Thing 8

I enjoy doing puzzles. It makes me forget about my surroundings, and just focus on completing the image. When I read the link to make a puzzle I knew what I was going to do with my picture. I used a tool that would make your picture a puzzle. I used the picture of the Grand Canyon with my husband and I. It came out better than expected.
I also used the tool that would find different pictures to spell a word. I spelled mashups since. Using mashups can enhance any photo. I could use it in class to begin a new lesson and have students decipher a picture. I think it would have students paying attention because the graphics will involve them in the lesson.

Thing 7

I could not find my camera, but I uploaded a photo that I had saved in my documents. I have a yahoo email, and I never knew it was linked to Flicker. Once I realized that I laughed. This class is really helping me with using really exciting tools. I never heard of FLicker before but was excited to try it.I uploaded a couple of pics and tag them to our "apsu23things." Once I typed the group name I saw other pictures that were also tag to the group. It really is the fastest and easiest way to share photos. I choose this photo because since I moved to Tennessee I do not get to see my family. This picture is of me and my younger sister. She will probably be surprised that I used her for my blog. I will use flicker in the future because I can share things a lot faster with my family in California. Also it would be a great tool for classroom use. As a class we can have our own group, and share pictures so I get to know them. I would not worry about online predators because we can have public or private settings. It can be used for projects, and group presentations. I also can upload pictures that I may not have time to show in class that my students can easily access online. Before I would share my photos through email and instant messaging. I think Flicker is the best one. Email would always take too long and for instant messaging sometime the pictures would not come out right. I will use this today to share new pictures with my sisters because they also have yahoo and I can bet they never heard of flicker.

Thing 6

The web 2.0 that would work for me is google docs. Google docs is a great web 2.0 that can be used for basically anything. I can do spread sheets, papers, notes, letters, and share them without having to email. I choose who can access it. The person that can access it can view it as soon as they log in. It is a form of instant messaging but better. I can access my work from every computer. I do not have to worry of things not saving or flash keys not working because everything is online. The documents are created on the internet and you control who gets to view them. I created one that my sisters and I view. We are all attending a university and we all help each other with grammar in our essays. By using this we can have our essays ready to be revised. This helps us a lot because its quicker than email. My sister already began using it and I have the honor in reading her first essay.

Google docs would also be a useful tool for any classroom environment. As a teacher I can have my students view the information I want them to view without them going to different sites. I can post the homework so no students can say "we had homework." Also if they would have any questions they can view what their peers wrote which would make class discussions. Also spread sheets can be seen which could illustrate the students grades and what will be coming next. Parents will know how much time their children will need for homework and will be reluctant for them to be playing games when they would see the site. Overall, I had no issues with the site and it does everything it says its suppose too. Its simple and easy. If I could do it anyone can.
https://www.google.com/accounts/ServiceLogin?service=writely&passive=true&nui=1&continue=http%3A%2F%2Fdocs.google.com%2F%3Fhl%3Den%26tab%3Dwo&followup=http%3A%2F%2Fdocs.google.com%2F%3Fhl%3Den%26tab%3Dwo&ltmpl=homepage&rm=false

Thing 5

Technology has not only influenced our social life, but it has also influenced are education. I think school 2.0 will acknowledge the resources that will facilitate classrooms for the future. As a future teacher I want to use blogging, podcast, web 2.0's, and the internet in order to illustrate important facts in history. Its a new age where students just wont have to listen to lecture but incorporate their ideas too.

For instance, The Harvard study results were that if students participate in small group they will be better prepared, learn more, and will participate. Therefore, social learning will be a definite must in future schools. As the article says "we participate therefore we are." The growth and evolution of the internet has given students a new medium to declare their opinion. "55% of students raging from 12-17 years of age participate in a social network." It is up to educators to use those networks for their advantage. These sites are promoting reading and writing with engaging tools.

What I found interesting was the use of "CyberOne" and the "Digital Study Hall." I do not know if they would implement these strategies in public school but only time will tell. I think both assisted their students with a first glimpse of virtual education with a traditional education. The possibilities are endless its really going to make things better for the student and the teacher.

Thing 4

After reading about commenting I think I am ready to comment on my classmates blogs. Like one of the rules states "I wont be afraid to comment." I will try to right a meaningful comment to let them know that I feel the same way they do. I would be great way to know my classmates outside of class. Also all try to use the rule of thumb "Share something about yourself when you comment." Then they will know something about, me and maybe they will blog on my page as well. I think technology has given us a different method to communicate with each other with regards to blogging. It is like your own personal newspaper.

I never really understood blogging until now. Blogging creates interaction with the author and its readers. The blogger realizes that he has readers and that his point is not lost in his blog but throughout the readers. It really does create a community because the blogger will interact with the readers and the readers with the blogger. I think I may edit some of my blogs to invite and encourage comments.

The first comment I blogged was Sylvia's. We shared the same ideas when it came to blogging. I could relate to her because I never have blogged either. I thought I was going to be the only one. Since nowadays blogging is not new. I enjoyed sharing this new experience with the class. In the end though I think we will both find it easy and useful to blog. After commenting I realized how blogging becomes a social network and will probably continue to blog on my own.

The second comment I blogged was Emma's. She has a great idea for the use of blogs with regards to staying in contact with parents. She wants to be an elementary teacher and will use the blog as a method to keep parents updated on whats going on in her future classroom. I think it will work perfectly with those parents that have work schedules that wont allow them to visit the school. The blog will act as a newsletter that will keep the parents involve. Once the parents are involved the students will be more involved.

The next comment I blogged was Kimberly's. I could relate to her because she wants to use this new tool to share pictures with her family. I also found flicker to be the easiest and fastest to share pictures and be in contact with family. Her use of mashups came out great. She used mosaics to put together wedding pictures and pictures of her beloved dog. I tried using mosaics but it did not work on my lap top. Seeing how her pictures came out will ultimately get me to use my husbands computer to try it again. I also think I can use it in my future class because it will enhance the lesson plan and will have students interact in a positive manner.

I also commented on Tiffany Burghardt blog. We had the same trouble using the mosaic feature. I bet in the beginning everyone had the same trouble. I also can relate about her opinion that sharing pictures on line of students can be a bad idea. Teachers need to get permission and need to track who are watching the students. Unless it is set to private, but the whole point of flicker is to share your images. Teachers should always be aware of parents feelings about having pictures of their children on the internet. In the end even our own President had to take down pictures. It is that important to always double check.

Another blog I commented on was Ashley's. Great thing about reading blogs is that information is shared that benefits the reader. I read her blog about delicious, and imcooked.com. I had never heard of imcooked.com but after reading her blog I could not wait to search the videos. I think its a lot better than you tube if you only looking for food related content. Its really helpful and I have already seen a couple of videos. The site will help anyone its easy and free. Become a member and see the online chefs. Its great.

The two outside blogs that I am subscribing to is Free Technology for Teachers and Cool Cat Teacher. I been reading their blogs on a daily basis and they have both given me resources for education. I commented on their helpful resources. Like for instance, I recently found out what Google wave was all about. Google has so many apps that I need to keep up with. Also I recently read about vorbeo.com. It helps you create polls in your blog. I love subscribing to blogs its a new feature that I cant live without.

Thing 3

In my future classroom I would want to make the students blog as a weekly assignment. As a future history teacher I want to incorporate technology in my class as much as possible. Many of my past teachers did and I really understood history. I realize that using technology will assist me in finding creative ways to get fundamental knowledge out to my students.

I think using blogger would enhance my students writing, reading, and technology skills. I think the first blog would be about themselves, and I would be able to get to know them without wasting paper. Throughout the year, they could blog in correlation to what we were doing. I think my students would really enjoy this.

Also, using blogger for my teacher education program could assist me as well. I could blog about what I am learning and show it to the future school I want to work at. They would see how I have improved and what I will bring to their school. Also if I were to have issues and blog about it my classmates could help me.

Thing 2

This is the second time I have blogged and still no migraine. The three steps were straightforward and I had no difficulty in setting up my blog. Usually, I would be panicking because its something different and new but I am really enjoying this feature.

Making the lay out was just a click of a mouse nothing difficult but its important. Since I was introduced to blogging I can really say that it has helped me with technology. As a future teacher I may use blogging to teach my students writing with engaging tools. I identified my blog with my name. These blogs will address my answers, concerns, and thoughts throughout the course so it seems right to me to title it as so.

I also enjoyed creating my avatar. It reminds me of the program that xbox has to identify players. If my husband would have seen it he would of thought I was playing games. My avatar reflects my personality in many ways. I always like to be comfortable and my avatar relates my love of jeans and t-shirts. Unless I have to be in a formal attire I will usually be wearing jeans and a t-shirt. My avatar also is wearing sandals which usually I am too. I cannot wear heels there not comfortable and I cannot walk in them. The background that my avatar is in reminds me of Clarksville. Which I have grown to love.

Thing 1

After seeing the video I realized one of my hardest life learning habits is number 6. "Using technology to your advantage. Although technology is helpful for most people, I always find it so difficult. Computers have been around my whole life but other than typing papers, and emailing I tend to stay away. Already this class is making me blog. Me blogging, is something I would have never done on my own. I doubt I am the only one. I hope others will share their ideas about blogging. I barely have a facebook and to be truthful my sister made it for me. I hope this class helps me with my fear. When it comes to technology I always end up with a migraine. I get discouraged easily. I find myself stressed over a simple task. I know once I reach my goal I will realize more useful tools of technology.

The easiest life long learning habit is number 1. "Begin with the end in mind." I have always set goals because once I have reached them i feel a sense of accomplishment. I always know what I want to do and research what I have to do to get it. This attitude helped me with my undergraduate courses in terms of my graduation. When I finished a semester and received a passing grade I would always say, "6 more for graduation." Every small accomplishment was important because I had the end result in mind. No matter how much I struggled the end result kept me from stopping.