It's over? It's just beginning...

I want to thank you for providing this class. It was an amazing eye-opener to all of the tools that are available out there. the format was good, communication from the teachers was quick, I liked that it was self-paced (yeah, I know was one of those that was always behind!). I'm not sure that I can say what was my favorite. There is so much out there that's cool. I had a blast playing with all of the different generators. I bet I could spend way too much time playing there. I think that the only one that didn't float my boat was the wiki. I really struggled with that one. I would have to say that is the one that I don't feel comfortable with. I would have to spend quite a bit of time playing around with it before I would be comfortable utilizing it in my class. Maybe the wiki thing could be separated out into its own class? I can see its uses, but I don't think it is covered enough. I don't know. I just know it was tough. I can see using a blog, google calendar, and google docs pretty quickly though. I have wanted to implement technology in my classroom, but I've always had doubts about it, because most of my students don't have a computer at home. This class has shown me that I can implement some things without my students needing computers at home. I also believe that this class has opened my mind to some ideas on collaboration with my peers at North, as well as, across the district and beyond.

Thing #23 Beyond Myspace: other social Networks

I knew there were other social networks, but never put much thought into them. I enjoyed looking at Classroom 2.0. I found some other Sped teachers and browsed some other entries and comments. I think it is a place that I will revisit and probably join.


Visit 23 Thingsters

The 23 Thingsters Ning is pretty cool. I'm glad its there and I saw the Web 2.1 stuff. I like the idea of staying connected with my classmates and teachers. It's a great place to start to find out what's new and happening.

Something that I've been thinking about for some time now is some way to network the high school Sped math teachers. Wikis, Blogs, there's so many different options. In the long run it would probably evolve into a whole bunch of stuff. I'm just not sure I could do it right. I mean I know I could use the tools and such, but in order for to be relevant, it needs to be dynamic and that's the part I'm not sure I could handle. Who knows? Maybe, just maybe, I give it shot.

Thing #22 Explore Social Networking

I have been using Myspace and Facebook for quite some time now.

My Myspace is www.myspace.com/bigdaddydill

My Facebook is http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/profile.php?id=1190355857&ref=name

I first began using myspace and facebook because my kids were using them and I wanted to see what it was all about. I teach Sunday School and have become "friends with" several of my students. This really gives me an insight as to what students are doing and thinking. This insight also helps me with my students. My students know that I have a myspace and facebook and several have asked to be my friend. I don't ask students to be friends, but if they ask me then I allow it. I like the idea that my students see that I'm human and have a life outside of school and I like the opportunity it provides me to be involved on another level with my students. The more I know about my students, the easier it is to reach them in the classroom.

I like facebook more than myspace because of the applications that are available and my college kids don't use myspace anymore. I like having the ability to see what's going on in my kids' lives and being able to communicate with them too makes it even better.

I don't know if I would use facebook or myspace for the classroom. I just don't think the two mix very well. That being said, I do use it for the classroom by gaining a better understanding of my students to apply to my classroom.

Thing #7b

Create Web 2.0 Flashcards in a Flash!

This is a great blog on different Flashcard tools available on the internet. I checked out a couple of the sites and they have great databases of cards already created, as well as, the capability to create your own. Teaching resource math classes, I see this as a great way to work on my student's rote memory of multiplication/division facts and simple addition and subtraction in a way that my students will enjoy.

Thing #21 Google's not just for searching anymore

There are a lot of online tools that Google provides. It's like the Walmart of the internet. Just like you can get almost anything at Walmart, almost anything you need online you can find at Google. The two things that I played with the most were Google Alerts and Google Calendar. I made my Calendar public, because I can see using the calendar for my classes. A definite positive. Google Alerts is not something that I can share, or if I can, I didn't find it. I played around with it and like how I get notified if I something comes in without necessarily searching for it. There is so much out there in Google, and I'm sure that it is adding tools and gadgets all the time, that its almost overwhelming. I think that people will have to be careful or you could spend all of your time looking and playing with this stuff that you'd lose your productivity.

Thing #20 Google Docs

I have used (briefly) Google Docs in one of my Master's classes. I think its a great way to collaborate on a document or presentation with other professionals. It's definitely easier than emailing on back and forth! It is a great tool for students on group projects. Besides the students working on one document, the teacher can look to and see what's going on and who's contributing. It is also a great way to share work with other professionals by publishing the finished product.

Thing #19 Voicethread

Voicethread is interesting. I can see how you could build one with a powerpoint presentation to highlight your main points with sound. It could be a very effective tool to use on those days that you have to be absent. The substitute teacher could show it to the class and give out the assignment. Students could use it for presentations. It would be really good for those students who are uncomfortable presenting to the class face-to-face.