I wanted to review Wikispaces because I think this could have helped me while I was planning our family reunion. A Wikispace is a resource in the Web 2.0 family where you can create simple web pages that groups, friends and families can edit together.
When I was planning my family reunion, the hardest part of the planning was pulling everyone together at the same time and making sure we had the same notes. My families just like many others are spread across this big beautiful country of ours and making contact is hard. If I created a Wikispace and invited all family members to join in, I would bet the planning of a reunion would be a breeze.
Wikispace sites are created with WYSIWYG technology so creating wikis are simple and fun to use. I’m sure it wouldn’t be hard to show my other family members how to use the editor. I think one of the coolest features of Wikispaces is the ability to add links to either photos you want to share or incorporate external links into sites. This is most important when it comes to pulling together where certain functions of reunions will take place. Through the family wikispace, we could place photos of the hall, park or hotels so other family members could have a clear picture of just what facilities are being booked for use. This would be great. I think then you could get more family members excited about coming.
With education, a Wikispace would be idea. As things stand, an MPS Technology Coordinator does not have access to create shared drives or folders. Using a wikispace a TC wouldn’t need to contact anyone. The teacher could create a wikispace and invite her /his students in on the discussion and learning process. And the internet is open to anyone and Wikispaces aren’t that expensive. I don’t know if the cost would come to be a major problem ($5 month or $50 /year) if the teacher setting it up is willing to pay for it. With budgets so tight right now I don’t know if any principal would agree to it (I would hope so if they could see the benefits; i.e. less paper, student collaboration, etc.)
Whatever the case, I think Wikispaces will get lots of use once more people know about it. This would definitely be a great learning tool and at the same time be lots of fun.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Gmail Calendar
Having to be in so many places at one time, it’s hard to keep up. Sometimes, I forget to show up. Because I’m one who doesn’t paper track well, an internet calendar would probably serve its’ purpose very well for me. With Google Calendar I would have the capability of sending myself notes that would remind me of where I’m supposed to be and at what time. Google Calendar pulls everything together from making schedules, planning events, and staying on tasks. The calendar can be viewed by day, week, or month. You can move forward and backward through the calendar and you can color code particular days and times. And the best thing about it is that you can share your calendar with others.
I have a very busy schedule. I work full time, part-time and attend school. Because of this, my phone is nearly never answered. My kids always leave messages that say “Ma, please call me back. I never get a chance to talk to you anymore.” If I had a goggle calendar, I could actually plug in time to stop and call loved ones rather than never stopping to make contacts with family and friends. I seriously am a work-a-holic. I stay so focused in not falling behind that I forget to stop and live. By the time I realize it, 2 weeks have gone by and I haven’t talked to family and friends.
With my work schedule a Gmail Calendar would be a nice addition and helpful tool. I have had a Gmail calendar created but just haven’t had the time to sit down a use it. It’s getting to the point now where I really should take advantage of having a better way to keep up with my schedule and the schedules of those I work with. I’m working as a grad-assistant with the Instructional Technology Department at Stritch. I work in the evenings so that people I work with are usually gone when I get there. Sometimes, I really need to have a face-to-face conversation rather than email. If I could just get my Gmail Calendar together, I could invite this staff in a have them plug their schedules in on my calendar. That way, I could plan my time better and have access to their schedules and I could catch up with them when I need to.
Another feature of Gmail Calendar is the ability to send invitations and get RSVPs from those you’ve sent an invitation to. I would use this with family for sure. This could be a really nice tool to use with Wikispace. Once I’ve gotten all the details and dates planned for our reunion, I could go out to a Gmail Calendar and plug those dates in and invite all family members in and they could have all the dates right there in black and white so they could keep up with the schedule of events.
I really don’t like spending countless hours on the computer. But I have a lot of nieces and nephews who send pictures and such to different email address within the family. It seems that the internet is the only way I can catch up with them. Using Gmail Calendar and a Wikispace would be great tools to keep us all together.
I have a very busy schedule. I work full time, part-time and attend school. Because of this, my phone is nearly never answered. My kids always leave messages that say “Ma, please call me back. I never get a chance to talk to you anymore.” If I had a goggle calendar, I could actually plug in time to stop and call loved ones rather than never stopping to make contacts with family and friends. I seriously am a work-a-holic. I stay so focused in not falling behind that I forget to stop and live. By the time I realize it, 2 weeks have gone by and I haven’t talked to family and friends.
With my work schedule a Gmail Calendar would be a nice addition and helpful tool. I have had a Gmail calendar created but just haven’t had the time to sit down a use it. It’s getting to the point now where I really should take advantage of having a better way to keep up with my schedule and the schedules of those I work with. I’m working as a grad-assistant with the Instructional Technology Department at Stritch. I work in the evenings so that people I work with are usually gone when I get there. Sometimes, I really need to have a face-to-face conversation rather than email. If I could just get my Gmail Calendar together, I could invite this staff in a have them plug their schedules in on my calendar. That way, I could plan my time better and have access to their schedules and I could catch up with them when I need to.
Another feature of Gmail Calendar is the ability to send invitations and get RSVPs from those you’ve sent an invitation to. I would use this with family for sure. This could be a really nice tool to use with Wikispace. Once I’ve gotten all the details and dates planned for our reunion, I could go out to a Gmail Calendar and plug those dates in and invite all family members in and they could have all the dates right there in black and white so they could keep up with the schedule of events.
I really don’t like spending countless hours on the computer. But I have a lot of nieces and nephews who send pictures and such to different email address within the family. It seems that the internet is the only way I can catch up with them. Using Gmail Calendar and a Wikispace would be great tools to keep us all together.
Flickr
In today’s world looks matter; that is to the students of today. The internet puts the world at our students’ fingertips. And the most important part of being to students is that no matter who sees them or who they talk to whether face-to-face (which is seldom), cell phone or on the internet, they must look good. Flickr is one of the Web 2.0 resources that students can use to prove they not only look good but can express themselves in an intelligent matter by using images as a means of expression.
Flickr (www.flickr.com) is stated to be one of the most well-known photo-sharing sites available according to the article Photo-sharing and clip-art written by Terry Freedman. Having thousands of photos available expands the horizon of incorporating the norm of clip-art into a piece of work.
In education today, I think our students are busting at the seams to express themselves.
But I believe the many standards placed on education are beginning to bore our students. I always hear students say, “I’m bored or this stuff is gay” when talking about either a teacher or the class assignment in particular. Students always come into my office just to talk. When I lend an ear, I can tell it was just a brief escape they needed before going to the next ‘boring’ class.
I introduced our computer teacher to Flickr. I showed her how students could use the tags to find particular images they might like to use in a project she has assigned. I also shared Terry Freedman’s article with her as a means to answer questions about how to properly use the photos. I told her I thought an interesting assignment for students would be to design a PowerPoint presentation of a particular state and research the cost of living, pictures of the area itself, any pictures that represent schools, neighborhoods etc. and to outline the relevant information to each. Using the normal clipart, this would be kind of difficult to do or would limit the creativity of the project. This teacher thought her students would like using Flickr to find images. She said Flickr would give presentations a personal touch. She saw Flickr as a tool to help students open up.
I think if a tool like this can open the minds of students and help build confidence than it definitely has to be incorporated into the learning process. Technology is not going to go away. And we as adults must introduce it to our kids rather than our students finding it for themselves. If we as adults begin to explore the Web 2.0 resources that our children will eventually find, I believe our students would be more apt to use the resources correctly rather than using them without being mindful of the dangers.
Flickr (www.flickr.com) is stated to be one of the most well-known photo-sharing sites available according to the article Photo-sharing and clip-art written by Terry Freedman. Having thousands of photos available expands the horizon of incorporating the norm of clip-art into a piece of work.
In education today, I think our students are busting at the seams to express themselves.
But I believe the many standards placed on education are beginning to bore our students. I always hear students say, “I’m bored or this stuff is gay” when talking about either a teacher or the class assignment in particular. Students always come into my office just to talk. When I lend an ear, I can tell it was just a brief escape they needed before going to the next ‘boring’ class.
I introduced our computer teacher to Flickr. I showed her how students could use the tags to find particular images they might like to use in a project she has assigned. I also shared Terry Freedman’s article with her as a means to answer questions about how to properly use the photos. I told her I thought an interesting assignment for students would be to design a PowerPoint presentation of a particular state and research the cost of living, pictures of the area itself, any pictures that represent schools, neighborhoods etc. and to outline the relevant information to each. Using the normal clipart, this would be kind of difficult to do or would limit the creativity of the project. This teacher thought her students would like using Flickr to find images. She said Flickr would give presentations a personal touch. She saw Flickr as a tool to help students open up.
I think if a tool like this can open the minds of students and help build confidence than it definitely has to be incorporated into the learning process. Technology is not going to go away. And we as adults must introduce it to our kids rather than our students finding it for themselves. If we as adults begin to explore the Web 2.0 resources that our children will eventually find, I believe our students would be more apt to use the resources correctly rather than using them without being mindful of the dangers.
For My Visitors
I want to give you some feedback on a few Web 2.0 resources we reviewed in class. I hope after reading these reviews you will get a better picture of Web 2.0 stuff. Along the sidebar, I've included a heading called 'Reviews'. Click on each and see if you can read my reviews.
Feel free to comment if you want.
Thanks,
EMarie
Feel free to comment if you want.
Thanks,
EMarie
Try and Try Again!
With the last class, we were introduced to doing podcast. Podcast are a short recording creating thru a Web 2.0 source. I attempted to use Gcast. Dave used Gcast as an example in class and each one of us were to create a short podcast and plug it into our blogs.
I recorded my podcast 3 times and had trouble accessing it. I was hoping to get the podcast uploaded because I really wanted to hear how it would sound. After three tries, I gave up. Maybe I'll grab hold of it a little later even after class. I'm going to try to find some time to keep up with my blog site.
Well, signing off for now!!! EMarie
I recorded my podcast 3 times and had trouble accessing it. I was hoping to get the podcast uploaded because I really wanted to hear how it would sound. After three tries, I gave up. Maybe I'll grab hold of it a little later even after class. I'm going to try to find some time to keep up with my blog site.
Well, signing off for now!!! EMarie
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Back to basics
The holiday break is over and it's time to get back to the basics. With the unfortunate tragedy in Virginia, it was really something to hear that students were blogging immediately. I'm thinking the topic of blogging this tragedy will probably come up in class. Maybe I can get some of my bloggers to come out and voice a few opinions.
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Educational Blogging
I want to incoporate some of the educational information about blogging into my blog space. As you can see on the side, I have a couple links to educational blogs. On our instructors site, he has posted questions for which we should make responses. I would like to give all of you who visit my site a couple pieces of this insite. In replying to two of my classmates blog post, I wanted to give yall a better understanding of how blogs are used in the educational world.
We have been looking at quite a bit of information regarding the Web 2.0 world. Web 2.0 is a world where 'virtual' interaction takes place out on the web rather than just using the web in a one-way situation conversation so to say. You get to communicate with others on information you're looking for rather just finding information and coming away not quite sure if that's what you want or not.
One of the Web 2.0 pieces we looked at is called Wiki. Wiki comes means 'quick' which is derived from the Hawiaan word quick. Wiki is an on-line enclyclopedia. What makes this enclycopedia unique is that people out on the web can post to it. They give their definitions of words and then link to sources and other information.
One of the students in my class name Chris said he could use a Wiki space in his classroom as a way to further develop students writing and their thought patterns. Chris said that student's would have to give an explanation of how they found information and then list procedures they took to get to the answers they listed.
I think this would be very helpful for students. Having students write out their information from step 1 through 10 is the way it should be done anyway. But most times, students always put short phrases or incomplete sentences down and paper and then expect for the teacher to say make assumptions or complete the sentence themselves. Using a Wiki would help them see there is a proper way to answer questions.
Another Web 2.0 piece we look at is called Flickr. Flickr is an on-line search engine for images. Any and everybody could import their images (pictures, graphics etc) into this site and tag them by using labes. Say for example someone wanted a picture of a fish (a bluegill) and couldn't find it out on the web. Some one who likes to fish could have taken a picture of this big bluegill they caught and then post it in Flickr for the whole world to see. And anyone who is looking for a picture of a bluegill could easily find it under a label called fish.
Laura from our class said she would use Flickr as a way for students to do research. Students would have to go out to Flickr and then use the tags listed and grab particular pictures.
Having students search in the same area would keep them from coming across so many unwanted images and cut down the time it takes looking rather than getting the assignment done.
I think Flickr is a pretty good idea. Sometimes you just want a picture for the oddest things. People put all kinds of unique images in Flickr. Most times, you want a more natural, true to life image rather than a painted picture that says nothing.
Go ahead my visitors and give some of this educational stuff and little view. There's a lot out there. I'm going to add more of the educational links out there. Take a look!
We have been looking at quite a bit of information regarding the Web 2.0 world. Web 2.0 is a world where 'virtual' interaction takes place out on the web rather than just using the web in a one-way situation conversation so to say. You get to communicate with others on information you're looking for rather just finding information and coming away not quite sure if that's what you want or not.
One of the Web 2.0 pieces we looked at is called Wiki. Wiki comes means 'quick' which is derived from the Hawiaan word quick. Wiki is an on-line enclyclopedia. What makes this enclycopedia unique is that people out on the web can post to it. They give their definitions of words and then link to sources and other information.
One of the students in my class name Chris said he could use a Wiki space in his classroom as a way to further develop students writing and their thought patterns. Chris said that student's would have to give an explanation of how they found information and then list procedures they took to get to the answers they listed.
I think this would be very helpful for students. Having students write out their information from step 1 through 10 is the way it should be done anyway. But most times, students always put short phrases or incomplete sentences down and paper and then expect for the teacher to say make assumptions or complete the sentence themselves. Using a Wiki would help them see there is a proper way to answer questions.
Another Web 2.0 piece we look at is called Flickr. Flickr is an on-line search engine for images. Any and everybody could import their images (pictures, graphics etc) into this site and tag them by using labes. Say for example someone wanted a picture of a fish (a bluegill) and couldn't find it out on the web. Some one who likes to fish could have taken a picture of this big bluegill they caught and then post it in Flickr for the whole world to see. And anyone who is looking for a picture of a bluegill could easily find it under a label called fish.
Laura from our class said she would use Flickr as a way for students to do research. Students would have to go out to Flickr and then use the tags listed and grab particular pictures.
Having students search in the same area would keep them from coming across so many unwanted images and cut down the time it takes looking rather than getting the assignment done.
I think Flickr is a pretty good idea. Sometimes you just want a picture for the oddest things. People put all kinds of unique images in Flickr. Most times, you want a more natural, true to life image rather than a painted picture that says nothing.
Go ahead my visitors and give some of this educational stuff and little view. There's a lot out there. I'm going to add more of the educational links out there. Take a look!
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