Thing 11 - Sites
Creating a website through google docs is fairly simple, although I think limiting too. It could appear limiting to me since I'm not well versed in it yet. I was stumped on adding gadgets and tried to put some pics on a page and my efforts failed. I think I need more time with this one. I have a "stretching and shrinking" unit that has a culminating project. With some thought I believe I could adapt it to the computer and I think the students would really like that.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Thing 10 - Presentations
Thing 10 - Presentation
Using google docs presentation my team was able to create a pretty cool show on the topic of happiness. Since I have never created any type of computer presentation I found myself getting lost quite a few times, deleting accidentally, and also having fun "playing". This is a great way to collaborate on a project and fairly easy to navigate through. I could see myself creating several presentations on topics within my math class such as solving equations and also little known facts, brain teasers and biographies of math geeks.
Using google docs presentation my team was able to create a pretty cool show on the topic of happiness. Since I have never created any type of computer presentation I found myself getting lost quite a few times, deleting accidentally, and also having fun "playing". This is a great way to collaborate on a project and fairly easy to navigate through. I could see myself creating several presentations on topics within my math class such as solving equations and also little known facts, brain teasers and biographies of math geeks.
Thing 9 - Google Spreadsheets
Thing 9 - Google Spreadsheets
I could see using this technology at the beginning of the year to gather data on my students - such as name, address, email, phone, etc. I could also use this at parent teacher conferences to get a pulse on how parents thought their student was doing, etc. I really like how it takes the form information and organizes it into a spreadsheet!
Check out my form on my Thing 9 continued blog...
I could see using this technology at the beginning of the year to gather data on my students - such as name, address, email, phone, etc. I could also use this at parent teacher conferences to get a pulse on how parents thought their student was doing, etc. I really like how it takes the form information and organizes it into a spreadsheet!
Check out my form on my Thing 9 continued blog...
Thing 8 - Google Docs
Thing 8 - Google Docs
This could be a great place for collaborative work in the classroom and between other classrooms. One small feature that I particularly like is being able to see all of the edits and by whom. Many times on group projects several carry the burden for the masses. This way it is easier to see how the work was divided up.
Professionally our team will be able to work together on documents without the email hassle factor. I think it will take a little bit of adjustment though before people are truly comfortable with it.
This could be a great place for collaborative work in the classroom and between other classrooms. One small feature that I particularly like is being able to see all of the edits and by whom. Many times on group projects several carry the burden for the masses. This way it is easier to see how the work was divided up.
Professionally our team will be able to work together on documents without the email hassle factor. I think it will take a little bit of adjustment though before people are truly comfortable with it.
Thing 7 - Skype
Thing 7 - Skype
Although I'm not certain how I would use skype in the classroom I do feel it has value to me.
I have had conversations with my team and with the 21 things class. I have tried to record a conversation but am not certain where to see if it recorded or not. Hopefully after our next class I'll have it uploaded to share. Also, I've used the chat feature and find this quite handy. The key is to have others signed up. That could be a hurdle.
My skype id: kdinsmor
Although I'm not certain how I would use skype in the classroom I do feel it has value to me.
I have had conversations with my team and with the 21 things class. I have tried to record a conversation but am not certain where to see if it recorded or not. Hopefully after our next class I'll have it uploaded to share. Also, I've used the chat feature and find this quite handy. The key is to have others signed up. That could be a hurdle.
My skype id: kdinsmor
Thing 6 - Wikis
Thing 6 - Wikis
Truth be told, I'm having a difficult time understanding the magnitude of wikis. On the surface wikis seem like a place where people can collaborate on projects, share information, etc. But peeling back the surface of a wiki exposes layers yet to be discovered. What I do know for certain is that a "wiki" is like the simple term "car". There are many definitions of each, with many variations on a theme - and then some. Specifically, I found myself fascinated with the Aristotle Project on Wiki on Education and wondering how I could use a project such as this in my math class. I could also see our math department creating one site where we share information for our students and their parents to access.
Truth be told, I'm having a difficult time understanding the magnitude of wikis. On the surface wikis seem like a place where people can collaborate on projects, share information, etc. But peeling back the surface of a wiki exposes layers yet to be discovered. What I do know for certain is that a "wiki" is like the simple term "car". There are many definitions of each, with many variations on a theme - and then some. Specifically, I found myself fascinated with the Aristotle Project on Wiki on Education and wondering how I could use a project such as this in my math class. I could also see our math department creating one site where we share information for our students and their parents to access.
Thing 5 - Educational Bookmarking/Networking
Thing 5 - Educational Bookmarking/Networking
Educational Bookmarking
Delicious, an internet-based bookmarking site, has the potential to be amazingly helpful to me as an educator. Besides the obvious of allowing me to access my "favorites" from any computer it does several other jobs nicely. First, it can make searching topics more meaningful since it shows how many others have tagged the same idea. Also I can tap into any one individual's bookmarks to see other sites that might be useful to me. Finally, in the classroom I could have students access certain sites through published bookmarks. I would like to spend time "playing" in this site.
Networking
I joined the social network of Ning in Education. It is a forum of individuals interested in education (really?!). Anyway, I have found information about some current research in several different areas and discussions regarding it. I could join different groups within this site that are of interest to me. There were other nings that would be of interest to students however after reading more in my "ning" it was pointed out that nings could not be utilized by students under 13 years of age. This could present a challenge.
I also joined MACUL and took a look around. I still am not certain what this site is all about. I did notice that many of the posts are several months old. This made me wonder how much activity this site saw.
Educational Bookmarking
Delicious, an internet-based bookmarking site, has the potential to be amazingly helpful to me as an educator. Besides the obvious of allowing me to access my "favorites" from any computer it does several other jobs nicely. First, it can make searching topics more meaningful since it shows how many others have tagged the same idea. Also I can tap into any one individual's bookmarks to see other sites that might be useful to me. Finally, in the classroom I could have students access certain sites through published bookmarks. I would like to spend time "playing" in this site.
Networking
I joined the social network of Ning in Education. It is a forum of individuals interested in education (really?!). Anyway, I have found information about some current research in several different areas and discussions regarding it. I could join different groups within this site that are of interest to me. There were other nings that would be of interest to students however after reading more in my "ning" it was pointed out that nings could not be utilized by students under 13 years of age. This could present a challenge.
I also joined MACUL and took a look around. I still am not certain what this site is all about. I did notice that many of the posts are several months old. This made me wonder how much activity this site saw.
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