Done

My favorite discovery exercises were Flickr Mashups and Animoto because they both had to do with pictures. Pictures are a big part of my life and those two tools make the experience fun. I'm glad I have been exposed to a variety of tools and programs out there that I can utilize either personally or in my classroom, especially the ones that will keep me organized. I think 23 Things is a lot to do and it takes away from some of the discoveries that could use more emphasis. Maybe leave the 23 Things and let people choose which ones they want to explore.


I have learned that there are a lot of resources available that should be utilized in a classroom. Unfortunately, it was the first time several of them have been brought to my attention, such as the various applications Google has, and I don't want that to be the case for my students. I will inform them as much as possible about all the great tools that are out there.


I'm going to stay up to date with a variety of Web 2.0 sites. It's easy to stay current on social networking sites, but I'm going to keep on reading some of the blogs that I joined (Cool Cat Teacher). I'm also going to keep on using iGoogle and all the gadgets I added on there and Big Huge Labs.

Thing #22 - Podcasts

I have heard of podcasts before, but didn't get to make my own until this class. I like podcasts for a couple of reasons.

1. allows you to be creative.
2. it's not boring.

With the assignment we had, creating our own podcast, I got to see some other podcasts, but there were a lot that I didn't like. They seemed boring and useless. I think educational podcasts should serve a purpose and make whatever lesson more interesting and educational. Today's students need that hook and podcasts can definitely accomplish that when used properly. I've been thinking about how I would use a podcasting in my class and came up with an idea that might work if the students were enthusiastic enough. When doing the section on poems I would have my students:

1. create their own poem or obtain an already written one
2. have them read it
3. add music

Or take it to the next level and put a bunch of poems that each student reads and put it on a CD. Each student reads 10 and then make a CD. It's very similar to the podcast I did for this class. I took a poem about 9/11, read it, and added music from the movie Gladiator. It made the poem that more intense and powerful. Then my students could see the impact the poems are suppose to have.

I did explore the directories and didn't really like any of them. I'm the type of person who wants it to be easy to locate and quick. I had to keep clicking and clicking before I go the actual podcast. I like the website http://www.epnweb.org/index.php?request_id=344&openpod=4#anchor4

because it lists everything on the left, I click it, and then listen. That's exactly what I want. By the time I was done with the other websites I had lost interest in what I was doing and became frustrated. I don't want my students to feel that way because than they'll miss out.

There isn't a podcast that I would subscribe to (at least not yet). To be honest, it more about time than anything else. I really don't have the time to sit in front of the computer and listen to someone. Maybe if there was a great podcast I came across that really captured my attention, but until than I don't see myself subscribing to one.

Thing #23 - Creative Commons

23 Things for Teachers is based off of Learning 2.0 - 23 Things by Mesquite ISD's Learning 2.0 - 23 Things which was based off of the Learning 2.0 program that was designed by Helene Blowers, Technology Director at the Charlotte Mecklenburg County Public Library system, with the support and assistance of several staff. Helene's program was loosely based upon Stephen Abram's article, 43 Things I (or You) might want to do this year (Information Outlook - Feb 2006) and the website 43Things.

Our class has talked about copyrights before, but it's never really been discussed in any class I have ever taken. I know not to plagiarize other people's work and I know that I need to pay for music, but the thought has never really crossed my mind when dealing with Internet things. I always figured since it was out there I could use it. I would still attribute the work to the creator, but sometimes it's been used so much that I can't tell who the original owner was.

It's sad that at 24 I'm just learning about Creative Commons or copyrights regarding the various things on the Internet. I will make sure that when I am a teacher I introduce all of my students to Creative Commons, the advance search on Google, and copyright laws. People put so much time and effort into things they create, no one should be able to steal it and take that away the hard work from the original creator.

Thing #21- Animoto

My BA is in Communication and one of the aspects of my major was creating and editing videos. This is something that I love to do in my spare time. I was unaware that there was a program out there like this. One of the major differences that separates this from other programs is the way this streams the pictures together, it's unique and it's great. I had fun choosing my pictures and music. I think upgrading and buying the other version of Animoto would be a great investment for me since I do stuff like this all the time.

Animoto is extremely user friendly, easy, and quick to use. I could definitely implement this in one of my classes, especially if it's a creative writing class because something like this is very inspirational. It also would break up the monotony of a regular class lesson. I'm very excited about Animoto.

Thing #20 - YouTube

I have heard of YouTube and have gone on there a handful of times. I usually look for something when someone tells me there's something funny on there. When I was a sophomore one of my sorority sisters sent out an email with a video link to YouTube of a heavy set guy singing a song ("Numa Numa"). It was hilarious. I still have it saved to my computer and watch it whenever I'm having a bad day or need a pick me up. For the most part, I only use YouTube to find funny things and whenever I hear someone talking about the site it's usually in regards to something funny. However, I do know that there is some serious footage on there. For example, I searched 9/11 and there are comments an new videos that have been posted. Nine years later and people still care. That means something to me for 2 reasons. The first being I lived right outside of NYC, you can see the skyline from my streets. That day was awful in every way possible and has made an everlasting impact on the country, but specifically the states directly effected and the surrounding areas. The second reason is because my husband is an active duty soldier who is getting ready for his second deployment (his first to Afghanistan). That's significant because I believe that is the place that is linked to 9/11. He will be fighting our freedom, for people he's never met, and for a country I feel as forgotten him and the hundred of thousands of soldiers who are still fighting, who are getting ready to fight for the first time to the ninth time, and for the soldiers who paid the ultimate price. Seeing the footage and the comments gives me a renewal of strength that I so desperately need.

I like YouTube because there are thousands of videos that are at my fingertips. If you can think of something that you want to see it's probably on there. The site is simple to navigate so it makes it a pleasure to go on there. I know I had the option to put a video up there, but I don't have anything worth sharing and I wouldn't feel comfortable putting something up there of my family. I have already thought about taking my photos off of facebook because you never know what people are going to do to them and once it's up there there's nothing you can do about it. Who knows who has a picture of me or my family, it's very unsettling.

I can see this site being utilized in the classroom or my library site because there are more than just funny videos up there. There's News and Politics, Education, Science and Technology, and Travel and Events. All of these things can be brought to good use in an educational setting.

Thing #19 - Let's Be Social

This thing was not difficult or time consuming so that made me very happy. I joined TeacherPop and added photos of my dogs (Bella and Storm) and I commented on Jaclynn's page about her two dogs (who are adorable). I think being a member of that network will come in handy once I'm in the classroom. It's always a nice feeling to know you have support behind you and that there are resources to utilize. It may just be me, but it makes me feel better that I'm not doing it alone.

The other social network that I joined was FilmCrave. I'm very excited about this network because it's all about movies. My husband and I joke about it all the time, but I am more than happy to sit and watch movies all day/night. There's just something about getting lost in it all that I find so appealing. Then I took a few movie classes in my undergrad and now instead of just watching and enjoying I look for certain things and I feel like I become apart of it. Even during the Great Depression when people and very little money they could go and escape to the movies. It helped them forget their troubles and just be for a little while. I can defiantly see how and why people would do that. For me, there's a calming effect when I watch a movie. I'm in a trans and there's nothing that can get me out of it. My husband can have an entire conversation with me and I won't hear a word of it. Our collection is well over 500 movies and growing. So when I saw this network on there I jumped on it. I have explored it (not to the fullest); there is a discussion board (which I like because I can see what others think about a movie), watch trailers, view the top 100 movies, AND I can create my own list. I totally stoked about this. I love things where I can be involved and voice my opinion!

Thing #18 - Social Networking

I already have a Facebook account and to be honest I think it's one of the most evil, yet useful tools. It's an easy way to share photos and It's nice to be able to keep in touch with my family and friends back home and my friends from college, not to mention the friends I make along the way, but it's addicting and can be very distracting. My friends from college are the ones who convinced my to join and I do like to use it, but I don't think I would use it in a classroom setting. I just don't see how it could be beneficial in that type of setting.

I do not have a My Space account, mainly because I never wanted a Facebook account and I didn't see the point in having both. I did not know all the things My Space could do. I just assumed it was similar to Facebook. After reading the articles about My Space it seems like a better social network than Facebook because you have more creative freedom. I like that you can add music, video, and other cool editing features. My B.A is in Writing and Communication and I mainly focused on video editing so I find My Space appealing in that aspect. I definitely think it allows you to be more of yourself and express what you think and feel. As I said with Facebook, I just think these sites are distracting. I could see see benefits of using this in a classroom setting because there are more ways to use it than Facebook. I don't think I would use it in a traditional classroom such as Math or Science, but maybe in a TV Production or Journalism class.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/profile.php?id=24706205&ref=profile

Thing #17 - Delicious

I have heard of bookmarking and I think bookmarking and tagging can be very useful for one great reason, it's a great way to stay organized. Life is chaotic and it always feels like there aren't enough hours in the day so if there is a way to get ahead then I say go for it. Bookmarking and tagging are more ways to take advantage of time. I am forever bookmarking pages and putting them into folders based on my need for them. I can use this technique not only while I'm taking classes, but as a teacher. It will help me break down websites into specific categories. From what I hear being a teacher is more time consuming than most jobs and this is just one more way to be an effective teacher.

Thing #16 - Get Organized

I have a Google account and one day when I signed up and it was very different. There was a calendar, news feeds from CNN.com, and other apps. I didn't know what happened, but I liked it. I was able to customize the page and make it look how I wanted it. I even added a bunch of other tools such as To Do List, Quotes of the day, Weather, Moon Cycles, and Useless Knowledge. I also get my RSS Feeds sent to my start page. The theme is 90 mile beach. I choose it because it reminds me of home and it relaxes me. It's nice to have something that's mine and have creative freedom with. I love messing around with it and it's convenient which is always a plus for me. I hate things that waste my time!

I think having an online calender and to do list are extremely helpful and better than having it in a notebook or a hard copy because I always have access to a computer, but I don't always have my backpack with me. I can utilize these tools for school at work and it helps keep me organized and on top of assignments.

I would recommend having a google account to my students and I would inform them of all the great things that come along with it. My teacher in undergrad told me about Google and Dr. Wall perfected it for me.

Thing #15 - Wikis

I usually use Wikipedia as a quick reference if I need to know the basic information about a topic. I created my own wiki for my family to use as one way to keep in touch. I'm not done messing around with it, consider it a work in progress. I'm going to add to as time goes.

http://storming.wikispaces.com/

I think a wiki would be a good tool to use in my classroom. It could be used in a variety of ways whether it's on books that we're reading, breaking down the different types of literary conflicts, the types of literary devices, and so on. Having a hands on approach makes the lesson that more interesting and I believe students get more out something that actively participate in. I'm very excited about using this technique when I have my own classroom.

So I went on apsu23thingssandbox and went under Photos and Images. It was a little difficult adding content. First the network didn't recognize me, then I had no idea why I couldn't see my photo. I also wanted to write something about it, but I didn't know where I could do it. It'd be awesome if it was a little more user friendly. However, I'm not surprised because most things I first attempt are slightly difficult.


I and added an image I created from http://www.signgenerator.org/thumbs.htm. I choose to do add to this section because it something that I firmly and whole heatedly believe in. It is of the American flag and the Statue of Liberty with a saying on it "If you won't stand behind, them stand in front of them." It's simple yet powerful. I believe images and pictures are two of the most powerful tools an individual can use. They invoke many emotions are get so many responses. I think it's something that should be brought to students' attentions. This approach can be used in every classroom regardless of the subject. They are UNIVERSAL TOOLS. How often can a person say that about something. When dealing with pictures it doesn't matter what language you speak, where you come from, what you think, or what you believe. No matter what a picture will get some response, even if they response is indifference. I really believe in the phrase, "a picture is worth a thousand words." How could in not be. We are all coming from a different place with a variety of experiences and no one will have the same response. Although it may all fit into a specific category it will always mean something different and I think that's something that should be explored in classrooms across the world.

Thing #14- Go With the Flow

I really like the concept of mindmeisters because it allows you to collaborate with anyone. I have never been a fan of group projects because someone (usually me) gets stuck doing all the work. Well, maybe stuck isn't the best word-I just don't trust people to do their parts. Anyway, this tool eliminates some of the hassle that coincides with group projects. The fact that anyone can contribute to the mind map makes it great for bouncing ideas off of other people, it also makes it so you don't have to meet up, it can all be done online. . With the applications we have been introduced to in the past couple of Things, you literally never have to meet up to do a project. Obviously, there are some pros and cons to that, but for now I want to focus on the pros. It allows for anytime anywhere which I believe is essential in today's society. I have never done a mind map before so I find it rather interesting and I wish this website came with better directions. However, it's not difficult I just don't like wasting time guessing.

I would be able to implement this tool is a project about characters and the setting of a book my class has read. It would allow them to put a character in the middle and branch of various adjectives that describe the character or/and how the setting impacts that particular character.


http://www.gliffy.com/gliffy/#d=1869280&t=Relating_to_a_Book


I created this chart on Gliffy.com. There are some features that I really liked, for example the various features you can use to create things either charts or layouts. It was a little difficult to maneuver around, but I think it gets easier with practice and exploring.

Thing #13- Zoho Writer

I have never heard of Zoho, but I'm not shocked, but I've rarely heard of the things we do on 23 Things. I like that I'm being exposed to new ways of doing things. Especially since they are usually being implemented to save time and limit the hassle of searching for things. Surprisingly, I really like this site. I find it easy to understand and maneuver in. I had a few minor issues while writing my document, but it was more annoying than crucial. I think the idea of being able to have all of your documents in one place and not having to worry about a flash drive or it getting deleted it a huge deal. I have lost so many valuable documents because my computer has crashed or because I lost my flash drive. It also makes it convienent just incase you don't have your flash drive and you need to work on something. Also having a place for people to make comments when reviewing a document and being able to link the document to more than one folder is very helpful and efficient. I think anything that can help save time is a great thing. Also there are several applications that would be very helpful in a business setting.

I tried to send it to my blog, but I haven't figured out how to do that yet. I'm sure I will once I get familiar with the setup.

Thing #12- Google Does It All

As a friend pointed out, these assignments are all about learning how to manage your time. I think this Thing definitely follows that trend. I decided to go with iGoogle and Google Alerts. I actually already had iGoogle, it just appeared one day and I wasn't really sure what it was until now. I didn't mind that it came from nowhere because it was better than the original gmail feature. It has a calendar, my feeds, email, allows me to chat with friends and see who is online. I also like this feature because I'm able to add my own personal touch to it my changing the theme.

I think this would be a great account for students to have because it would help with their time management and it would give them access to the valuable features iGoogle/Google has. The same things I am taking advantage of they could also utilize. I also think it would help them become more internet savvy which is always a great thing.

The other feature I decided to use was Google Alerts. I find that I spend a good deal of my time looking for specific news. This applications has allowed me to enter what I want and have that particular news emailed to so that I don't have to waste my time looking for it myself. I'm actually glad that this was brought to my attention because it really is a time savor.

Thing #11- Fun Feeds

I have looked at all of the sites that were suggested in part 11 of 23 Things. The only one that I really understood was Syndic8 and that was only because they had an introduction. As I looked through links or blogs I couldn't find where it said RSS Feed, but even then there was only one that I am interested in because I have already joined others that fit my needs. As I said earlier, I have joined:

Cool Cat Teacher
Do I Dare Disturb the Universe
Dangerously Irrelevant
Literacy is Priceless
CNN.com

I did join RopeofSilicon.com. This blog is about movies.

Thing #10-Learn About RSS Feeds

I've never heard of RSS feeds; I might have seen the letters and didn't know what it was. Either way I'm not surprised. As I have said earlier, I'm not exactly savoy on this type of thing. That's one of the many benefits of this class. I am able to learn what is out there and what I can use either in my daily life or my professional one. After reading up on RSS and seeing that I can add it to Google Reader and have decided that it's a great tool to utilize. I like it because I am able to follow all the sites/blogs that I want to without having to look for them. In a world where we expect to get everything instantly, this is just another way to make that possible. Setting it all up was a little frustrating at first, but after a few minutes I was able to figure it out. It's another example of how we, particularly me, expect everything to happen quickly and easily. As silly as it sounds, I'm proud of myself for not giving up. I'm not the type of person to give up, but I do get irritated fast.

I did not know what Google Reader was and although I became a "follower" of other people's blogs from class I did not know that Google Reader was following them for me. So this makes my life (school wise for now) a lot easier or at least I'm not wasting time with the process of getting to other people's blogs.

I'll be able to take advantage of the information from a few of the blogs and sites I decided to follow:

• Cool Cat Teacher
• Do I Dare Disturb the Universe


• Dangerously Irrelevant


• Literacy is Priceless


• CNN.com (personal life)
  

I find all of these blogs particularly interesting, especially the one on Literacy because I am going to be a High School English teacher. All the research I am finding on effective instructional strategies is useful, but it would be great to follow a blog so that I can ask my colleagues questions. These blogs will also give me ideas that I might be able to implement either in the school or in my class which I believe will be extremely beneficial to all of my students in one way or another.

I did not create a public page because I am still apprehensive about posting things where other people can see them. I'm always worried that it may come back to haunt me, even if I did not mean it in a bad way. I think people like to manipulate things that are said and written and I'm not ready for that kind of possibility. I'm still too new to this whole experience to take a risk....maybe one day I'll do it.

Thing #9- Online Image Generator

http://www.signgenerator.org/thumbs.htm

I thought this was a fun exercise (although I still enjoy the mashup one the most). I went to Custom Sign Generator, then went to sign generator. After looking around for a little bit I decided to go with this one. I've seen this picture in several places and have always wondered what they were thinking of. They are obviously in some kind of contemplation so I thought it'd be funny if they were thinking about being mischievous - since they're angels.

Posting images on to my blog are becoming easier after each thing and I'm glad I'm finally getting the hang of it. There's nothing better than the feeling that comes with understanding something.

I chose to do this because I am a patriot. My husband is in the Army and preparing for another deployment. As we have learned to take nothing for granted and truly enjoy every second with one another, I feel as though most of my fellow countrymen (specifically ones who do not have a loved on serving) take everything for granted. While they are enjoying their freedom and luxuries I think they forget that some people are paying the ultimate price. Not only that, but our lives are much different than theirs. My husband (like most soldiers) is gone for more than a year, home for a year, and then gone. Then some people have the audacity to not support our troops. You can oppose the war and still support our troops. I think it is vital for our nation to understand that and be extremely grateful to the men and women serving so that they don't have to.

I could use this in my classroom as a fun activity, maybe as a break from regular instruction. I think it's an easy way to be creative and express yourself.

Thing #8 -Flickr . . . Big Huge Lab

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=33436651&id=24706205#/photo.php?pid=33436593&id=24706205

When I first read this assignment I wasn't sure I was going to like it, but then I clicked on the Big Huge Lab masher and fell in love with it. As I wrote in one of my previous blogs, I absolutely love pictures and I love to make scrapbooks and collages. This masher is the greatest tool ever invented. Although I love to scrapbook and make other art work from my photos, I'm awful at it. This application allows me to mesh any photo together is several ways and then lets me share it! I'm from Jersey so being this far from home is difficult, especially when I want to share things with my family and friends. Now I can do it in a unique way!

Now I understand why we warned that it could be habit forming, I could spend days on Big Huge Lab without even noticing how much time has passed. I truly think that this website is essential for anyone who loves photos and loves to be creative with them. I only posted two mosaic, I needed to stop myself. I chose my Bella Girl (who we had to put to sleep a month ago) and my wedding. Two very important pieces of my life. I wanted to share them with everyone (especially Bella Girl).

I plan to be a high school English teacher and I could definitely incorporate this site into my lesson, especially if I am teaching a creative writing class. Big Huge Labs allows you to mesh any pictures you want from anywhere. So if we are reading the book, "To Kill a Mockingbird," I can have them to a few things:

• find pictures on the web that depict certain scenes in the book
• take their own pictures that express how they feel about the book
• combine the two ways
• creative freedom

In creative writing I can have them manipulate a photo of their choice any way they want and they write about it. It gives them freedom to make choices about the entire process, which I think is essential in any creative writing class.

I am a little weary of sharing photos online because people can manipulate them in any way they want to and that can be dangerous for the person who the photo belongs to. Which is why when I upload an album to Facebook I only allow friends to see, but I'm sure even then someone can figure out how to get to my pictures. If I were to use this application in the classroom setting I would do my best to keep the students in a safe setting, but the problem with the internet and posting things, is that it never really is 100% safe. Even if I had them upload the pictures to website I'm going to have them use (www.classpress.com it's the website I gave my presentation on. It is very similar to D2L).

Projects like this, whether for my personal use or for my class, have to be approached caustiously and responsibly. However, I do still beleive that it is a great tool to use in both settings and should be taken advantage of.

Thing #7- Flikr

This was my dog, Bella. She was a gorgeous, fun-loving Yellow Lab who my husband and I had to put down a few weeks ago (unexpectedly). Surprisingly I learned a lot from her. I think we forgot how simple things can be and we think because we are adults we know everything or have experienced enough. Here is what I learned:

1. Love your family, unconditionally.
2. Play as often as possible.
3. If you're tired sleep.
4. Welcome new friends, but be cautious of strangers
5. Be ADVENTUROUS wherever you go.
6. Be brave.
Yes, I knew most of this already, but it was reinforced. Bella was very broken (she had no hips, but still could walk, run, swim, play, climb . . . do everything), but could do anything. She never let her disability make her disabled. She was forever exploring her surroundings, knowing no limits. I always saw myself as being pretty brave or at least not scared, but Bella was not afraid of anything. She was the first to protect us (her family) before she protected herself. I had an attempted home invasion, but Bella stopped him dead in his tracks by rushing head first to where the intruder was.

This is one of my favorite pictures because it's not just about Bella, but about everything we encounter on our path. It's long, but you're always connected to someone.


I have only heard about Flikr maybe once or twice. I am more familiar with Snapfish, but after this assignment I am much more interested in Flickr because of all the fabulous pictures I have access to. My husband and I are cave fanatics so I decided to search for pictures of caves. I was expecting a few pictures and nothing special. I was beyond wrong. There were 981,216 results and the ones I did see where BEAUTIFUL. Seeing these pictures made me want to go to different countries so that I too, could enjoy the beauty of these caves.

I tried to upload a few pictures of caves, but it wouldn't let me. I could not get over how detailed and colorful they were . When ever my husband and I go to caves the actual cave part is too dark to see. Even if it wasn't, they have been nothing compared to this. I wanted to share my love for caves and this picture with everyone to enjoy. (Hopefully I can upload it soon).


http://www.flickr.com/photos/manolisthr/3637064374/in/photostream/

I was able to upload these pictures of lightning storms. I have always loved these types of storms and wanted to share that passion with all of you. If you look closely to the picture on top, you can actually see a person with their arms in the air embracing the storm.

I have really become a fan of Flickr because of all the amazing things that can be done on there. It is not just a place to store photos, but a place to be creative. I know you can google images, but this just seems like there are more pictures and categories to view than google.

Thing #6- Discovering Web 2.o Tools

As I have recently discovered there is a Web 2.0 tool for just about anything and everything. After looking at the Web 2.0 Awards list I decided to go with one of my favorites that I use on a regular basis. Snapfish.com.

Ever since my freshman year of college I have been obsessed with taking pictures. My problem is I never backed them up anywhere until my friend told me about this site, but as I said earlier I have never been one to jump on the train with technology so I never took her up on her suggestion. My computer as crashed several time causing me to loose several hundred pictures. Needless to say snapfish and I are best friends.

This site as several great features. You can create albums (a great way to keep your pictures organized), share your pictures with friends, order as many prints of whatever picture(s) you want. Also it is more affordable then going to say CVS and getting them developed there. It only cost 19 cents a picture and they usually run promotional deals so it's cheaper. You can also make calanders, mugs, tshirts, organizers, etc. using your photos. I made my grandparents a calender with all of my cousins. The only problem I have with this site is that you cannot copy and paste your photos to say a flashdrive. The pictures come out distorted.

I am not sure how I would use this tool in a classroom. If I was a photography teacher it would be great because they could use this site to store their pictures. They would also be able to manipulate them (turn color into black and white, border no border, and so on).

Thing #5- Web 2.0 and School 2.0

I thought this was a very intriguing topic. When Dr. Wall first mentioned Web 2.o I had no idea what she was talking about. I had to go home and Google Web 2.0. After educating myself and looking at the posts made on the discussion board, I have fell in love with it.

In just about every article I read about effective strategies for teaching the common one among them is keeping your students motivated and engaged in the topic. Since students (especially high school students) are all about the web what better what to keep them interested? The Web 2.0 tool that I am doing my presentation on is http://www.classpress.com/
because allows a teacher to create a virtual classroom for his or her students. Each student is capable of posting a blog and has creative license with it. They are able to pick colors, backgrounds, and pictures, take polls, etc. The class can also interact with one another in a safe environment and with the teacher's permission they can interact with other classrooms locally or globally. These blogs can remain in the classroom or posted on the web for everyone to see. The teacher can also post assignments and have the students hand it in on this site. These are just a few examples of why this is a good web 2.0 site. This a great tool for teachers to use in a classroom because it helps students develop better computer skills, but mainly because they are able to interact with other classes from around the world. I picked this site because it is user friendly and encompasses several applications: blogging, journals, global interaction and because the teacher monitors it it is safer than some other sites. I plan on teaching high school English and I could use this in my class when we read books or poems. Everyone can share their opinion, but everyone can also see and talk about opinions from my other classes and classes around the world. This will allow my students to have access to broader ideas and interpretations.

I think writing and interacting with people is essential is developing as a person and this is a practical and up to date way of doing it. Most students find their English class boring or irrelevant to their lives, but it is the exact opposite. It will be the class that lays down the foundation for their lives so it is vital for me to keep them engaged and this is the perfect way to do.

One of the sites I went to was Web 2.0 Is the Future of Educations-Teaching and Learning Adviser Blog. There was an article written by Scoot Meech called, "How do you respond to someone who hold you back?" Some of the things he was encountering were awful, professional sabotage of teacher using technology made by ones who were too lazy to incorporate into their teachings. After being in our technology class for a brief time, I have realized how crucial and beneficial integrating technology into a classroom is. It baffles me why teachers would protest something that obviously is in the best interest of students and learning.

The other blog was on the same site and was called Web 2.0: A Guide for Educators. I found that this site just reinforced the positive aspects of using Web 2.0 tools in your classroom. Web 2.0 encourage fundamental skills such as writing and it is user friendly wish is always a necessity when trying to learn something. Students already use these tools, such as facebook and myspace, in their daily lives so they will see first hand how important these other sites you introduce are. Relevance is always essential when presenting something to students or anyone for that matter.

School 2.0 is great. Students need to be aware that learning takes occures in various places in several forms. They should embrace these opportunities and take full advantage of them. This approach is the way to get students to be more active in their roles as learners. Technology is not something that can be ignored so rather than trying to resist it, it would be in everyone's best interest to welcome it. I believe it is better to be more educated and prepared than to get bum rushed by something. The best way to do this is to be proactive with your own learning. I do not believe School or Web 2.o is a trend that will fade it will become more of presence as time goes on. Thus, it is imperative not only for teachers to embrace its existence, but for students as well.

Thing #4 - Why Commenting is Important

Commenting on people's blogs creates a sense of community because you are interacting with one another. You are communicating your thoughts, opinions, feedback, advice and so on. Sometimes it is the most interaction people have with each other. I believe a community is a place where you feel at ease and comfortable with your neighbors. Although we are not in physical proximity we are virtual neighbors. This is a place where we can all share whatever is on our minds, whether it is seeking help, asking for other perspectives, or just looking to chat and be apart of something bigger than ourselves.

A very important point I picked from one of the blogging sights was to be kind. It is okay if you have different opinions, but there is a right way of expressing your thoughts. This person spoke of Darth Vader - the person who tries to destroy the spirits of bloggers (especially new ones). There is no reason to take out your aggression and hostility on fellow bloggers. I truly believe in expressing yourself and any opinions you may have, but you can have different opinions without being negative. Debates are a fabulous interaction that I personally thrive on and think is a great thing. Another excellent point is to make sure that your comments are heartfelt and meaningful. I only comment if I have something to really say. I don't waste my time or the bloggers time by posting meaningless words. I want to contribute to the topic is some way. For example, I was having a very difficult time with setting up my blog. Someone said they were too, that made me feel better because I knew I wasn't alone. It's always nice to know that someone is going through the same thing as I am.

I commented on akkettle and watson wisdom. I chose these two blogs to comment on because we have different takes on blogs and other technology. I think it's always important to look at other views and see how it compares to my own. Akkettle is an up-to-date on technology person where I tend to sit back and observe rather than jump in. I've never been very good at staying on top of technology. I agreed with her that high school students are all over technology. Most of them tend to have the latest trendy equipment such as iPods, iPhones or they are all over facebook, myspace, and twitter. I also briefly mentioned a paperless society that would eventually come into play.Watson wisdom said she doesn't usually comment on other people's blog, but was going to start. In this aspect, I always have something to say. It was interesting to see why someone doesn't comment verses why they do. I picked these two blogs because I felt comfortable enough to engage myself and add my opinions or comments.

Two other sites that I am interest in are wordpress.com (blogs about high school) and moviedearestblogspot.com. I have not interacted on these sites yet, but I intend to. I choose these two sites because I am going to be a high school English teacher and I think it's important for me to see what debates or problems are going. The more educated I am on topics the better I will prepared. The movie one is for my passion about movies, particularly Hilary Swank. I absolutely love movies (I have a collection of over 500 dvds) and I believe in the movies Swank does. She promotes the positive image of women and think she is a huge role model for women and teenagers.

Update: I have been posting on Sylvia's, Morgan's and Cynthia's blogs.

Thing #3 - What to Use My Blog For

I think using blogs is a great idea because it is an easy and quick way to communicate on anything you want. I was not 100% sure what was meant by your teacher education program. I did not know if it meant while I was in the MAT program or when I am a teacher. So I decided to answer both.

While in the MAT program it would be great to post my experiences, what I think about everything, what I am having problems in, a place to ask for some suggestions, and offer my tips if I found something easy. I feel like a lot of us are going through the same thing and it's great to get feedback and help.

When I become a teacher I will apply my blog in the same way. I'll ask for help or ideas if I am struggling to come up with some creative ideas of my own. I think it is great resource and outlet. In one of my previous classes my professor had us go on a teacher blog where teachers vented, offered stress tips, what to expect when you first become a teacher, and some great online websites.

In my classroom, I want to create a class blog where my students can do several things: discuss what they want to focus on, what they're enjoying or not liking, and for them to be able to talk with each other. The blog would be a casual, informal place for my students to chat about whatever they want (appropriately of course). When I was in high school no teacher ever asked "what needs more focus," "what are you enjoying or having problems with," or even gave a place to talk freely. I plan to teach high school English and believe creativity and an open forum is important for my students to get everything out of the class that they want and what I want them to get.

It would also be a great reference point. I could post websites for writing formats, authors we're reading and links to other pieces, and upcoming events (tests, projects,presentations, etc). This will also help keep parents informed and up to date with things going on in the class. I really do think blogging will be a unique and fun communicating tool.

Thing #2 - Thoughts on Blogging and the Avatar

I was not very creative with my posting name or the name of my blog. I was not sure what to name things so I kept it simple. I used my first name and the first initial of my last name - Kimberly N. For the actual blog I named it Completing 23 Things. I wanted to be straightforward with my content.

Creating my blog was difficult. I've never done it before and was getting confused right off the bat, but once I figured out what I was doing it went much smoother. It was the same experience with the avatar. I knew I had to make one, but it took me a few minutes to figure out how to work it, but once I did it was simple.

After I figured out how to create my avatar I enjoyed it. It's always fun trying to represent yourself. My avatar, for the most part, depicts me correctly. I'm a pretty happy person who is laid back and casual so my avatar is wearing a red shirt (my favorite color) and blue jeans. I love sports so my background is an arena. There are a couple of reasons I chose to represent myself accurately rather than creatively, it's a new class and I want people to know who I am and I like who I am so I am proud to depict myself accordingly.

Thing #1 - Lifelong Learning

The hardest Habits for me are 1, 4, 6, and 7.

Habit 1- begin with the end in mind - is difficult because I first have to determine a goal and make a plan to reach my goal. I want my goal to be very specific. I think having to broad of a goal leaves too much up in the air. I want to become a teacher and learn how to be a great teacher. First, I would have to figure out how to accomplish that. What defines a great teacher? Is this something I should create myself or are there already set standards? Perhaps it is a combination of what is already set and what time of teacher I want to be? In order for me to complete Habit 1 I have to write out all the the steps I need to take to become a teacher. All the correct courses, the proper amount of time for observing and student teaching, the Praxis Series and the scores I need to pass. Then I have to define or describe the characteristics of a great teacher. I want to know what I am doing and teaching. If I am teaching 2 books and a list of short poems than I want to be well versed on all of them. I want to be approachable to my students and to my colleagues. How do I do that? Is this achieved through body language, the tone of my voice, demeanour? I have decided that it is all of those things so I have to be particularly mindful of how I represent myself and my intentions. So although I have a specific goal in my the plan to get there will be a challenge and figuring out exactly what the proper steps are will also be difficult or at least overwhelming.

Habit 4- have confidence in yourself as a competent, effective learner - is extremely difficult for me because most times I feel overwhelmed by everything I have to accomplish to complete my goal. I need to successfully complete the MAT program and get my license. Most times I need to break down the tasks before I attempt to tackle them. I don't doubt that I can learn the information and effectively apply what I have learned, but all the information is hard to take in or I come across an obstacle that I find particularly difficult and am scared I won't be able to overcome. I need to keep reminding myself that I can do this.

Habit 6 - use technology to your advantage - seems simple enough, but I have never been very good at it. Just finding certain information on the Internet can be difficult. My biggest fear is that I won't understand something and then I'll be lost and fall behind.

Habit 7 - teach/mentor others - is a great thing to do, but I get very nervous. I used to tutor other students in the Academic Skills Center at my previous school and it did not work out so well. I understood the material, but I couldn't explain how to do it. On the other hand, I am good at teaching certain sports to other people. Which is one of the reasons I plan on being a coach while I am teacher.

The easiest Habits are 2, 3, 5 and 7 1/2.

Habit 2 - accept responsibility for your own learning - is especially easy for me because when I set out learn it is something I initiated. I want to do whatever it takes to master my task or skill. I want to be a teacher and learn how to be a great teacher. These are things I will actively learn and accomplish.

Habit 3- view problems as challenges - is a great habit to keep in mind and something I always try to do. Every problem or obstacle is a chance to learn. I think the best way to learn is by first hand experiences. It is an experience that will last with me the longest and most likely value more. It is easy to become frustrated, but it only takes a moment to step back from the situation and evaluate it and make a plan to attack it head on. Sometimes having to do something the hard way is the best way because you learn more.

Habit 5 - create your own learning toolbox- is a great resource to have. It is always good to know who I can go talk to if something arises, what books I can gain certain information from and for quick access having websites will be to my advantage. Having all of these tools at my finger tips will certainly help if I need to overcome a challenge.

Habit 7 1/2 - play - is by far the easiest habit for me because I think playing not only allows for brain development, but it is an essential outlet for me. I love the motto, "work hard, play hard" because it is the best way to phrase the balance that is needed in life. Everyone deserves down time, it is essential to not having an overload or breakdown. Yes, it is also very true that you can also learn while playing. When I was a child, playing was one of the biggest influences for how I live my life now: follow the rules, be ambitious, be adventurous, be determined, try your best and always have heart.

What do I want to learn by playing with Web 2.0 tools? It is very simple, I want to become more familiar with the purpose and setup. Until this class I was unaware of what Web 2.0 was so I want to become more educated on it. I also want to learn how I could use this in my future classes when I am a teacher.

I had a very difficult time setting up my blog. I am not familiar with this type of interactive setting. I have read blogs, but never participated in one. I was extremely frustrated in the beginning, but I do like writing and sharing my experiences with others so that part was enjoyable.