I visited 30 boxes and saw how it could have personal applications, it's an on-line calendar. I could see how in my classroom I could use it to post on my blog, to let parents know of upcoming events etc. I also noticed how in a professional use as well, I could see our principal using it to see out events and important dates to our staff. It is a sharable application, that does not allow comments, and can not be rated, but you can ask others to share opinions.
Next, I visited Blabberize. Here's what I created. I was a bit disappointed in the final product. It doesn't look like the one in the demonstration. I would have liked the jaws to move on hinges like in the video. I could see it having personal applications, like in what I created, but not so much professionally. These can be shared, bookmarked, and commented on. They are rated by saying either I liked it, or I object to it. Even though this application utilized a microphone, I liked how it provided options, if you did not have a microphone. This was useful and helpful to me.
On Gliffy I created a thinking map showing a food chain. I can see this having practical and professional used. I can see myself creating several thinking maps for my classroom using this tool, and can even see my students utilizing this as well. It is collaborative and sharable, you can even create a blog on this site. There were times it was a bit hard to use, and restricting, but not impractical.
On Jigzone I created a puzzle using the picture of the food chain that I created in Gliffy. This was a lot of fun. I see myself creating puzzles similar to the one I've created above and using it with my students in the computer lab. I really found this tool useful.
On Letterpop I created a sample newsletter. You can see it by clicking the previous link. My photos come thanks to Creative Commons, Lanuiop and BestFor. Letterpop, I see having a professional use, I wouldn't use it personally, at least not at this point in my life. I do not like how it only has a limited amount of uses, until you have to start paying. However, this does have collaborative features, I see it similiar to GoogleDocs, but more possibilities. I utilize my GoogleDocs almost daily, though.
On mixbook I created a scrapbook of the Solar System, was just playing around a bit. I love to scrapbook, so this was a cool concept to me, but I feel like it was holding back my creativity. I probably wouldn't utilize it often, I enjoy creating my own. I can see this link having personal and professional uses. With parent permission, it would be cool to create a scrapbook with each experiment we do, or field trips, parties, etc. This site is sharable, allows comments and ratings, but is non-collaborative.
I played with the timeline link, and got quickly frustrated and decided not to play with it any longer, however I do see it's application in a Social Studies classroom. I also decided to skip over Picnik. I decided that seeing as how I already use photobucket, flickr, and rockyou, I really did not want to overdo it and have another photosharing site, I can see myself getting very quickly burnt out that way.
I visited pikistrips and created a comicstrip of the Solar System.
I really enjoyed this site, I can see it having practical use, with fun family pictures, I can see myself using it in the classroom, like above, I could see myself using it on projects, and teaching my students how to use it as well. The website allows sharing, rating, comments, but it is not collaborative.
I did not explore polldaddy or quizlet. I do plan on playing with polldaddy, but I can't think of a poll to create at the moment, however I have a coworker that has played with quizlet, and found some very useful information on there. She's even used it in the computer lab with our kiddos to study Science concepts. YEA for pithythoughts :). I explored toondoo a little bit, but did not create anything, it is similar to pikistrips, but is a bit more userfriendly. It seems something that I could see my students utilizing with more ease. It allows for comments and sharing, wiking and blogging, all in one location. A definite winner with the kiddos. I did not visit weebly, nor writeboard, because I've used that in an earlier thing.
My final "focused play" was with using wordle. I liked this to start with, because it did not require me to create an account of any kind!!! YEA, one less password and account to add to my ever-growing list :) Here's what I created about MOI!!!
I loved that this was creative, didn't require signing in, and it prompted me to make sure that nothing "personal" was included! WOW! I also noticed that it had a CC at the bottom, to show that it was crated under Creative Commons, see I'm learning things. This is completely sharable, but also non-collaborative. Looking through the gallery I saw that some students had created a wordle with their spelling list, HOW CREATIVE, I think I will be trying that soon. : - O
Thanks for the use and mention of Gliffy! Glad you enjoyed it. We'd appreciate your feedback about what items you felt were restrictive or hard to use. We are working on improving the 'first experience' and flatting the learning curve, so your feedback is most helpful!
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debik at gliffy dot com
Giffy looks really good. I could also use it for sequencing (time line for Civil War) and character traits for a character in a novel study. Very cool.
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