Thing #14

I decided to browse Gliffy and Bubbl.us. They were both easy to access and create. With Gliffy you have more options of shapes and what kind of diagram you wanted to use. I liked that you could just go to Gliffy and create several different types of diagrams in one place. At Bubbl.us, there was just one type and you could keep adding bubbles wherever you want them. This would be a good place to make a family tree. I can see myself using both of theses sites to make diagrams and charts for my classes. If I was having my students create a chart I would probably sent them to Bubbl.us, that way they only have to worry about the content of what goes in the bubbles and not the design. Plus Bubbl.us seemed more user friendly when I was using it.

Thing #13

I designed this nifty little creation in Google Docs. I thought it was fun and easy to figure out. If I was using this in a project I could share it with other people in my group without having to be in the same room. In Zoho, you can do the same. After exploring Google Docs and Zoho, I have come to the conclusion that I don't really now which site I would prefer to use. They both can do the same work. If I were teaching a lower grade I would probably use Zoho because it seems to be a little more kid friendly. 

Thing #12

As I was exploring Google, I was able to create a calendar and a Picasa Web Album. Since, I already have a Google account they both linked up with it. Now, I just have to go to one place for everything. Having a Google Calendar would be good to use in the classroom so you can print one out each month for the students to know what is going on and what to expect for the month, kind of  like a syllabus. I think that for younger students you may have to hand out a monthly or even weekly syllabus. You can even try linking the calendar to your class blog. I haven't mastered this aspect of Thing #12, but I am still trying.

Thing #11

Google Reader was probably the best method of RSS searching I found.  It was easy, because all you have to do is put in the subject matter for the RSS feed and the search engine does the rest. There really isn't an easiest method for RSS searching anymore, because of the search engine sophistication.  One can go to any search engine now and type in a subject and then RSS feed and it will find it.  For example, if you were looking for information on photography, you could search for,"latest Canon camera technology RSS feeds," and it will come up with quite a few links, then you can click on subscribe. There really is no confusing method with an RSS feed. There were numerous feeds on educational excellence, superior teaching techniques, and some interesting photography feeds as well. There weren't any unusual RSS feeds.  When you customize a search for an RSS feed, or are very specific, then it really narrows down your search results and filters out most of the garbage that is associated with subjects you are searching for. Any search engine will suffice, however, on some blogs people have posted links to feeds they are interested in and it can lead you on a very big journey when you find several blog pages that you are interested in.

Thing #10

I like RSS feeds, because you don't have to go out and search the Internet for all the latest updates on a particular subject. You just subscribe and it updates automatically. I could use this in school to keep up with all the latest trends the students are in that way I can connect with them on a level that he/she will understand. I would use this in my personal life to keep up with the latest news on my hobbies so that I don't have to take a lot of time searching for it on the Internet. As teachers, we can create RSS feeds for our students so that they don't have the excuse of "I forgot" when they don't turn in an assignment. The students can get online and check on things that are due and what they need to have ready for the next day of class.

Thing #9

I used the Comic Strip Generator to create this lovely comic above. It was really fun and easy. Everyone should try it! I really think this could be a good way to incorporate images in your power points or even to ask a test question. I think it would have been cool if there were cartoons on my test in school. I might have paid attention more! :)

Thing #8

After completing this activity, I have discovered that I can use flickr as a means for students to turn in projects that I may assign. For my personal use, I can make collages and use Flickr's printing services to print it out. I like sharing photos online. This is a way that your friends or family, that may have moved away, can keep up with you. It is also not as complicated as sending photos in an email and the person viewing your photos can look at more than one at a time.

Thing #7

My photo and Flickr experience was amazing! It was so easy to start my account and upload my pictures. I think I will only use Flickr for personal photos, but you never know I may start one up for my classroom once I get out and see how it may effect the students. Maybe it would be a good place to put pictures of what is going on in the classroom for the students to share. The only other places I have put photos on the Internet is MySpace and Facebook. However, I no longer have a MySpace page. Facebook and Flickr are both easy sites to access, but when I think of Flickr I think "photos" and Facebook I think "personal". Facebook is a place where you can talk to friends, play games, and see what your other friends are thinking or feeling. Fickr seems more of an arts program by posting photography. The only concern I have about my photos being public on Flickr is that someone may try to take one of them and say it is his/hers. I know that's where Creative Commons come into play, but it's still something to think about.

Thing #6

I'm sure everyone has heard about YouTube at some point in life. When I first learned of YouTube I only thought to use it when I wanted to watch funny videos, but though the years I now know that it is far beyond just funny videos. Many people put "How to" videos on there from learning photograph to how to beat a video game level. I like this site, because you can find a video on just about anything. I could see this site being useful in an educational setting. Say a student is having trouble with a certain math problem, that student can go on YouTube and find a video of a similar problem that may take him/her step-by-step through it. It can give a student enough instruction that he/she may be able to figure out the original problem. A neat feature on this site is that it gives other related videos at the end of the one you may click on that may also be helpful. It also gives an area below the video for comments; this way, you can see whether this video has helped people before you.

Thing #5

To me, Web 2.0 is whatever we make it. It is a place where we can collaborate with other people in our profession, share ideas with friends or strangers, or simply browse. After reading some of the perspectives in d2l, I can see how using Web 2.0 can be helpful for us as teachers. Since we are entering the era of School 2.0, we need to have a good sense of computer based techniques to use in the classroom. I think that soon, many schools will doing everything on computers and the Internet. My mom, a middle school teacher, and I were talking about technology and using the Internet for education and she told me that she trys to use the Internet as little as possible. I wasn't really shocked when she said that, because she isn't a computer or Internet person; however, it got me thinking. She may be able to get by without having to use a lot of technology, but I know our generation of teachers may not last one year without technology.

Thing #4

Since the Internet was created mainly for the purpose of exchanging information, it only makes sense that blogging your thoughts or ideas would enhance interaction. When you blog or post something, you are essentially inviting people to comment on those thoughts whether you want them too or not. You also create a community when blogging or commenting, because 9 times out of 10 if you take time to read a blog and post on it you will come back to that persons page the next time. It begins a domino effect.

Some things I have found in the reading that seem to be important to me (keep in mind that I'm not a experienced commenter) are "share some about yourself when commenting" and "don't be afraid of commenting". I think that because I am new to the blogging and commenting scene these two topics seem important. Throughout this whole experience of commenting, I have been afraid of leaving a comment. I don't know what to say. Even though it is my opinion, I still don't want to say anything that might offend people. The reason I think that sharing some about yourself is important is because then the person reading your blog can connect with you without even really knowing you.

I first began reading and commenting on blogs from the people in my class, because we are all writing about the same thing and it would give me some practice before commenting on others. From the class I commented on Momma Desirae's (Thing #2), Lets see what we can learn Gilbert's (Thing #2), Jessica's Many Splendored Things (Thing #3), Jennifer's 23 Things for Summer (Thing #3), and Summer Brown's 23 Things (Thing #7). After I practiced with these, I began to venture out and find other blogs out of the classroom to comment on. The two that I found were Alice's Bucket List (It's manic) and Molly's Musings (Dear God). I chose these two blogs because they both touched my heart when I read them.

The comments I decided to make on the first 5 classmate's blog was just to say that I agreed with what they were saying or thinking about doing once we all become teachers. The other two comments that I made was the first thing I thought about after reading the blogs.

Thing #3

Having a blog page as a teacher would be beneficial for myself and my students. I would be able to post comments on there that maybe I forgot to mention in class or a student could make a post and get help from either me or even another student. Some who are absent would be able to get his/her assignments that same day so they may not get too far behind the others. After creating this blog, I think I will have one for when I finally become a teacher.

Thing #2

Creating this blog has been quite the experience. Since I have never done anything like this before, it has been a little hard for me to get everything on here. I'm figuring it out though! When I was thinking of what to name my blog, I was wanting it to be catchy, creative, and something that people might remember. With a little help I was finally able to settle on "Kelley's Kontemplations". Maybe it's a little dorky, but I like it. I really liked creating an avatar to resembles myself. It was kind of like a game. I wanted my avatar to resemble myself in some ways so that some of you may get an idea of what I look like. It's also fun to see me as a cartoon. With this being my first blog page, I would like some ideas on things to do or put on it! Thanks!!!

Thing #1

So this is my first blog ever! I'm not really sure how this is suppose to work but I have to give it a shot. After I watched the video about the 7 1/2 habits, I tried to think about which ones are hard and easy for me. I couldn't really point out any because I could use help in all of them. However, the one that I struggle with the most is probably "Habit #2: Accept responsibility for you own learning". I tend to be quiet in the classroom and hope that someone else will ask a question that I have. I did learn that there is a website that I can go to ,when I become a teacher, where students like me can send a question my computer to me without having to be afraid to speak up in class. The only bad thing about it is that I can't remember the name of that site. If anybody can help, please do!