to mind about using this tool with students (ie, they need email addresses to log-in)?

I just had my wife e-mail me a Powerpoint, today. I had it on the home computer, not at school. So, I just shared it with myself and my wife. Even though she probably won't use Jeopardy any time soon.

We've been working on a project at church, and instead of all of us getting together to put together the presentation, we could GoogleDoc it. Can I verbify "GoogleDoc"? Well, I teach science...of course, I can!

Doing it with students just seems to messy and complicated. But it would be great to collaborate more with fellow teachers, especially over the summer when we are scattered.

Thing 15 RSS

Reflect - Blog Prompts for Thing 15
Is RSS becoming easier to understand? Do you recognize new benefits of using this tool? Do you remember to check your feeds regularly? Has it become a habit (or obsession!) yet?

Actually, I don't really check it. But, I think I understand it. I deleted some I didn't need/want. Subscribed to a new feed and changed it's name. Not bad for just watching a 2-minute video!

I don't think I'll use this too often. I get feeds from my home page MY Yahoo.com. So, it's not an obsession. But, I can see how it could be. There are so many things...uh, feeds, I mean. It's like a whole new vocabulary. I'm too old for a new vocabulary! Help!
Tom

Thing 14

Include your Delicious username in this blog post so that others can view the bookmarks that you have chosen to share. Then reflect on how you think social bookmarking can be used in your teaching. Does Delicious seem to be a tool that can enhance your productivity?

My delicious username is mrbrowndhs.

This seems a nice way to share stuff with other teachers and to help me stay organized on home and school computers. I'll get a few sites bookmarked, move rooms the next year and I have to start my searches all over again on the new computer. So, I think it will help my productivity.

I was able to get all of my current (home) bookmarks into Delicious. I hacked out a bunch that were defaults that I never use.
I like the idea of tagging, also. I do that with my photos in Facebook, so I was a bit familiar with it. I also added a Delicious application to Facebook, but I'm not sure where it is or how to use it. Or what it will do. Looking forward to being more productive!

Tom

Thing 12

Review the widget you selected. Are you getting comfortable with embedding code? Do you belong to other online communities? Are relationships formed online as meaningful as face-to-face relationships? Why do you think MySpace and other social networking sites are so popular with kids today?

I like my little clock of science. I am comfortable? Right now, I am. In a week? We'll have to see.

Not a member of any other online community, yet.

Relationships can't be as meaningful. Like it said in the YouTube video with the Anthropologist, it could all be fake.

I don't do MySpace, but my daughter did get on Facebook and was talking to a boy. So, I created my own account, located a bunch of former students and an old Army buddy of mine. It's great! We can 'talk" for free, see what's going on in everybody's lives, put in photos (and now videos). I don't accept current students, but it is lots of fun to play Scrabble with my buddy in Alabama.

Bill Nye and Pluto: ABC Interview

Thing 7

This is about Thing 7, actually. But, I can't figure out how to make a new comment line. Or to add a photo. (I think I have it now)

C. Reflect - Blog Prompts for Thing 7
Think of ways you may be able to use Flickr in your classroom and share your ideas. What issues might you face?

The issues could be of privacy. But, maybe with the privacy buttons we could work that out. I'd like to upload photos of science experiments. Especially closeups. Also, when my students do presentations, I'd like to have pictures of them.

Can I share Flickr photos in a slideshow I can show parents?

Maybe I could include my extra-curricular activities like Frisbee, fishing or running. Some of my students participate in these and they'd love photos online, available to them.

Thing 9, I hope

What do you like or dislike about YouTube? Did you find videos that would be useful for teaching and learning? Is YouTube banned in your building?

I watched a Bill Nye video I hadn't seen in ages and it reminded me of some of the good stuff he used to do. When it was educational AND fun.

I'm finding tons of great video,,,also getting a bit overwhelming...but the problem is that You Tube is banned in my school. Our video department can't use it for educational purposes or to post their high quality videos that students have produced. Such a shame.

But, after seeing the charlatans and the anonymity that is possible and the desire to get to the top of the list, I can see why. Putting a sexy picture in the middle of your video can decafy (10 times) your hits, if not more.

I watched the entire Anthropology of You Tube and felt like I really had been missing out on a lot of good stuff, and some crap too, of course. But, with the youth today, it is getting harder and harder to keep up. I'm doing the best I can, I think.

Clock of Science

Thing 11

I went to a couple of different teacher sites in 23 Things and saw a wide variety of progress.  I am about in the middle (I hope), seeing a couple who were done, and a couple are barely started.

I like leaving comments so others can soak up the amazingness of me.  I dislike leaving somewhat "anonymous" comments, because I'm always afraid that my jokes will fall flat (or worse).

The comments I've received have been positive.  Looking forward to more.

The comments are nifty because we get (hopefully) quicker feedback.  Imagine giving a test and all the comments from students say we didn't cover some of the material.  Ooops!

Sharing writing online could give teachers (and peers) to say what is working and what isn't in their writings.  Or, maybe it will degrade their English skills even further.  I am hoping the former.

Bill Nye and Pluto