You Tube is very wide-spread, I've had experience with it before, and the kids are very familiar with it, however there is some very "unfriendly" information out there in You Tube land, I was glad to see that there is a "safe" filter, I hadn't ever noticed that before.
Teacher Tube is AWESOME and has some very useful information, I'm in Science Countdown mode and found some awesome stuff that would be good for review. Here are a few examples. I could play on this website forever, but here are some goodies! :)
The Water Cycle Song
A Honda Commercial that would be good when discussing Simple/Compound Machines
A Lunar Eclipse that you can watch
Awesome Weathering and Erosion video that I will be using for sure.
Photosynthesis
HILARIOUS and informative Solids, Liquids and Gases video
I could go on forever, but I digress..........
Monday, April 13, 2009
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Thing #17
When playing around with the Podcasts, I previewed several. The Jameston Elementary Project was very interesting. It helped me to see how simple it could be for even the youngest of our learners. I also read, and subscribed to, in iTunes and on GoogleReader, the Tech Teachers. It was interesting to listen to these two teachers talk about the technology that we use in our everyday lives, and how it can help us, and how we can use it, professionally, and personally. I also previewed, and suscribed to Why? The Science Show For Kids. This is a podcast where kids call in and ask questions, and they are answered. I love that it is a question/answer format, it seems that it may be more appealing to my students, however I can also see them, just wanting to watch a demonstration of an experiment on podcast. I can see that being useful, especially on the days we do the "really important" stuff in class, and students are absent. Podcasting can create a bridge between that missed knowledge, and allow them to still make those connections, without us having to "reteach" it. I love the idea. I haven't had any previous use or encounters with podcasting until now, but I look forward to learning more, experimenting, and hopefully implementing one day, soon preferably :)
Friday, April 3, 2009
Thing #16
I can see several uses for this website. I have already been introduced to something similar, and that is Shelfari. My Shelfari bookshelf is already shown on my blog. I found LibraryThing to be very much the same. Personally, I can see myself using both of the two sites, to select books that I'd like to read, either personally, or for my classroom with my students, or for professional growth, towards wanting to be a librarian. I really like looking at the website's Author cloud, it was interesting to see the authors that are added the most frequently etc. I found some authors that I expected to be more popular, and some that were more popular than I had expected.
My library thing.
My library thing.
Thing #15
Delicious......... hmm I was first introduced to this in another technology course that I was taking, and didn't quite utilize it the way that I could/should. Playing around with it for this "thing" was very enlightening. I could find myself thinking of so many professional and personal uses. I can see myself saving all of my links from home to pay bills with, so I could now do that anywhere. I also was able to find some very interesting and useful Science sites to add to my class blog. Tagging is something in it's own. I found myself pondering all sorts of words that I could use to describe one site, I can see how this could be misleading to the wrong information.
I can be found at: http://delicious.com/jandmechols I enjoyed exploring and playing with Delicious, and can really see myself utilizing it more in the future.
I can be found at: http://delicious.com/jandmechols I enjoyed exploring and playing with Delicious, and can really see myself utilizing it more in the future.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Thing 7a
I am loving my Google Reader. It's such a great way to keep up with what's going on. I recently was reading a Techlearning article on a free application for the Iphone and Ipod Touch. I had the joy, of purchasing an iphone last month, and was so excited to see this article. It discussed how Kindle created a free app, that allows you to download complete books and read them from your phone. It even has the ability to link to your on-line Kindle account, if you have one, and update both locations at the same time. I am not currently a Kindle user, but I plan on perusing this application........... probably tonight :) Another article from the same site, involved the Solar System and jigsaw puzzles that students can put together on line. From my Quote of the Day site, I thought I'd share what Vince Lombardi had to say "If you aren't fired with enthusiasm, you'll be fired with enthusiasm." Harry S. Truman said "It's amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit."
Then, after writing my above comments, I found another, quite intereting article about Kindle, from BlueSkunk, it provided some food for thought.
Then, after writing my above comments, I found another, quite intereting article about Kindle, from BlueSkunk, it provided some food for thought.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Thing #14
WOW, focused play, I had a BLAST. Here's what I did.
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
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
Thing 12
I chose to use Rock You because I have used it before and was familiar with it. I do intend on playing with the others as well.
This slideshow shows us our Galaxy from far away, brings us in for a closer look, and then explores the Moon and it's glory.
Blue marble thanks to Woodleywonderworks
Earth from the moon thanks to The Pug Father
Earth hour thanks to Aussigall
Earth rise thanks to Image Editor
Our Milky Way Galaxy thanks to Sir Mervs (pinoy biyahero)
Mercury_Venus_Earth_Mars thanks to Royalty-free image collection
Jupiter_Saturn_Uranus_Neptune thanks to Royalty-free image collection
Solar_system3 thanks to Royalty-free image collection
Earth rising thanks to forsetius
eclipse 2/20/2008, 8:55PM EST thanks to Paul Keleher
Full Moon! thanks to I'll Never Grow Up
Conjunction over Brisbane thanks to Richard.Fisher
Here's the link to my wiki, where you can also view my slideshow.
This slideshow shows us our Galaxy from far away, brings us in for a closer look, and then explores the Moon and it's glory.
Blue marble thanks to Woodleywonderworks
Earth from the moon thanks to The Pug Father
Earth hour thanks to Aussigall
Earth rise thanks to Image Editor
Our Milky Way Galaxy thanks to Sir Mervs (pinoy biyahero)
Mercury_Venus_Earth_Mars thanks to Royalty-free image collection
Jupiter_Saturn_Uranus_Neptune thanks to Royalty-free image collection
Solar_system3 thanks to Royalty-free image collection
Earth rising thanks to forsetius
eclipse 2/20/2008, 8:55PM EST thanks to Paul Keleher
Full Moon! thanks to I'll Never Grow Up
Conjunction over Brisbane thanks to Richard.Fisher
Here's the link to my wiki, where you can also view my slideshow.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
