One Last Thing....

Well, I have definitely learned a lot with this project. I have to admit that I have been a little reluctant to jump on the technology train but I can't really avoid it or be scared of it any longer because of all that is out there and available. I am behind but feel much more "in the loop" now after completing this project. Now I just have to make sure I keep up with the ever changing world of computers and technology.


My favorite parts of this project were creating the images like the post it's and sign makers as well as the animoto and you tube and flickr. I liked playing with pictures and creating images that BEFORE this, I never would have thought I could figure out how to do. I still don't really like podcasts OR really blogging in general. However, I will probably attempt to keep a blog when I am teaching so that the parents can read it. I will probably have to access that, though, and determine if it is really worth the time and effort depending on who (if anyone) is actually reading it.

Thing #23

This image was taken from Thing #16 on APSU 23 things. It was taken from Flickr and at the bottom of the description of Thing #16 was: Photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tidalotter/538731706/.


Whenever you create anything, you automatically have all rights reserved. People who are interested in sharing can use Creative Commons. The people who put pictures on flickr are okay with others using their work. They want others to use it and an easy way to let people know that they can use it and how they can use it is by Creative Commons. Every site we've used on APSU 23 things has been a part of Creative Commons. It's a great way to collaborate but not completely give up your copyright rights. Because of Creative Commons, as a teacher, I will be able to clearly see what I can use and what I can't use. And it will allow me TO use more than I would have originally been able to before Creative Commons.

Thing #22

I wasn't too crazy about this "thing". I don't think I'm too crazy about podcasts in general...I'm finding them kind of boring. I need something to look at.

I found Podcastalley.com the most user friendly. It had the top 10 of the week, new ones, and most listened to. So, it was all right there and easy to see and use. Even though I am not a big fan of podcasts so far, I may still use them in the classroom but more of a project for the kids because it may be a fun project for them to do. But to just sit and listen to one...not so much. But, they may enjoy creating them and hearing themselves and listening to their friends.

This is the podcast I ended up listening to and even though I am a Twilight Series fan, I even found this podcast boring... I just don't think I'm a podcast person....

Thing #21

I liked Animoto. It was pretty easy to use, too. At first, when I saw I had to make a video, I thought, "oh great", but it was simple. The music choices were kind of bunk, but it was easier to choose from their music than to go through mine. I just uploaded some photos from our engagement shoot and it was simple. This would be a fun thing to use in the classroom and I will probably use it again now that I know about it like for wedding pictures!

Thing #20

You Tube is pretty popular. I love it because you can seriously find anything on it from news clips, to music videos to instructional videos. I tried to view the "I want to be a Librarian" that was on the description of the "thing" but it has been removed. I chose the all famous JK Wedding Entrance and then also the spoof that was done on it known as the JK Divorce Entrance. I would never do anything like this at my wedding, but it still cracks me up to see people do it. And this particular video was fresh on my mind...



And now the one below is the spoof that is known as their divorce entrance....pretty funny...

Thing #19

I joined TeacherPop and was able to post the badge to my blog but nothing more until my membership is approved. But I already know what picture I want to post...so I will do so once my membership is approved. I think I will definitely use TeacherPop throughout school and my career. It's a great way to communicate with other teachers and get ideas and advice. You can also post an experience you had so that it may help out other teachers.

Currently I am a member of Facebook and now, Teacher Pop. I have wanted to join Teacher Pop anyway, so I am glad that was a requirement for this "thing". I looked at a few of the other social sites, but I'm just not interested in joining any other ones. I checked out Fuzzster which is a social site for you and your pet...which is kind of cute, I guess but a little werid. And I also checked out goodreads and flixster. I will probably join goodreads in the future as it can benefit me when choosing books for my students to read.

Thing #18

Sweet! An easy "thing".... I've had a facebook account for only a little over a year. First I had myspace but got rid of it when I set up my facebook account. Facebook was just easier to use and easier to find people on than myspace. So, I'm a bigger fan of Facebook. I held out for a really long time on either, though. I didn't get a myspace account until LATE 2007. And then got my facebook account mid 2008...so then dumped myspace. But, I remember the first time I heard of myspace...again, it was probably later than normal...and it was early 2006. Then all my friends started doing it but I held out for a really long time. Anyway, I enjoy facebook now. It's nice to keep in touch with friends from all chapters of life. I make sure to keep my profile set to private so that only my friends can see pics and all. But, there really is nothing on my facebook account that I would be embarrassed about. It amazes me some of the things I see people post or pictures they put up and I'm like, "wow...really? That's not smart...."

Anyway, as far as using facebook or myspace in the classroom...I'm not feeling it. I think it should just be used for networking or staying in touch with friends. It's more useful if you're in marketing or something like that. A lot of companies create facebook accounts to get fans, which is a great and free way to advertise, but I don't really see a use for it in the classroom. I think teachers should be aware of it just because it's a big thing. Students are into it and use it a lot, so educators should be aware of what is going on. I suppose a teacher could try to incorporate it into the classroom but I just think it should be separate. Blogging is a better more formal way to communicate with the classroom than facebook or myspace. I mean, I can't even imagine a student requesting to be my friend on facebook or leaving a comment on my wall or something like that....but if it were a separate account, maybe that would be ok. I probably will not use it in the classroom,though.
Facebook

Thing #17

Again, never heard of this, but actually really like it and found it very helpful and useful! I have a bad habit of bookmarking all kinds of sites...whether I'm shopping for something and want to come back to it later or doing research for a paper. Del.icio.us is a good way to keep all of these kinds of things organized. So, I think it is useful for personal reasons as well as searching for curriculum when I am a teacher. I really like that you can tag each bookmark so you can easily access it later when you are looking for it. And I like that you can see what other people have bookmarked and have found useful. If I'm wanting to find useful sites on teaching certain topics, not only can I do my own search but I can also see sites that other teachers have tagged for the same purpose. My bookmarks definitely become messy and with this application, I can get them organized. Plus, since my fiance and I both use this computer, his bookmarks get mixed up with mine. So, using Del.icio.us, we can keep them separate.

Thing #16

I stuck with google for my homepage. I feel most comfortable working with google and have already used it for a lot of "things" so far. I have my homepage set up to display the date and time, the weather, news, tv guide listings, football scores, recipes, celebrity news, and more. I've also set it for a halloween theme for now...

I had already created an online calendar for a previous "thing" and I used google for it as well. It's set up to send reminders to my email account which I get all the time. I liked setting the calendar up but will probably just use it for when I have a classroom. I think it will be great for parents to view anytime they want. And it will also keep the students on track. We have a desk calendar that we use for our personal things, and call me old fashion, but I still prefer using it. It's right here on the desk and it's just where all our events and trips are written down. But the online calendar that allows others to view it will definitely be something I will use once I'm a teacher.

The other website I tried was "Remember the Milk". I make lists like crazy. But my biggest problem is that I make multiple lists which "they" say not to do. But, I do it. I have lists all over for different parts of my life...the wedding, school, personal, etc. So, I thought I would try out "Remember the Milk" because it would be a way for me to have one list. It was ok, but mainly I thought it just wasn't worth it. It's just easier or as easy for me to get out a sheet of paper or write my "to do's" on my calendar. Again, call me old fashion, but I think that's just how I prefer to do my personal things. OR, just a "to do list" in word on my computer....that's just me, I guess.

I also tried out Zamzar which was pretty cool. It will be useful since you are always on different programs with different versions. Or if you have a word document that you want to convert to excel...very useful. I've already used it for personal use...I had a document typed up for my bridesmaids and 2 of them cannot read docx...so I used Zamzar to convert it to something else~!

Mystickies is also a cool application. I'm a literal "post it note"...at one of my previous jobs, I had stickies all over my computer. They are just so helpful and useful when it comes to things you need to refer to often or important things you need to do...so, stickies on websites is a very cool feature.

Thing #15

The first thing I thought of after reading about Wikis was how useful this would have been on numerous occasions. The first that comes to mind is one New Year's Eve when about 10 of us were trying to make plans...and it was constant emailing back and forth. And it became quite ridiculous. Then I thought about the beach trip we just took in July with 2 other couples...which was again, quite ridiculous in the amount of emails back and forth in planning and talking about who would bring what and so on and so on. The perfect solution would have been a wiki that we could have all gone to update.

The second thing that came to my mind was the wonderful wikipedia which I use ALL the time....

I added something to the images and photos section of the APSU 23 things sandbox.

Thing #14

I tried out bubbl.us, Gliffy, and Mindmeister. I think I liked bubbl.us best. Bubbl.us was the easiest to use and the easiest to figure out for me. I put the flowchart to the left together by using bubbl.us.

Flowcharts are helpful in learning steps in procedures, cause and effect, and so on. They keep the steps of a procedure in order and easy to see to follow. I would encourage my students to use mind maps to get their ideas in order for a project or paper. I use "mind maps" for projects or papers but I guess I have just never referred to them as "mind maps". They are also useful when studying. It outlines a topic in an easy way that is simple to view and decipher.

Thing #13

Zoho was something that I had never heard of...which didn't really surprise me as there are many things I've done so far in this class that I've never heard of! Which is what makes it interesting! Zoho not only allows you to upload documents you already have on your desktop or on your computer to an online source, but it also allows you to create documents. The best thing about it is that you can access documents that you create or upload to Zoho from anywhere; not just your home computer. Why even buy the software? It's useful for documents that you may need to access on a regular basis or need to send to other people to work on it with you. The first thing I uploaded was my resume. And then I went to Zoho sheets and uploaded the excel worksheet for my wedding that I am constantly changing and altering. It also has a place for presentations. You have to have internet access to use Zoho, but you are still saving money if you do not have to purchase the software. This is something that I may not only use myself but also something that I could recommend to my students to use. Really no excuses for not being able to do an assignment with this available. Even if you have to go to the library to use internet connection, you can do you work on Zoho. There is also an online organizer and a forum to use to ask other users questions about Zoho. Pretty useful for group work as well and collaborative writing.