Web 2.0

My final thoughts on this class is that I am thrilled that it is over!  I hope that I never take a class online like this again.  I have learned several things that I think will be useful, but many things that I will never look at again. I hope to take what I have learned and apply it my classroom really soon.   

I realize that this is out of order and I am very sorry, but I just got my microphone yesterday and just completed this task.  I of course was afraid of doing a podcast simply because I have never done anything like it.  I was pleasantly surprised to see that it was wasn’t has bad as I had anticipated!  I think I am now more technologically advanced than I have ever been before!  I also put off buying a microphone this entire course, thinking I would find someone with one, but now am very happy that I invested in one.  Not only does it give me access to a variety of things on the web, but my son loved recording his own “podcast” yesterday and listening to it.  I think that students would also love this.  I hope to use this in my classroom very soon!

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I think this activity the classroom 2.0 would be a great resource for professional learning.  Just while looking around in it I discovered several articles that I could benefit from reading.  I read one on teaching phonics, which I do each day.  It is always great to hear other teacher’s opinions on how to teach certain students or to get ideas for those that one way is not working. 

I really enjoy reading my Infinite Thinking blog each week in my reader.  Each week it is written by someone different and they share very interesting things.  This week they focused on women in technology.  It begins with the assumption that many people do not know the women’s names who have been influential in technology.  It tells of one and then goes on to share websites that you coudl use to find more information on the women in this role.

Pageflakes was an interesting activiity.  I was personally not as excited about it as the Google Doc. website, but thought it could be very useful.  I think this would be a great thing to have for your classroom to give to parents of young children and to involve older students with.  On my new page I added things that were relevent to my life such as a blog from toddler moms, which was very interesting to read, and then things on elementary education.  I also added the interesting photos from flickr.  I think the website is great and could be useful in the classroom.  For parents you could include different blogs about the age of the students and possibly connect parents with other parents who may be experiencing some of the same things. 

Google Doc what another wonderful tool. I have been impressed with most of the websites we have learned about, but this may be my favorite. I can’t count how many times, I have needed something at school that I have saved on my computer at home, school list, lesson plans, etc. It would be wonderful to be able to type them somewhere that I can access anywhere! This would also be a wonderful place for grade levels to type activities, checklists, etc. and could share with each other and then each teacher could simply add their twist to it! Another great idea for Google Doc would be to type lesson plans and save and share with your principal, if that is something they would like access too. I will be using this all of the time. It will also be very beneficial to me because I job share and what better place to type documents for my co worker and I to share and communicate.

Podcasting.  Yet another new term for me!  This was really cool to me.  I think podcasting could be used in so many ways in the education field.  I looked at the EPN, Education Podcast Network, and it had some really useful podcast for students and adults.  I saw several tutorial type videos.  I watched one on how to use one of the t something calculators.  That would have been very beneficial to me in college!  I also really enjoyed the Podcast Alley.  It had  variety of podcast, but I viewed several that were great for parents.  I am really nervous about the upcoming making of podcasts, I enjoyed looking for them, but not sure about making them!

The Library Thing was intersting.  It is amazing to me each time we look at a new website that so much information is available for “free”.  I don’t know of many things that could be done with a young class and this website, but for older children and adults I think the possibilities are endless.  I know that as an educator, we often have book studies and I thing the Library Thing would be a great place to begin for something like that.  I also think it would be great for anyone trying to find out what is out there and what is worth reading.  I also thought the part to find out about events close around was pretty neat. 

The delicioussight was unreal.  I only wish that I had known about it when I was writing my Thesis.  The amount of information is wonderful and so easy to find and “tag”.  I think it will be a wonderful tool to use as a teacher.  I found several math websites that had great games for kindergarten’s and a lot of information on Dr. Seuss that was very relevant a couple of weeks ago.  I will definitely use this sight again and again. http://delicious.com/kcloud33