BP18_20091101_Using_Blogs_in_Education

I had never blogged before this class. I never had given blogging a second thought to be more specific. I never guessed blogging could have a place in education.

My first thought of using blogs in education would be for the benefit of the educators. This can be a huge forum for teachers to ask questions, give information, received information, and so without really using any extra time from their day. Blogging can be helpful because you can visit the blog when it is convenient to you and you can receive a response or comment when it’s convenient to the other party. No more trying to coordinate schedules.

Blogs can also be used a forum for students. The students can communicate with each other about lessons and they can communicate with their teacher asking any questions that they may need for class (or homework).

Blogs can be a way for students to communicate who live far apart. If you are learning about a marine lesson in Dakota, you can blog with students in California or the Caribbean to get more information directly. A great learning experience because it helps to teach students how to communicate and how to gather information.

I think blogging would be a great opportunity for ELL students to practice their English. Blogs give the opportunity to learn grammar, spelling, and access to their new language in a visual manner.

Blogging can be a great tool in the classroom and can be an asset in the learning enviroment.

BP17_20091103_Web_2.0_Commercial_Video_Prezi.com

BP16_20091103_Web_Tool_Blog_Post_Toondoo.com

Political cartoons have such a strong place in history that it is rare that my lessons do not have one tucked in somewhere. I like to incorporate analyzing, current events, comparing, and drawing political cartoons for my students in most of the sections that we learn about.

With that, I set out to locate a web tool that could help my students create a cartoon in class. Often, students complain about not being able to draw well and this is a solution to that. I wont hear anyone complaining that their product wont come out well because they only know how to draw stick figures…

I happened across a great web 2.0 tool named Toondoo.com. This is a free interactive web tool that has so many options; my students will enjoy creating their next political cartoons, (enjoy even more than I am sure they do now).

Once you create a user domain, you are able to log in and create straight away. The site makes it very easy to start your comic. There is a ‘people’ category that allows you to choose the characters that you would like to have star in your comic. You may choose from animals that are humanized, famous faces, headshots, and even stick figures. From there, you may choose from backgrounds, cityscapes, colors, special effects, and themes.

The students will enjoy being creative with this web tool and its ease of use. There is another section to Toondoo.com, it is called toondoospaces. I have not had the opportunity to explore that section because there seems to be a cost involved. Toondoospaces caught my attention because this lists information on how to utilize the site in the classroom.

Toondoospaces boasts that it is the best way to bring comics into the classroom to engage students. It also lists that there are safe and secure clip art available through this section. There is even a section for special education clipart; and my favorite, user activity monitoring. I always need that handle on what the kids are doing when I am helping someone on the other side f the room…

I think that I may have to break the budget and look into the cost of toodoospaces.

toondoo.com (2007). The cartoon strip creator. Retrieved on November 11, 2009 fromwww.toondoo.com/Home.do?param=log&msg=1

BP15_20091103_Peer_Blog_Review_3_w_Roxy_Animoto

Animoto

Presentation created by © Roxanne Santiago

Animoto is a web 2.0 tool that automatically generates professionally produced videos with motion design. The videos that are created are unique each time. No two videos are alike. The user selects what photos, videos and soundtrack they want to use and Animoto does the rest.


This web application can be useful for back-to-school nights. I can have each computer in my art room display different works of art for each grade level so parents can see what their child will be creating in that grade level. I can also use this presentation for individual student portfolios. Students can take photos or scan in their artwork to create their own Animoto presentation to share with family and friends at the end of the year. Examples of art work can be shared with other art teachers in the district or posted on my blog to share with others around the world. I can even take video clips of students creating their works of art and import it along with the photos to make a more appealing video piece.


Once your video has been created, there are more options available. You can re-edit your video to get a totally different effect by a click of a button, download it, or send it as a greeting card or receive the embedded code to place the video on a blog, site, or social network.


When you sign-up for a free account, you have access to Animoto Shorts. These videos are 30-seconds in length. You have unlimited access to produce, remix, and share as many videos as you'd like. With full-length videos you can do the same but this allows the videos to be as long as a whole song and are downloadable.

Right now Animoto is offering all educators a classroom code for an All-Access pass for producing videos for assignments and presentations at your school. Here is the website to sign-up, http://animoto.com/education/getting_started

Posted by Roxy at 10:34 PM
1 comments:

Toni McBride said...
Hello Roxy-I was curious to see this site based on your blog, so I had a visit. I agree it is a nice tool to have access to but I was a little disappointed that it was not a free site.

True you are allowed some access at no charge but it seems to be just a teaser. I want more but I am being a little budget conscience these days and really like free sites.

I have created a mini-video and love how you can create from their choices or from your own video. I love too the music add on option-a great effect. I am sold on the sight.

I will continue to lay and learn ways I can use this site in my lessons. I know my students will enjoy creating with this site also. Thanks or the information again.
November 13, 2009 11:13 PM

BP14_20091103_Peer_Blog_Review_2_w_Romel_Survey_Monkey

Sunday, November 8, 2009
BP8_20091108_Web 2.0: Survey Monkey

Getting to know 20+ students each school year is a challenge. I try to find out something about each one as the school year goes along. Some things I find out late in the school year that would be helpful to know at the beginning of the year. There are lots of getting to know you games and ice breakers that help get the kids out of their shells a little bit at the beginning of the year but the knowledge of who the kids really are is still a mystery. I was thinking of how I could get to know more info about the kids without having to take up a large amount of class time to do it and I thought that a survey would be a good way to find out about the kids.
I created a survey in my last course and thought that it could be a beneficial tool to use to get to know my students more quickly at the beginning of the year. The Web 2.0 tool I liked was Survey Monkey. It allows you to create a survey very easily and quickly. You can create your own questions, design your own rating system and provide a space for comments as often as you would like throughout the survey.
My idea:
My plan is to begin thinking of things that I would like to know about my students early in the school year so that I am better able to address their needs. I would include things like who they live with, how much they like school, etc. I would then take a look at the information I’ve gathered and use it as a way to connect with the kids early in the school year.
Future idea:
I think creating a survey for my parents to complete may help me create a better home/school connection. If I designed a survey asking parents what they expect for the school year, how they feel about school, etc I can better connect with the parents of my students and in turn hopefully create a better working relationship with the families.
Posted by Romel at 5:16 PM

Toni McBride said...
Romel: How perfect is your timing! I have been planning to have my students complete a survey in class in reference to my AR.

The delay is because I thought that I needed to create, type, and copy the survey and I have not really had the time for that. My goal is to complete a survey this weekend and vola-here is your review of Survey Monkey.

I have played around on the sight because of your blog post and it fits for me. You are correct in your description of how user friendly the sight is. I will now be using this tool to create the survey I need now and I also will be borrowing your idea about using a survey as a getting to know the students tool. Thanks for the very useful info.

November 13, 2009 10:36 PM

BP13_20091103_Peer_Blog_Review_1_w_Christina_Delicious

sunday, november 8, 2009

BP7_20091108_Social_Bookmarking

Social Bookmarking: Embracing Web2.0 in the Classroom

As educators some of us already use Bookmarks or Favorites in our computers to save Web sites that we frequently use. However, Social Bookmarking is about collecting and storing bookmarks online, tagging them with keywords so they become searchable and shareable with others. Today there are so many social bookmarking sites, but the most popular is Del.icio.us.

Del.icio.us, like all social bookmarking tools, can be used for many different purposes and in many different ways. I’ve been using Del.icio.us for quite a while now in my school. I have a delicious account for my school where my students can find different links to websites according to subject, grade level, and also games and activities that go with the curriculum. In using this application in the classroom I have found it to be useful in many ways. It can show students resources for any project they are working on. It allows them to share not only the resources, but also allows them to leave a note to one another about what they found helpful from that resource. It can give the students direction when searching for information. It also gives teachers the ability to share sites that are not only age appropriate but are approved for finding specific information.

I also use this social bookmarking tool to build a growing list, which is not only produced by me but, also by my students and other teachers in the building. I believe that developing self-organizational skills in today’s world of overwhelming technology information is key to enhance your professional and personal learning practice.

References

EDUCASE Learning Initiative, 7 things you should know about….. SOCIAL BOOKMARKING.
Retrieved November 6, 2009 from
http://educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7001.pdf.

Education World, Sites to See: Social Bookmarking.
Retrieved November 6, 2009 from
http://www.education-world.com/a_tech/sites/sites080.shtml

BlogSpot Fequently Asked Questions, Social Bookmarking in Education.
Retrieved November 6, 2009 from
http://frequanq.blogspot.com/2005/02/social-bookmarking-in-education.html

Posted by CNavarrete at 9:45 PM
1 comments:

Toni McBride said...
Christina-I like how you listed the uses for a social bookmarking site for school use. I have not used something like this before and although I like the idea of bookmarking and sharing, I was not exactly sure if / how i would use it for my classroom.

Thanks to you however, I am reminded of how social bookmarking can help organize my students when working on projects and give them a starting starting point with approved sites.

I have not learned all of the tools available on Delicious but like the idea that the students can leave messages for each other. I like the idea of community learning here.

Thank you for adding to my limited list of uses for social bookmarking in my classroom. I have a research project scheduled in the near future for my class and I am in the process of organizing some bookmarks on Delicious to help move my students forward on their lesson.
November 14, 2009 1:24 AM

BP12_20091102_Quizlet_web_2.0_tool_#3

Quizlet.com is a great web 2.0 tool for learning vocabulary. This lesson creator is not limited to language arts and can be structured to accommodate any discipline that requires new words to be learned.

As a history teacher, there are always new terms that the students need to learn. Using quizlet.com will help students master the terms at his or her own pace. The site is an interactive that helps with studying and testing.

With quizlet, you are able to create your own flashcard sets. Giving the option of allowing others to view flashcards, which is great for classroom use. You can cater the vocabulary to meet each class’s needs.

The quizlet web tool allows you to type in the vocabulary word but then gives the option of creating a specific definition or the option for using one of several definitions they have on file, a great time savior for the creator.

Once the vocabulary has been created, there are several study modes to choose from. Familiarize is an electronic version of the traditional flashcard where the student can view and review as often as needed.

The “learn” option gives the definition and allows you to add the word in the space provided. There is immediate feedback showing if the word added is correct or incorrect. Once the student has gone through the entire list, a percentage is given showing how many definitions were matched correctly and how many were not.

After the student has had the opportunity to learn the vocabulary, they then have the opportunity to quiz themselves with interactive review games. My personal favorite is play scatter. This review game gives the student several definitions and several words scattered all over the page and the student must lay the word over the correct definition for that set to disappear. Once all sets disappear and the screen is blank, a timed score appears. The student is then given the opportunity to replay the game and beat their current time. I love this example of positive reinforcement. If you use quizlet, I am sure you will become hooked as I did.

Quizlet.com. (2009). Welcome to Quizlet. Retrieved on October 21, 2009 from http://quizlet.com/

BP11_20091102_Prezi.com_Web_2.0_#2

Prezi.com is a great tool for creating exciting and impressive presentations. I have traditionally used PowerPoint to create my presentations for my students during note taking and for parents during parent teacher conferences. Since I have discovered Prezi.com, I am hooked on creating something more.

There are three membership options. The one I chose was free of charge. For what I need the site for, the free version is all that I need.

The prezi web 2.0 tool allows you to create moving presentations that will impress anyone. You are able to choose from several background designs and templates. Almost similar to PowerPoint, but the animation is cleverer.

There is a tutorial available, which helps you, construct your first presentation, the tutorial is strongly recommended. There are tutorials for learning the prezi interface, a tutorial which gives ideas for creating a good prezi, and there is even a full prezi manual available for those who prefer to read through and learn how to use the site. There are also several prezi examples to help give you ideas towards creating your own presentation.

Once you learn the basics through the tutorials, you are then prompted on to the creation section. Creating the prezi is half of the fun. It can become time consuming and I suggest that you have all of your information at hand to help creating your presentation. There is even a GREAT web 2.0 presentation as an example: Web 2.0 in the Classroom.

Once you have completed your presentation, you have several more options. You make keep your presentation private or you can make your presentation public. I believe there are more options that these two but with paid memberships. There is another good presentation listed under the examples: How can we measure Teaching. I was at first a little intimidated by this web 2.0 tool but now I want to use it for every thing. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Prezi.com. (2009). Prezi-the zooming presentation editor. Retrieved on November 3, 2009 from http://prezi.com/

BP10_20091102_Thinkifinty_Web_2.0_tool_#1

Thinkfinity.org is a site that I just learned this past week. I have not had the chance to use this web tool as of yet. I am looking forward to utilizing it for many many lessons. I have had the chance however to do some exploring on the site. I think this is one of the best tools available to educators.

This site is provided free of charge by the Verizon foundation. The site is user friendly to educators, students and parents. I have only explored the site as an educator.

Entering as an educator allows you access to hundreds of lessons that have been verified through the foundation and helps provide activities and interactives as lesson plan supplements.

Once I entered the site as an educator, I had the option of choosing the discipline I needed, I also had the option of narrowing my search for lessons that provided printables, gave an activity or was an interactive. I chose to search through all. The site also gives you an option to choose the lesson provider via several educational partners. Again, I chose to search through all.

The site not only gave me complete lessons on my topic, it also gave me the tool to choose my states appropriate teaching standards. Very helpful!

I plan on visiting this site for each new section to help supplement interactive lessons and include activities for sections that need something to help grab a little more attention towards the content.

I have already told teachers that I work with about this web 2.0 tool. It will definitely become an asset, I will use it to help build onto the activities that I already have. It is nice to mix things up here and there and having access to this site affords me several options.

Thinkfinity. (2009). Free lesson plans and educational resources. Retrieved on November 4, 2009 from http://www.thinkfinity.org/

BP9_20091102_Social_Bookmarking

Social Bookmarking, never heard of it before which is very sad, considering I wanted to integrate technology into my classroom-immediately. Not utilizing social bookmarking while trying to add technology today is like having a bookstore without a catalog of your store. You know there are books there for different needs but finding the information you needed in a timely fashion is almost impossible.

Bookmarking allows information that has been researched to be readily available. Using web 2.0 tools to incorporate specific topic searches or referenced material is brilliant. If your class is completing a project on a specific topic, the teacher may have a compiled list of sights that the students need to visit or the students themselves compile of list of sites giving addition information on their subject. “So not only are they collecting sites for themselves, they are collaboratively building a classroom resource” (Richardson, 2007).

Social bookmarking can go beyond the uses of the classroom and can be used by department (social studies / science / honors math), school (university / high school / elementary etc.), club (senior class / student government / the debate team), or even per school district.

In a social bookmarking system, users save links to web pages that they want to remember and/or share. These bookmarks are usually public, and can be saved privately, shared only with specified people or groups, shared only inside certain networks, or another combination of public and private domains. The allowed people can usually view these bookmarks chronologically, by category or tags, or via a search engine.” (Newschoolnetworkmarketing, 2009).

I now plan on using social bookmarking with all of my classes. I know now that I will be able to connect subjects and topics by tagging the links too identify what is being learned. I can use social bookmarking as a tool for my students to gain additional information outside of the classroom, which will make them more connected to the learning process.

It is not all as perfect as it sounds. The only drawback I can tell would be trying to get all of your students on the same page with tagging information. “There are no specifications made for creating tags. The user can create them however he/she wants. Which poses a problem for someone searching for that topic, but who doesn't have the correct tag, or may be spelling the tag incorrectly” (Molson, 2009). Perhaps a brief overview of what is expected when using social bookmarking is best. The guidelines for tagging information can be included in this overview and that should be the start of a beautiful relationship with social bookmarking in your lessons.

Delicious.com (2009). Del.icio.us. Retrieved on November 1, 2009 from
http://delicious.com/

Diigo.com. (2009). Diigo. Retrieved on November 8, 2009 from http://www.diigo.com/

Library.thinkquest.org. (n/d). Endangered Bees Gallery. Retrieved on October 30, 2009
from http://library.thinkquest.org/07aug/02034/gallery.html

Molson. (2009). Social bookmarking and beyond. Retrieved November 6, 2009 from
http://molson.glogster.com/Social-Bookmarking/

Newschoolmarketing.com. (2009). Blogging and social bookmarking. Retrieved on
November 7, 2009 from http://newschoolnetworkmarketingblog.com/blogging/blogging-and-social-bookmarking/

Richardson, William. (2007). Taming the beast: Social bookmarking. Retrieved on
November 4, 2009 from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/
CA6420397.html

BP8_2009112_Peer_Blog_Review-Chuck_Social_Bookmarking

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2009

BP6_2009112_Social Bookmarking
Several years ago my school librarian asked me if I knew anyone that could use the card catalog cabinet that housed the index cards of all
the books in the library and their location. They were going high tech putting all that information on the computer! I thought it would make a nifty hardware cabinet for nuts, bolts, washers and screws (ex Metal Shop teacher mentality).

One article I found in the publication Library Journal discussed the need of librarians to take the computerized index card scenario to the next level by incorporating social bookmarking and tagging as a means of helping librarians bridge the gap between the library's need to offer authoritative, well-organized information and their patrons' web experience (Rethlefsen, September 2007). Librarians found that patrons regularly preferred the user-friendly search features of Google compared to the typically rigid research methodologies employed by libraries across the nation. In order to meet the needs of their patrons and still provide valid, viable sources, they have turned to social bookmarking products such as Deli.cio.us creating links on their websites so patrons can find information on any number of topics just by clicking on a tag. These tags are replacing or supplementing traditional subject guides and pathfinders.

Rethlefsen, M. (2007, September 15). Social Bookmarking and tagging boost participation. Library Journal. Retrieved November 6, 2009, from http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6476403.html

With millions of websites available at the click of a mouse, the capability of social bookmarking provides educators a time saving advantage by narrowing down useful sites for their programs. Though helpful, the site lists generated through the tagging process may provide information that is either too divergent or overwhelming (information overload).

Will Richardson (2008, August 1), “Learner in Chief” at Connective Learning and the author of Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms gave some insight that may be useful to educators. He notes “Where I have had more success, at least in managing the flow, is in subscribing to trusted sources…” In doing so he limits the number of additional sources added as a result of the tagging process. This may be a useful concept as newcomers to social bookmarking.

Richardson, W. (2008, August 1), Tags vs. trusted sources. Weblogg-ed. Retrieved November 7, 2009 from
http://weblogg-ed.com/2005/08/02/

The role of Delicious in Education
Creating Significant Learning Experiences



I found an extremely detailed and thorough lecture/paper written by Gabriela Grosseck, Ph.D., a senior lecturer with the University of West Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania. This paper approaches Delicious as a social bookmarking Web 2.0 tool from an educator’s perspective. It begins with setting up an account, continues with advantages and disadvantages of Delicious, and gives viable reasons why Delicious can support both teaching and learning. Check it out.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/2413801/The-Role-of-Delicious-in-Education
POSTED BY CMILLS AT 7:40 AM
1 COMMENTS:

Toni McBride said...
@ Chuck, I have to admit, I am one of those who would rather use a google search on-line over the libraries search system. Tagging makes it much easier to find information you are looking for. The school I work at does not have social bookmarking although they are changing their system to be available on-line for students to utilize anywhere. I do know that they have added electronic books to their catalog...

When I first heard of social bookmarking, I didn't have an opinion either way, it was just another thing on the web. Boy do I feel like such a typical dinosaur.

Now, of course I am an advocate for social bookmarking. I have been speaking to my department supervisor about incorporating something for our department and helping me to allow the powers that be to open up the bookmarking site's URL for student access. (it's blocked currently because it is a form of social networking-like Facebook).

Thank you for the information on the use of social bookmarking in the libraries, I will be having a discussion or tow with our media specialists about the updates that could be added to the system when they go online.

I feel so popular since I have started courses at Full Sail, I can see it in everyone's eyes that they can't wait to hear what we should be doing next to bring our school into the 21st Century for educating our future. ;p



NOVEMBER 8, 2009 2:57 PM

BP7_20091102_Media_Asset_Video

BP6_2009112_Flickr_Lesson

I am learning so many things this class that I feel my head may spin straight off. The newest tool is Flickr. I have played around with the web tool (that is Flickr), and I need more play time to figure it all out. I am not sure if I like the idea of having my personal photos published for anyone to view. Maybe I am still thinking the old school way. I know that people these days do not have that same sense of wary when posting their photos or videos. I work in a high school I see the students taking photos or videos of everything, then you hear how almost instantly these records have been posted for anyone to see. It blows my mind to think about how technology has changed and that my attitude towards this "voyeurism" way of life is so antiquated.

As a dinosaur, I still understand the need to reach students at their level, so I look at Flickr as a tool to help me with that. I want technology integrated in my classroom to the point of using the Web 2.0 tools as second nature (for me and for them). With that said, I researched lessons using Flickr and located something that I can integrate into my lessons; Snapshots in Time. Although the lesson information found is a lesson for maritime documentation, it can easily be integrated for historical reference and documentation.

The lesson's rationale states "Primary sources are invaluable to the work of researchers and historians. Examining primary sources from multiple perspectives is critical to better understanding the events and people of the past" (Smithsonian, June 2009).

I would take the components of this lesson and change its focus to the JIm Crow era and segregation. The instructions are divided into three sections. Section one is for the students to do a review. I would assign students to review de facto and de jour segregation during the Jim Crow south. Also the students will be instructed to compare different stories about a historical figure (ex: Billie Holiday) or an event.

Part two would instruct the students to identify examples of either forms of segregation within the student's community (ex. de facto segregation in the cafeteria or local neighborhoods). Then, the students will use technology to record examples of either segregation within the student's community.

Step three would be for students to describe segregation activities across the country. Once that is completed the the students will compare segregation activities to those of the past.

The students will learn how to identify the source of historical documents or narratives, will be able to identify central questions that the historical narratives address, formulate questions to focus their inquiry or analysis, compare and contrast differing sets of ideas / values / behaviors, will be able to compare historical events to current events, will be able to consider multiple perspectives, and hypothesize influences of the past. Also, the students will understand the ethical, cultural and societal issues related through technology (Smithsonian, June 2009).

With this lesson, the students will be able to post their photos for a comparison and class discussion. Using Flickr as a tool for sharing the students findings can then later be compared to other historical events when learning about the Civil Rights Movement and desegregation. A similar lesson can be conducted to show examples of how society has changed and how the communities have become more diverse over time, showing examples again for class discussion.

Flickr can be used as a powerful tool in the classroom, that the students can utilize anywhere.


Library.thinkquest.org. (n/d). Endangered Bees Gallery. Retrieved on October 30, 2009 from http://library.thinkquest.org/07aug/02034/gallery.html

Smithsonian National Museum of natural History. (2009). Snapshots in time. Retrieved on November 4, 2009 fromhttp://americanhistory.si.edu/onthewater/pdf/OTW_educators_guide.pdf

BP5_20091101_Web_2.0_Researching_&_Blogging

For today’s challenge / assignment, I decided to look at the web tool option for life skill development for my students. I am a resource teacher and life skills fall into play. I am also a History teacher and of course my choice is based on that fact first. I have decided to utilize the Cee Vee application and created an assignment, which will allow some of my students their first experience with seeing a resume.

I have designed a lesson featuring WWII leaders. The assignment will be for each student to sign up for one world leader during WWII. The choices will be Stalin, General Tojo, Roosevelt, Churchill, Mussolini, and of course Hitler. Once the students have their world leader, they will research their person’s background and what lead them to the world leader position. Once researched, the students will begin to create a resume based on the information gathered. The main objective of the resume would be to apply for the position of world leader representing their country. The resumes will include education if any, qualifications, previous jobs and experiences, what they have to offer if accepted into the position, and personal references. Example: Hitler’s personal reference would be President Hindenburg.

The teaching point would be to give the students an understanding as to how each person came into the position of power. What they said that they could offer their countries, and experiences did they have that lead them to believe that they were the right persons for the job.

Initially I thought that assignment could be a project that the students would be able to do on their own. After evaluating the assignments components however, I have changed that into being an in class assignment which will allow proper guidance and support. I also decided to add a mini lesson discussing resumes and allowing the students to fully understand what a resume is and what it is suppose to do for a person. I am even considering adding on a role-play section where the student takes on the role of the person they researched and they get “interviewed” for the position. Maybe the class can take a vote on whether or not they earned the desired position based on the resume and interview performance.

I live the Cee Vee web tool because it is a site that has the resume template in place, the students simply need to fill in the required information. This is helpful practice, which will give them practice at a life skill they can take with them when they are applying for a job. Creating the lesson with the add on activities gives another life skill, interviewing. Using the web tool as a template allows students to understand what goes on a resume and provides information that is readily available as so not to leave anything out.

The Cee Vee web tool could be used in English class. Perhaps an assignment could be created where students would need to complete a resume for specific characters in a piece of literature that is being studied. This web tool could be used in other classes as well with similar lessons in mind. The career services department to help students develop resume skills can use the Cee Vee web tool. The web tool can be used in an after school curricular activity as well. For example, the Model UN or student government club can include resume projects for current world leaders. I believe the web tool here is not limited to just allowing people to create a personal resume, but to create a skill that can be adapted into part of their education.

Reference:
CeeVee. (2009). Cee Vee Profile. Retrieved on November 1, 2009 from
http://ceevee.com/edit/cv/

Library.thinkquest.org. (n/d). Endangered Bees Gallery. Retrieved on October 30, 2009 from http://library.thinkquest.org/07aug/02034/gallery.html

BP4_20091101_5_RSS_FEEDS

I am so new to this, I had to look up what a RSS feed was before I could contribute to the lesson requirement. I feel as if i am 100 years old. I need a dictionary and a manual to play with todays technology. That certainly was not me when I was mastering that Atari back in the day.

The assignment is to research and explain five RSS feeds in education. I first looked up my action research topic: technology in the classroom. I chose this subject first because my topic now is so broad and I am looking for ideas to make things narrower a bit. Once I accomplish this, I will know which route to begin my research in. I have tossed back and forth several ideas. Should I do technological equipment in the classroom or should I do the use of Web 2.0 in the classroom. I hope to figure it out soon, I think I am falling behind on the research portion of my AR requirements.

Next, I researched "how to" for blogging. I chose this search because it seems that this is what I will spend the next four weeks (at least) doing most of the time. I might as well learn how to do it correctly. And also because this something that i can incorporate into my lessons straight away. But again, I need to know what it is that I am doing.

The next educational search was for me as a teacher. I researched US History. I am looking for technological things that I can incorporate into my lessons on a continuos basis and not just here and there throughout the year. I came up with some great sites that I plan on combing through a little more thoroughly when I get a little extra time.

The next research was a tough one. What to search now? I needed to think outside of the box. So, that is what I researched: "Thinking outside of the box in education". The search results were not quite what I had hoped. I did see some information that will help with trying to engage my students on a constant basis. The ideas and discussions were not really outside of the box though. Too bad, I got a little excited when I first began the search.

My final research topic was virtual field-trips. I thought of this for two reasons. First, is because I live in Central NJ. As a US History teacher, this is a field trip jack pot. Washington's Crossing where George Washington crossed on Christmas and surprised the British. NYC where Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty are. Princeton NJ where homes were used as part of the underground railroad. Trenton NJ, the Trent House and Trenton Barracks of which both create reenactments from the early Revolutionary period. Philadelphia, the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Betsy Ross House, Ben Franklin walking tours, etc. etc. None of which I can take advantage of because of budget constraints. This is very difficult to swallow as an educator so close to so many great things for my students. What is the next best thing. Lets give virtual field trips search a try. Another research topic I plan on looking closer at in the near future. The second reason I researched virtual field trips is to see what is available via visiting with other classrooms in other countries. I would love for my students to have access to discussions with students in other parts of the world, learning from them, getting different points of views.

RSS feeds, offering the world at your finger tips.

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Using information technology to help with learning is not only a smart thing to do...it is the only way to tap into what the world has to offer.

I am currently attending Full Sail University to help enhance my teaching with technology skills. Before these courses, I thought I was pretty clever and was including modern technology to engage my students. Boy was I wrong. Attending Full Sail has awakened me to what including technology really means. And I am very thankful.

I used to show a PowerPoint presentation for notes or include a PowerPoint game for lesson reviews and thought I was doing something 21st Century. I now know better. The tools I learned with the first course alone puts my mediocre technology show to shame.

This course (ETC) is all about utilizing Web 2.0 resources. We seem to be focusing on blogging, which is very new to me. I have never blogged before these courses and now I am doing it publicly. It is all very intimidating and yet very exciting at the same time. It intimidates me because I don't want to do or say anything to make me look like a goof (unless I am attempting to be humorous on purpose which always make me look like a goof). It excites me because the learning potential is almost endless. I have been reviewing other blogs and I can't wait to become a comfortable blogger and hopefully become a positive contributor to the information highway.

I see that there are blogs for anything that you can imagine. I like the idea of sharing ideas with people all over the world. For my AR topic, I chose to discuss technology in the classroom. It is such a broad topic and I need to narrow it down so I know in what direct to focus my research on. At first I was thinking of technology equipment to engage students during lessons but now, I think I would like to focus on Web 2.0 technology that can be accessed almost anywhere.

I seem to jump around a bit and maybe it's the excitement of learning what it actually means to use 21st Century technology now. There are so many things I would like to accomplish and include for my students to become active participants in the learning process. But, where does one start to make a proper impact?

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