I decided to create a Delicious account because my bookmarks where getting out of control. I had to start making folders for my bookmarks to keep my sites organized because it takes me a minute to find the bookmarked site I am looking for. Once I read about Delicious and started exploring the site I realized that I can become more organized with all my bookmarked sites.
I think this would be a great tool to use in the classroom because you can keep all your useful sites in order and share with others that use the site. I think having all the bookmarks available for everyone gives people a chance to find more useful sites that they did not know existed. Students can also use this site to keep there resources organized by classes or even projects. Students don't even have to be on there computer to find there bookmarks because all they need to do is log into there account. I think that is great because if you are doing your work somewhere else and do not have your own personal computer you can still keep your sources organized.
Teachers can take advantage of this socail bookmarking site in many ways. The teacher can keep organized of all the sites they think are useful in there classroom. Also they can look through other peoples bookmarks in the same subject areas and find more useful sites.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Thing #16 (Get Organized with Web 2.0 Tools)
I have an iGoogle start page. The iGoolge page appealed to me because I already use so many Google applications like, email, reader, notebook, calendar, and blogger. I like the fact that when you use iGoogle you can change the theme to suit your personality. My favorite color is pink my page shows that. I also like the fact that I can move my applications around on the page so that the most important applications to me are towards the top. I visit my iGoolge page everyday because it is like one stop shopping, everything that you need all in one place.
My online calendar is very useful to me. I like to keep track of all the important dates in my life. The calendar allows me to put those dates in there and see when something is coming up. I love sending my family cards for their birthdays but with everything else happening in my life I sometimes forget the important dates. I already visit my iGoogle site everyday and with the calendar on my page it will allow me to view all the important dates coming up. I would not use the calendar for putting in upcoming homework assignments or tests because I think that is too much work. I have my planner that I take with me to class that I write in after class on important things coming up.
I have a to-do list on my iGoogle page. I am not a fan of making to-do list. The only list that I make regularly is a shopping list. I find if I do not make a shopping list I come back with things that I already have and end up forgetting the things that I went to the store in the first place. I do spend a lot of time on my computer so when I think of something that I need to buy I will put it in my list. This is very convenient for me because I do not have to stop what I am doing to get a pen and paper to write down what I need.
One tool that I found that I will use in the classroom to keep me organized is called Engrade. This tool allows me to manage classes on-line. The tools on this site include a grade book, attendance book, progress reports, assignment calendar, and on-line messaging. The main reason that I love this site is that it allows parents and students to access there grades and upcoming assignments. If the parents or students have questions they can send the teacher a messages through the site. Parents need to have access to how their children are doing in school because they can make sure that their children are doing the work to be successful in school.
My online calendar is very useful to me. I like to keep track of all the important dates in my life. The calendar allows me to put those dates in there and see when something is coming up. I love sending my family cards for their birthdays but with everything else happening in my life I sometimes forget the important dates. I already visit my iGoogle site everyday and with the calendar on my page it will allow me to view all the important dates coming up. I would not use the calendar for putting in upcoming homework assignments or tests because I think that is too much work. I have my planner that I take with me to class that I write in after class on important things coming up.
I have a to-do list on my iGoogle page. I am not a fan of making to-do list. The only list that I make regularly is a shopping list. I find if I do not make a shopping list I come back with things that I already have and end up forgetting the things that I went to the store in the first place. I do spend a lot of time on my computer so when I think of something that I need to buy I will put it in my list. This is very convenient for me because I do not have to stop what I am doing to get a pen and paper to write down what I need.
One tool that I found that I will use in the classroom to keep me organized is called Engrade. This tool allows me to manage classes on-line. The tools on this site include a grade book, attendance book, progress reports, assignment calendar, and on-line messaging. The main reason that I love this site is that it allows parents and students to access there grades and upcoming assignments. If the parents or students have questions they can send the teacher a messages through the site. Parents need to have access to how their children are doing in school because they can make sure that their children are doing the work to be successful in school.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Thing #15 (Wiki)
I decided to create my own wiki page at wikispaces. I dedicated a page to my cats by posting pictures of them. I think wiki pages are interesting and I can't wait use my wiki page more. I think wiki are interesting because I can share my page with anyone. The people that I share my page with can add things or coordinate certain things we are trying to plan in one place. I am still getting use to using my wiki page so after a while my wiki page will start to look better once I am more comfortable in using all the tools.
Wiki pages would be a great tool to use in a classroom. Students can add parts of projects and change things that other students added on the classroom wiki page. This will allow students to see all their hard work and collaboration in one place. They can even access the wiki page at home to show their parents what they have been working on in school.
The teacher can also create a wiki page for the students parents to access. This will allow them to keep connect with other parents in the classroom. Also it will allow them to see what projects, lessons, and assignments are due. If they have questions or comments about something they can post their comments or thoughts on certain topics.
Wiki pages would be a great tool to use in a classroom. Students can add parts of projects and change things that other students added on the classroom wiki page. This will allow students to see all their hard work and collaboration in one place. They can even access the wiki page at home to show their parents what they have been working on in school.
The teacher can also create a wiki page for the students parents to access. This will allow them to keep connect with other parents in the classroom. Also it will allow them to see what projects, lessons, and assignments are due. If they have questions or comments about something they can post their comments or thoughts on certain topics.
Thing #14 (Go with the Flow)
The picture on the left is the mind map that I created on Bubbl.US. You can create colorful mind maps that displays and organizes your thoughts and concepts. After I created this mind map I thought about how I could use this in my life. I am currently working on a huge research paper and this would be a great tool for me to organize my thoughts or just get my creative juices flowing. Students can also use this with studying things that are related to one another. Giving a student a mind map or having them create one will allow them to see the relationships between certain items easily. I also like Bubbl.US because you can also collaborate allowing students to share their mind maps with one another. Plus this site is very easy to use for mostly any age because the functions on how to create the mind map are self explanatory.
Giffy is a bit more complicated when it comes to making a chart to show the process or ideas of certain concepts. It took me a lot longer to try to figure out all the different tools for me to create my flow chart. I didn't think it looked as professional as my mind map because I had to create my chart where as in Bubbl the format is already setup. I think Giffy would have been a great tool to create our classroom drawing in instead of word. Giffy gives you more options in creating a floorplan than Word. I think Bubbl would be easier to use for beginners that want to create a chart and once you become more advanced Giffy will give you more options to create a more in depth chart. Users can also share their creations or collaborate with others to make their chart even better. Once I become more familiar with all the tools in Giffy I can see myself using it in the classroom to show a process or an order of certain subject materials.
Thing #13 (Web-based Applications)
Friday, October 09, 2009
I just bought a brand new laptop a couple of weeks ago. I was so excited to have a brand new computer because my old one was starting to become unreliable. Which worried me because I wanted a computer that I could trust that I would be able to complete all my class projects and assignments on. I started to explore all the programs on my computer. I asked my husband where is the Microsoft Office program and he informs me that I only have a trail version. I was shocked because I thought the program was on all new computers because you are spending a lot of money on a computer. Why should you have to spend even more money on additional programs? RIDICULOUS!!! Microsoft Office, I think you are in trouble because I am not spending more money on a program that I can get for free thanks to Zoho Writer. The setup is a little bit different than Word but when it comes to writing a paper they both can get the job done.
I also like the fact that my account is linked to my Google account. I feel Google just keeps me organized with all the things I use incorporated into my account. Now when I have to write a paper for group projects instead of just emailing my team members my parts I can just share it through Zoho writer. Options like this saves time and allows you to correct and add pieces to projects without having to arrange meeting times. I was also able to write this blog in Zoho and post it to my blog without any complications. Technology just makes our lives easier.
I also like the fact that my account is linked to my Google account. I feel Google just keeps me organized with all the things I use incorporated into my account. Now when I have to write a paper for group projects instead of just emailing my team members my parts I can just share it through Zoho writer. Options like this saves time and allows you to correct and add pieces to projects without having to arrange meeting times. I was also able to write this blog in Zoho and post it to my blog without any complications. Technology just makes our lives easier.
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