Thing #12

Google Tools

My family has been using Picasa to store and edit family photos for years. We have also used Google documents several time throughout the years. Google truly has some amazing free resources. For this assignment I downloaded and explored the Google Translate app for my Iphone and it is amazing. I will have a Ipad in my classroom and will have the Google translate app to use for any ELL students I may have. I also used the Google translate to translate historical documents from English to Spanish which would also be a great classroom resource. Another resource that is priceless in any social studies classroom is Google Earth. Google Earth can be used to give students real world perspective on global locations.

Thing #11

Finding good feeds

After exploring several of the blog and rss search tools Topix.net is defiantly my favorite. Topix sorts results into local relevance but also includes state and national stories with local impact. I did not like the Google blog search due to an excessive amount of context on the search results compared to Topix. The Topix search provides a descriptive headline only. I also liked http://www.search4rss.com which gave a little more information than a detailed headline, but not as much as Google. Using search4rss I found the U.S. department of education rss and the White house education rss. Both of these were very informative sites for future and current educators. 

                                        

 

Thing #10

RSS feeds

I was unsure about what a RSS feed was before Thing #10. I found the video explanation very helpful and it left me wondering why I waited so long to have a RSS feed. I read most of my news both local and national online and setting up a RSS feed was a great way to consolidate all of the different news organizations that I usually subscribe to. This could be a useful tool in the classroom to help students keep up with current events. I am a History major but I usually view myself as being interested in social studies because my interest is not limited to history. I believe as a teacher I could use this to follow news that directly affects them in the field of education.

Thing #9

http://www.imagechef.com/
http://www.txt2pic.com/toons/1.htm

I'll have to admit the image generator thing was pretty entertaining. These things would be awesome to use in PowerPoint presentations or on classroom newsletters. The process was much simpler than many of the other activities we have done. I will be using image generators for PowerPoint presentations and in blog post from this day forward.

Thing #8

I used Spell with Flickr to create a heading for my blog. I was not very excited about this process after a few minutes of trying and it not being as easy as I wanted it to be. It did turn out nice and I see where it could have relevance in the classroom. I believe in a social studies classroom the Mosaic Maker and the Map Maker could be very useful. Students could use these apps to make mosaics from areas that were being studied in class and the Map Maker could be used to show images from specific areas of study. I believe online photo sharing can be a great experience personally and professionally, but as with anything online it can also be used negatively. Uploading personal images without copyright protection can result in your personal images being used anywhere without your permission. 

Thing #7

Apotheosis of Washington in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, a photo by USCapitol on Flickr.

This is an amazing photo of the rotunda at the U.S. Capitol building. The photographer is listed as USCapitol with no real name given. I used the share on blogger button on the flickr toolbar. The process seems very simple so I am not very optimistic about the outcome. I have never used an image without copying and pasting and giving no credit to the source. I am reflecting on this experience as a step in the right direction in terms of giving credit where it is due. This image was retrieved from a US Government search which is very applicable for me being a History major. There were many other useful images and they are all licensed as United States Government Work and free to use in any form without permission.

Thing #6

Discovering Web 2.0 Tools

I stepped a little outside of my box when exploring Web 2.0 tools and explored http://www.etsy.com/. Etsy is a retail site for handmade items. I began to review this webpage without thinking of any educational connection. Within minutes I realized there were many educational applications to the handmade items There were several custom classroom rules items as well as word art items that could apply to specific units. The nice thin about handmade items it the ability to have them customized for your classroom. There were also bookmarks and other items that could be customized and given to specific students for performance awards. Although Etsy is not a resource to be used in the classroom it defiantly has materials that could be used in any classroom or library setting.

Thing #5

What does school 2.0 mean to you?
School 2.0 is the merging of the internet and the technology that comes along with it with the classroom and our world. School 2.0 is the application of technological resources such as blogs, social networks, internet video, Skype, rss feeds, email, school web pages, and many more.

What does this mean for schools of the future?
The Atomic Learning video What is Web 2.0 explains the evolution of the web from a read only to a more interactive resource. The evolution of technologically based classrooms will lead to studies that are more accessible than ever before. Students will be able to video chat with teacher, complete school work when not able to attend class, and watch or listen to lectures at their convenience. Web 2.0 a guide for educators reminds us that technology is becoming more second nature for students. It has became such a important part of their lives that it needs to be taken advantage of.

Thing #4

Using blogging in education requires comments to be successful. There are some blogs that are written more for the writer than for the audience. The type of blogging we are experimenting with requires feedback to be successful. The sense of community and interaction that is associated with blog comments establishes the worth of the blog. The blog post how to comment like a king of queen reflects on the importance of heartfelt comments. It is important to comment when you have a personal connection or understanding of what the blogger is discussing. The blogger will appreciate and feed off of the connection made and expressed in the comment. 10 techniques to Get More Comments discusses something equally as important. Inviting people to leave comments is the number one way to get feedback. Sometimes people are on the edge about leaving feedback and a simple please leave a comment will inspire them to leave a comment. 

Crane's US Hist-tech experience
I selected this blog to comment on primarily because it was written by a fellow history major. I also felt a connection with the comment on self motivation in education. Many students need a reason to be motivated more than they need the subject knowledge you can provide.
Teaching is not for sissies
I commented on this blog due to the ah-ha moment it gave me when connection social media interest and student involvement  I had never thought about getting students involved in blogging based on their interest in social media. Blogging is very similar to posting and commenting on Facebook and most students love to do that.
The Brennon Breeze
I felt a personal connection with the Blogging in the Classroom post. It reminded me as a new teacher blogging is an important way to reflect on classroom experience and gain possible feedback from fellow teachers and students.
A.Downs' 23 Things
The Thing 5 post brought back memories from my high school experience and my technological superiority over my teachers. I do not want to be that teacher. Keeping motivated in being proficient with the latest technology will be very important in my classroom.
Webb's 23 Things
I connected with Thing 4 post because I also have an easier time successfully conveying my thoughts through written word than through verbal communication. My thoughts have always come across more successfully on paper so blogging is a great tool for communication.
C.Barlow's 23 Things
The Thing 5 post mentioned Skype as a classroom tool which is something I had never thought of. My family uses Skype to communicate on a daily basis. I am excited to use Skype as an educational tool to help my students when they need help.
Douchane's 3040 Reflection
Thing #3 was very interesting to me because it is also my first experience blogging. It gave me prospective to methods to use blogging in my classroom as refection from my students.

Thing #3

I would use my blog as a tool to give and receive feedback from both my students and colleagues. I would blog a reflection of my individual classes and include both positive and negative observations.I would encourage students to leave feedback.  I want my students to know their feedback is important to me. I also want to make sure they know good work it is appreciated. Giving positive feedback to particular classes and students in a blog gives them recognition to their class and others.. I would also use my blog to further explain any classroom assignments that my need further clarification.

Thing #2

I used my full name to make it easier for anyone who was looking for my blog to find and Mayfield 3040 as a blog name because it is easy to remember. I enjoyed create my blog especially creating the avatar and background scheme. The more I use the blog to communicate the easier the experience becomes. My avatar looks upbeat and happy and that describes my typical personality. I believe the hair color and eye color are fairly close, but I could not find cloths I was crazy for.  

Thing#1

Life Long Learning Habits

In life I have never had trouble being a planner. Beginning with the end in mind is a way of life for me and would defiantly be the easiest life long learning habit. I always have a plan though life rarely ever seems to follow that plan. My greatest strength probably contributes to my greatest weakness. The life long learning habit I have the most trouble with is play. Having a personality that demands work before play makes for an incredibly productive person. Being a full time student, husband, and father of three young boys creates enough work that play is often pushed to the side. 

Web 2.0 Tools

Although this is my first experience with web 2.0 the directions were very clear both on the web 2.0 instruction page and the pages for blogger and dopple me. Being my first experience with blogging has made it slightly stressful. The ability to edit post and blogger profile relieves much of the stress, but publishing a widely accessible blog is frightening.