Reflections

1. Please give us some feedback by reflecting on your learning journey in one more blog posting. Here are some questions to guide you:

• What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?

I enjoyed creating the mashup activity.

• How has this program affected your lifelong learning goals?

It makes me try not to procrastinate all the time.

• Were there any take-a-ways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?

I was surprised that I figured out how to work some of the activities because I am not that tech savvy.

• What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?

I think that the blogs should be done in sections instead of large groups.

• How will what you have learned influence your practice as a teacher?

I will be able to use several different resources in the classroom because of this exercise.

• How do you plan to keep up with new developments in web 2.0? Recommend a way that you have found to be useful.

I could take another computer course to build upon the web 2.0.

Thing #23

Copyrighting is illegal and can get someone thrown out of school, thus who would want someone copying their works.  Due to creative commons, people can produce a document or image and not have to worry about someone stealing the information.  In Thing #8, I created a mashup of my new last name, but I did not give create to the website which is bad.  So I will give credit now.  It was all brought to you by: http://metaatem.net/words/ .  I will be able to use it in the classroom to show students another example of how and why students should be aware of copyright laws.

Thing #22

My binders are all entitled Education followed by a number. I chose to create a binder dealing with science, weddings, and teachering. I would be able to use the LiveBinders in the classroom by finding new materials to use in the classroom plus I can compare various sites to see what information is the most useful.



http://livebinders.com/play/play_or_edit?id=97526







<div style="width:75px; height:78px; background-image:url(http://www.livebinders.com/images/binder_icon_private.gif); border:0px; margin-top:4px; background-repeat: no-repeat"> <a href="http://livebinders.com/play/play_or_edit?id=97526"> <img src="http://open.thumbshots.org/image.pxf?url=http://www.teacherhelp.org/" style="width:60px; height:60px; border:0px; padding:0px;margin:11px 0px 0px 13px;" /> </a> </div> <div><a href="http://livebinders.com/play/play_or_edit?id=97526">Education 3</a><br /></div>

Thing #21

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

This video was super easy to make! and I completely thought it was awesome!!!!!!  So I just had to choose some pictures, pick a song, and boom done.  It was just so easy and then I could copy and the video onto my facebook page.  But it is so cute and everyone should watch it.....<3

Thing #20

YouTube can be an interestin site.  I love that a person can look for a movie that he or she has not seen in awhile and watch it.  I like YouTube very much and how I can watch so many types of videos, but I do not like how you go to look something up and watch it, and some completely random videos that have nothing to do with the topic shows up.  Unless a person is looking for random that part is my least favorite part about the site.  The site can be interesting and useful to a class incase a student gets in an accident or I am unable to make it to class, I can record my lecture where students will be able to listen and take notes while remaining upto date within the class.

Thing #19

I became a member of the Tasty Kitchen website, which people can share recipies with others.  This website was quite appealing to me because I love to cook and try new recipies all the time.  This website drew my attention due to the level of recipies.  A person who is not a good cook can find something super easy to do, where as a profession cook will be able to find something to make for their seven course meal.  If I can cook something appleasing for my future husband that he would enjoy anyone can.  Hopefully I don't choose something that is plan gross though. LOL...

Thing # 18

http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=702929925

It is important that educators know how to social network to keep intouch with other educators and that way various ideas maybe passed around for different classes.  I gained that people can pass ideas through status updates and quotes.  I liked Facebook because I am use to it and you can actually do something instead of just looking at people say "getting coffee" or "it's rainning today."  I also feel that it was more useful because you can look up groups and see events and pictures unlike just words.  I can see students using both sites because that is whats in right now.  Twitter and Facebook are similar, it is just that one offers games and photo galleries and the other does not.

Thing #16

For this "THING" I chose to use iGoogle as my start page just because it looked like the MY yahoo page which I have already designed many times before.  I doubt that I will make the iGoogle my homepage because I mostly just use the APSU homepage.

The online calendars are helpful in remembering important dates.  I would really know because I tend to forget all sorts of things from birthdays to community service events that set the dates too.  So I chose the 30 boxes to check out and found out that it is like a regular calendar.

The Ta Da List was interesting.  The list allows various events to listed or a shopping list for the store, but did not allow that placements of dates on the list unless it was written in on the list.  I understand that the Ta Da List is not a calendar, but there should be an option to place dates for a list of events.

I think all three forms or web organizers are good for school and at home.  I recommend the iGoogle homepage due to the fact you can arrange the page to look and read how you want.  Plus there are options to have words, art, and music of the day.

Thing #15

Today I worked with wikis and it was interesting.  I knew about wikipedia, but I did not know that there were so many websites that individuals may use to gather ideas from other people.  I found that editing a page is harder than it looks but once a person understands what to do it becomes quite easy.  As for how I might use a wiki in the classroom, I could use it for a group project or have my students use a wiki as a way to edit each others research papers.  Another way I might use a wiki is for research into how to cover a particular topic in the classroom so that I maybe able to discribe it in various ways for the different learning types of my class.

Thing #14

Graphic organizers are used all the time and in many different situations.  For this "THING" I chose to explore Gliffy and Mind Meister for my flow chart and mind map.  Both websites were interesting and depending what you want to do.  Gliffy could be used more in a large business or architectual setting.  Mind Meister had multiply organizer types and I found that it was very easy to use and read.  With Mind Meister a student may organize notes, projects, and presentations which makes life easier when you are not organized at all in writing papers.  I like Mind Meister better than Gliffy, but it just up to the person using the organizer.

Thing # 13

For this blog assignment I had to look at two different websites that dealt with word documents.  One was Zoho Writer and the other Google Docs.  Both the programs were similar in that a person can write a document not on Microsoft for an assignment.  Zoho is like Microsoft with the various icons and tabs found within the site.  On Zoho a person can write a document and then share it with other people through blogs, doc roll, and email.  This may come in handy when dealing with group projects or creating a post. 
The other word document site is Google Docs and with it, people create writing documents, spreadsheets, and a drawing.  With this document, if a person creates a spreadsheet with peoples names and numbers that document maybe placed under a private account setting were only the members listed in the document will be able to see and no one else. 

So I think both of the web based sites were interesting and easy to understand, but I would have to choose Zoho over Google Docs due to the fact that Zoho resembled Microsoft and looked very familiar to me which made it super easy to use.

Thing #12

I learned how to use both Google Alert and Google Translate for this assignment.  For Google Alert I set up an alert to come to my email when new science material becomes available weekly.  Then I decided to use the Google Translate because I am going to Russia in the summer and thought it would be good to have something that I could use on my travels.  Both are educational because new information can be sent on a particular subject when need and the translation site may be use to communticate with students, parents, and other faculty from various countries.

Thing #11

*Which method of finding feeds did you find easiest to use?
     I found searching using the RSS search feed was the easiest to locate articles about science.
*Which Search tool was the easiest for you?
     RSS from Google Reader
*Which was more confusing?
     I found that the Google Blog Search the most difficult or all the resources I tired using.*What kind of useful feeds did you find in your travels?
     I found Topix to be a useful site to look up topics that I might need.
*Or what kind of unusual ones did you find?
     The Google Blog Search I could not figure how to search for articles and finally gave up on the site.*What other tools or ways did you find to locate newsfeeds?
     I went down all of the sites listed to test each one but I did not do anything special.

Thing #10

• What do you like about RSS and newsreaders?
• RSS keeps the items that a person likes to look at organized and you can star items that you like and need most. 
• How do you think you might be able to use this technology in your school or personal life?
• I would be able to use this technology in my classroom due to the fact there are several scientific blogs and journals that I and my students will be able to follow. 
• How can teachers use RSS or take advantage of this new technology?
• Teachers may use this technology to follow journals for their particular subject and see what new technology, resources, or studies are being conducted in their field.

Thing #9

I went to the image chef to create my photo.  I was really easy and all I had to do was choose a picture and the background image to place my picture.  After the image was place there were options of placing words and symbols on the overall product.  This website is cute and would be a good resource for a computer, art, or scrapbooking class.  Generators may also be used in a history or science classroom as a hook or discussion idea.





Trae before we met!



Thing #8

Mashup
Originally uploaded by missyann88

I used spell with flicker to create this picture which I added then to Flickr and tag it as Hendrick. I really love this picture because it will eventually be my new last name. I think for the classroom however, this might not be the best source for a science classroom. This is mostly due to the fact that the pictures are not very reliable. Students might enjoy it for an art or technology class.

Thing #7

Sigma%20Alpha%20Iota
Originally uploaded by missyann88

     My Flickr experience was okay for the most part. I like the fact that flickr is timed up with yahoo because that made the signing up process very easy. I was able to load the pictures I wanted fairly easy and Flickr gave me the options to tag and comment on my pictures. This website is much like facebook and myspace in that you can upload photos, tag and comment while allowing other people to look at your artwork. Because the photos that I put on Flickr are not on the you shouldn't be looking at this level it is alright my photos are seen by other people. Though I do like that you can type in a subject and pictures appear, I would not use this website in the classroom because the photos are not located in a scholarly atmosphere.

     The image is of the nationally recognized symbol for Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity which I am a proud active member.

Thing #6

     For this blog assignment we were asked to investigate one of the Web 2.0 award nominee website.  I chose Hi5 to look at and explore.  I orginally thought I had never been on it before, but I guess in high school I had joined and forgot because I found another account, however I have no clue what is my old accounts information. 
     Starting an account was very easy and I got to create a new avatar which expresses feelings.  I feel like Hi5 resembles facebook and myspace because you can connect with your friends and play games.  Much like other social networking sites you can also send messages and look for friends.  I started to play a game called "Green Farm" and it reminded so much of Farmville on facebook.  It was actually really fun and super cute.
     Then I went to mess around and see all the website would do and discovered that you can set the background much like myspace.  I found a black one with purple butterflies and stars! I love butterflies and purple so that was super exciting to see.  Then I discovered that there are several areas you can fill out about yourself and put html codes.
     All in all I liked the website, but I do not see it as a good website to use in the classroom unless you are using it as in a technology class.  If Hi5 was used in a science class, the students would probably just play games on it the whole class period. 

Thing #5

     School 2.0 refers to the new technology that is being incorporated into the school system today.  In the past students did not have interactive technology and could only read the screen of the computer.  Now students are able to create their own web pages, blogs, or podcast.  All of these tools maybe used in the classroom for giving assignments, having students use pactice test sites, or blogging about their learning experience for a science lab.  With the increase of technology every year, our students will have a greater knowledge the new technology because they will have grown up with it unlike us.  We as educators must relearn how to use the computer and even the chalkboard has changed from the past.  New technology presents changelles for educators, but with encouragement from other we will master the problems set before us and show our that we are up with the technology of the times.

Thing #4

     Commenting on other's blogs can be important in showing community by just letting someone know that you are there for them.  I think it is important to let people know you care about them if they are feeling down or if someone is getting married to tell them congratulations.  In the reading of Your comments?, I agreed with the author and thought that it was nice that he or she added some links to other websites that you may checkout. I also thought the 10 techniques to get more comments on your blog was an interesting way to advise people on how to write blogs and promote interest of your blog. 
     I choose to comment on several people in my class and some from another class. The education candidates I choose are either people I know personally or commented on my blog.

Casey Estes made an excellent point about how Dr. Wall's blog has step by step instruction which made creating a blog and avatar super easy compared to how it would have been without her directions.

Jori Cox commented in Thing #2 how she had problems creating her blog and avatar, so of course I told her that I was sorry she had problems and I also told her that her site was super cute.

Dillon Biemesderfer went to high school with me and dated my sister in like middle school.  Dillon has already got to Thing #7 and decided to place a wedding picture of himself and Korina holding picture frames around their faces, which is super adorable if I say so myself, so I had to tell him about the picture's cuteness.

John Jordan commented in Thing #1 that he always has the end in mind first which is great because I differently do not, but he also said that he didn't have time to play because of his life and how busy it can be.  I had to point out that every time he plays with or looks at his children he has fun.  I'm so glad that we a caring father in our class to advise us.

Lauren Yurus sits next to me in class and I feel so bad for her because her computer always messes up.  However, she seems to be handling her twenty-three things well.  In her Thing #3 Lauren commented about how she can use a blog in the future by suggesting that students may make comments about the class or she could give hints on homework assignments.  Some of her ideas I actually had thought of for my Thing #3.

Melissa Clemen had an idea in her Thing #3 that she could create a blog that parents could use to ask questions and keep up with the activities that the class are and will be doing that week or month.  I thought this idea was neat because she is right and parents are always willing to and wanting to participate in their child's schooling.

Thing #3

     So today I just get to write about how I feel I can use a blog in the educational world now and in the future.  Right now I feel that if I do not complete my blog than I will fail my Education 3040 class...lol, but other than my class I could use this blog or another blog to illustrate what I have been learning in class and ask other educators or classmates what I should do to improve on a lesson or advice for a project that I am doing for another class.  In the future when I begin student teaching, I can blog about how my  experience is going and that why I maybe able to keep track of the reflections required at the end of the semester.  Then when I graduate, I will already having a blog which will help me center my thoughts at the end of the day.  This will allow me to refer back later in life on how I felt about certain aspects in my past and how I have changed and grown into a well rounded adult and mentor.  Having a blog seems like a new found item for teachers and I have to admit that it is for me, but when I start teaching most of my students might have a blog already and if they do then I differently think a blog will be a great idea to see if the class understands the lecture material and for them to post questions and comments about the week's instructional material.  I think these blogs are the start to a new adventure. 

Thing #2

     Blogging is an interesting experience and I love how I can edit my blog to look how I want.  It was easy to decide how to name my blog and posting name because I just chose my own name.  Like most people I would've like to chose a crazy name for my posts but as this is a professional assignment, I thought it best to do other wise.  As for applying to Blogger, to actually start creating my blog, was my the hardest part of my whole experience.  I tried to apply to an account and the website told me that I already had an account.  So I had to figure out what my password was to start, but as soon as that part was solve the few questions to actually start was quite easy.

     I loved creating the look of my blog and filling in the information because it was so easy to learn.  I wish the color choices were cuter, but I will eventually learn how to change the background to something nicer.  When it came to creating and loading my avatar into the blog, I loved dressing the avatar.  Creating my avatar was just like dressing a Barbi when I was a little girl.  Then adding the avatar was very easy because I used to add items onto my myspace page in middle school all the time.  As for the look of my avatar I think she looks somewhat like myself.  She has glasses that look like chemistry goggles on which I feel represents the science part of my life.  I also have a dog and felt that it was appropriate to show my love of animals with my avatar.  Hope everyone else thought it was just as easy to create their avatar and blog as my experience.

Thing #1

     Being a life long learner is to experience new skills and activities that may better an individuals life or the lives of others.  I learned, while listening to the Seven and 1/2 Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners that I am not a good learn.  I had to watch the video several times because I could not stay focused for more than a few minutes, but eventually I watched the video entirely.  I discovered that many of the habits of a life long learn I approciate greatly. 
     The two habits that I believe that I might have trouble with are the first habit about beginning with the end in mind and having confindence in myself as a competent, effective learner.  I tend to start projects and not think about the end result; I feel like I will just go with the flow a majority of the time.  Then dealing with my confindence level is a major factor to me because I have always very self confindent and have looked for approval my whole life.  So dealing with goals and confindence levels are two items that are high on my list to accomplish of habits for being a lifelong learner.
     The other habits of life long learners are intersting and seem important to being an educator.  The  acceptance of my own knowledge and being able to share it with others seems like a no brainer for someone aspiring to become an educator but these concepts are important to be able to supply with technology and my learning toolbox.  The toolbox will help with any problems and challenges that may occur and remind myself that I need to relax and practice habit seven and one half, play.  The seven and 1/2 habits of highly successful lifelong learns provide critical information about learning and future learning.
     Being asked about I feel dealing and learning with Web 2.0 tools is that of excitement.  I have never taken a computer class that I have been able to learn so much.  The last computer class I took was in middle school where we learned to type without looking at the keys and how to make power point presentations.  I am looking forward to each and every activity in the twenty-three thing series so I may learn to apply the activities to my classroom.