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.