Thing 23

I had never thought of the internet as version 1.0 and 2.0 till this course. SO TRUE! I am amazed at what is out there and how relevant it is to my classroom.

I know how to embed a YouTube video onto my blog (and by my own estimation makes me very cool).

I can create documents online and open them on any computer using Google Docs. I can also create PowerPoint Presentations online, make flow charts, and any other office type task and open them anywhere!

I can find great presentations to use in class on Slideshare.

I can organize all of my sites and see what my colleagues are using on del.icio.us and find a picture of anything on Flickr! I can then take those pictures and put them on my blog or any number of other things like movie posters, switching faces...

I also subscribe to RSS feeds and Podcasts, which I am actually starting to get the hang of and enjoy!

My biggest take away is that I have been able to help others! I explained to a co-worker how to make a blog and she now has a great one of her own! I am constantly trying to add new "THINGS" into my classroom and can't wait to see where I go with all that I've learned! THANK YOU SO MUCH 23 Things!!!! SO relevant and useful!

Thing 22

Here is my Wiki: http://brightonideas.wikispaces.com/

I am not a big fan of wiki's....the students have too much of an opportunity to change the site. And what is with the HUGE lag time when trying to type. I really did not find this site very easy to use.

I still think I will use blogs much more frequently than wiki's. Blogs are only able to be altered by one person and the wiki's everyone can contribute. I think blogs are more appropriate at the student level and wiki's at the teacher level. SO I am definitely more apt to use blogs. But who knows... technology moves so fast I may be a wiki-pro in no time!!!

Thing 21

the Wiki that I found inspiring is: http://arborheights.wikispaces.com/

I think it is an outstanding wiki and would love it if I had one similar myself. I like that they can be student run. These are a great resource and tool for collaboration. Can't wait to make one!

A roadblock would be those students set to ruin other students work and as always inappropriate comments. It would have to be closely monitored and I am honestly not sure if it's worth the hassle.

I did find the wiki:
http://www.wikihow.com/Main-Page

LOVE this resource though! I could see spending hours searching this!

Thing 20

O.K. I really struggled with this one! I went to EPN and didn't find anything I'd want to subscribe to. I went to the other site and found parenting, comedy, cooking, but again nothing I'd want to subscribe to!! I finally found what I was looking for through itunes. I subscribed to Stuff You Should Know, and Oprah.com's Spirit Channel (sappy, I know!). Many people commented that they listened to podcasts in the car...does that mean they download them to an Ipod? Is there any other way?? Finally I am a fan!

Thing 19

I found the following pod cast very interesting: http://www.mathgrad.com/shownotes.html
I love the idea of having the students create a podcast as an assessment tool. I also love that I can use pod casts to help enhance my curriculum. I am again amazed at what technology has created for help in the classroom!!!

Thing 18

Fantastic Photography

View more presentations from guestc9ef5d

I LOVE this presentation. I know at first glance it's not necessarily "relevant" to my subjects that I teach - however, I think that the pictures could be used as "grabber" or "hookers" :) for a lesson. Having the SMARTboard I am always looking for more interesting muti-media resources to use. I use the smart notebook search engine all the time to find lessons and am excited to use this webiste now also. THere is a such a vast array of presentations on this site that I think I will be able to find useful content for lots of different things. And it's always good to "not have to re-invent the wheel!"

Thing 17

I chose to explore flashcarddb.com

LOVED IT!!! As a math teacher (and mom) I can totally seethe relevance of this tool! I plan on showing my students how to navigate the website and then let them work/play ;) with it on the SMARTboard when their done with their work to review skills.

As a mom we are already working with flashcards and to have them in an electronic form will definitly add a "fun" element to them for my daughter.

Thing 16

We use googledocs with our staff already...OK...most of us do. We were taught by one of our computer teachers. I find it very beneficial. It is easier to read people's responses to questions this way, instead of all replying to an email.

With students I could see a problem with kids changing other kids documents to be mean, kids stuff. But I do see the benefits for older grades definitely.

Thing 15

Overall I am not very comfortable with RSS. I am excited to continue exploring it and hope to become much more familiar with it. I don't check my feeds regularly and need to get in the habit of doing so. I wouldn't go right to comfortable with RSS, but I do see the value and hope to become very familiar with it. I am excited to use delicious to compile all the great websites from 23 things and then explore them more in my own free time.

Thing 14

My delicious username is kbrighton.

I like social bookmarking and appreciate the organizational help as well as the universal access. The delicious website is fairly easy to navigate, it just takes a few minutes to get used to the "how's". I will need to get more familiar with delicious before I have my students start using it. But I think it will definitely become a tool I use frequently.

Thing 13

I am starting to really like the idea of tagging and definitely see it's relevance in the classroom as well as in my own use of the web. I like that once I've tagged a website, picture, whatever I can easily find it and see other related things quickly also. I am a very organized person and LOVE that tagging can quickly help me with that. I really only see advantages to tagging. I guess if I don't tag something completely, meaning if I leave out a tag that could become troublesome. I need to keep my tags professional, appropriate and as specific as I can. And I can always go back and change them.

Thing 12

Polyglot

I thought this is a really cool widget. Interesting and love that you can play the sounds with the words. I am getting fairly comfortable embedding code. I just have to be sure to blog in the HTML tab - not the COMPOSE tab. ( I did that a couple times ;) oops!) I belong to facebook (who doesn't), twitter (though I rarely go on there!), and VSG talk (a web community about Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy). ARe you kidding all kids want to do is SOCIALIZE!!! That is why facebook is so popular! You also get to "facebook stalk" people ;) YOu get to see what's going on and comment!

Thing 11

I feel a little self-conscious sometimes when leaving a comment. But I also feel powerful and happy when I can leave in intelligent, helpful insight. I LOVE when I get a comment. It's like a surprise in the mail! I was a little skeptical about the whole "online community" when we first started 23 things, but now I truly believe it exists...and I'm part of it now :) I would still be a little leery adding student work where ANYONE could read it. I picture angry parents and upset students. But we'll see where this goes from here.

Thing 10

Here is a Youtube video I wanted to share. It is from my TV special on WXYZ on the Michigan Bariatric Institute. Pretty cool huh??? I was able to download a video. I am excited I now know how I can include a video in my power points.

Thing 9

I think Youtube is a great resource. I am just leery to use it in my classroom. I have searched a few things and have been surprised by the inappropriate things that popped up. However, it's free and very user friendly!!!!

I did find a few videos that I can use in the future. I am still planning to search more.

We are able to get Youtube in our classrooms!!!!

Thing 8

This thing was only time consuming because it became addictive! It is overall VERY EASY and so much fun! I think the speller is probably my favorite! That is a really cool program that person made up. I think that the mash-ups will become invaluable for classroom power points and well as Christmas presents for the grandparents!!!! SO COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thing 7

HOW EASY IS THAT????? I love Flickr!!!! It is VERY user friendly and so fun to organize my photos!!! And Free!!! I can't wait to download all of my pictures from home!!!!

I think I would use Flickr in my classroom by being able to use it as a resource for primary sources. In Language Arts we are learning about Historical Fiction. It would be great to use primary sources as story prompts.

I do, however, think I will need to find the pictures before I use them in my class in case there are some inappropriate ones for my students. But I Think that is a small concern and the benefits of Flickr outweigh it's possible negatives greatly!!!!!

Thing 6

I think it is pretty obvious why I chose these pictures. So easy and fun to search. There is one problem however, you can end up spending HOURS searching Flickr. :)

Thing 5

I found RSS to be a fantastic resource!!!

"It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of blogs out there"
AIN'T THAT THE TRUTH!!!!!! J Like I said in my previous post RSS is a one-stop-shop where I can easily, efficiently and quickly catch up on my feeds and move on. The internet is a fascinating resource but if you can’t find what you’re looking for it can be of NO use. RSS is like closet organizers for messy rooms! It’s quick and efficient!

Thing 4

I don’t honestly think I would use RSS much in my personal life. I have a couple blogs I visit regularly – but that’s it. Professionally I think this would be very handy with students and co-workers blogs. It would be like one-stop-shop :) A very handy tool indeed!

I don’t necessarily think one subscription way is better than the others. I also don’t have a current favorite J

Thing 3

This is just what I needed to get me in gear to start a class blog. I am thinking I will post a question or comment from time to time and see how many students actually use the blog. Then possibly use it as part of assignments. It is also a great way to get websites for class listed in an easier form.

I am a bit concerned about inappropriate posting by students. I also think a blog is a great communication starter with staff.

Thing 1 and Thing 2

I am participating in 23 things because I was asked to. I have completed 23 Things already a few years back. I am excited to see what has changed since then.

I hope to learn some of the very new and current Web 2.0 concepts that are out there. I know that as an educator I am competing with IPods, T.V. and other media sources to catch my student’s interest. I hope that through this course I will learn new and interesting ways to do so.

I loved the web2.0 concept. I hadn't thought about it that way before. I also found it a bit nerve racking that anyone anywhere can read my writing once I post it. It is definitely an empowering thought as well as a scary one. I now realize that not all of the information out there is accurate. As an educator I must be cognizant of that fact and be mindful when using the Internet or having my students use it.

Until the next thing......