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.

Thing #18 You too can YouTube

Part 1 Scavenger Hunt

Two videos teaching content:

Math Lessons: Solving Equations with like terms.
2.3 Solving more equations(Tricks to make it easier)

One video how to do something:

How to use Chopsticks

One video that's fun or nostalgic

Roberto Clemente: More than baseball

Part 2 TeacherTube

I have browsed through YouTube and TeacherTube before. In my classes I have used motivational videos from YouTube and TeacherTube to show my students. It is a change of pace and allows me to talk to my students about where they are headed or where they want to go. There are some really good videos to watch. I tried to embed this video about teachers making a difference, but it wouldn't download for anything so here's the link http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=8498&title=Teachers_Make_a_Difference

Thing #17 Pocasts: No IPOD needed!

We just did a roll-in faculty meeting on creating our own podcasts! There is no doubt that podcasts can have a great effect on students. Teachers were telling stories on how other teachers are using podcasts. One teacher in another district creates a podcast over the material that will be covered in the next class and the students' home work is to listen to the podcast before coming to class. Pretty inventive.

I previewed most of the links that were provided. Some were very professional, where others like TechPodZone and Geek!Ed! were not so professional. The ones that kind of rambled on like TechPodZone I won't go back to again. It wasted too much time. Geek!Ed! was better, but not by much. They were playing "radio show" and not disseminating information. I also checked out the math links provided. Way over my Special education student's heads. I was frustrated using the computer with these podcasts because I kept wanting visuals that weren't there. However, I do think downloading to my Ipod to listen to as I travel, or listen to when not tied down to the computer would be better. I can see a need for some type of Sped directory of podcasts. Who knows, it may already exist. I'm gonna go look for it later.

As negative as it sounds, I did find some interesting podcasts. Education podcast with John Merrow from PBS I found interesting. I think it will help me look at education more globally, instead of just in my backyard.

I do believe that there is a place for podcasts in education and I am going to look for opportunities to use podcasts in my classes.

Thing #16 Librarything:Where books meet Web 2.0

LibraryThing was interesting. I could see how it would be a good place to catalog what you've read, find recommendations, create a reading list for students, but for me, I doubt that I use it. I might refer to it from time to time, but I don't see me using it on a consistent basis. It is a nice little tool that's out there and to know it exists is cool.

Thing #15 Social bookmarking and tagging with delicious

I have used delicious before, but it was good to refresh myself on its uses. I created a whole new account, even though I didn't have to, and just started bookmarking sites. I like having the bookmarks stretch across the screen, it makes it easier to use them instead of clicking bookmarks and finding the link, its just right there at the top. Good stuff. Delicious speeds up getting to the sites that I visit the most.

http://delicious.com/mikeydill

Thing #7a

Let's just put them all in jail 24/7

This article just fired me up! It seems that our new Secretary of Education thinks that the only way we can prepare our students to compete on a global level is to put them in school for 6 to 7 days a week. Why is it that those who know little about education think that the only way to get better is to spend more time trying to force feed the students? How about allowing the teachers to throw out all of the excess teaching to the test and allow them to put passion back into teaching? It seems that when teachers were allowed to teach passionately we produced students who led the world in inventions, beat everyone to the moon and became the richest nation in the world.

Thing #14 Discovering Web 2.0 tools

I chose the blabberize web tool. I had fun. There was absolutely no educational thoughts while I was playing with this. I was completely focused on playing with pictures of my kids. It was real easy to do. Just pick a picture, upload it, call in and there you go. When I finished playing I said to myself, "educational value? No way.", but now that I think about it, what a way to grab the students' attention, as well as a way to get them some information. Obviously, it would take some well thought out planning, but what teacher doesn't do that? Definitely a fun tool. For your entertainment pleasure, here's what I created with my son.

Thing #13 Online Image generators

This has been an eye-opening experience. As I've browsed the web on many, many occasions, I've seen images that were similiar, but had been personalized. I figured it was some software that costs lots of money or someone was an expert at Photoshop. Come to find out its neither! These image generators were fun. My only problem was my mind wasn't on education, but on playing around. So, I created a couple of images for fun. It was simple just point and click. I can see how this would be a great tool to personalize presentations or projects for my students. I also see how my students could use these tools in their projects. It is definitely exciting to think about all of the different uses.



Bleacher sign



Confucius signs

Thing #12 Create a slideshow!

This was pretty easy and pretty fun. Here's my slideshow...

I didn't know this stuff existed before. Now that I do, I see all kinds of possibilities for this...presentations, student projects, class wiki, etc...All kinds of ideas.

Photo Credits

Misty Fall Baseball http://www.flickr.com/photos/sis/266718134/ sister72
Baseballs http://www.flickr.com/photos/design-dog/1075402542/ Ian Ransley
Baseball Off Season solitude http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebusybrain/2592017556/ thebusybrain
Baseball http://www.flickr.com/photos/mwlguide/128652241/ mwlguide
Jr varsity baseball vs principia http://www.flickr.com/photos/ramphoto/2462891442/ micdsphotos

Thing #11 Photosharing with Flickr

I had heard of Flickr before, but never looked at it. It was amazing at the sheer number of photos that were available through Creative Commons. I can tell you that I have never thought of CC when it came to using photos from others, but now that I'm aware, its totally different. Because I teach math and my love of baseball uses a ton of math, I use baseball as a theme in the Spring. So, I chose some baseball pictures in my search of Flickr. I found some really cool pics, but this one is my favorite:

It was taken by Sister72 and can be found at http://www.flickr.com/photos/sis/266718134/

I have to admit that I had some pretty limited ideas on how to use Flickr in the classroom. I figured it would be good for presentations, but David Jakes' blog had some really good thoughts and ideas. Because I teach math it's a little more difficult to use, but I've already got some ideas for geometry like different shapes and angles.