Thing #10

RSS and Newsreaders

     RSS and newsreaders is a great way for the busy person to keep up with the world. Now instead of wasting my time jumping from web-site to web-site I can stay connected using only a single piece of technology. Being able to choose what you want to follow is a great bonus too. I do not know how often I have gotten updates from sources of which I do not care about. Now, only those of my interest, which happens to be school right now, can be followed. Teachers can use RSS as a way to indroduce technology use to students. The teacher can assign certain blogs that students must read and react to whether it be online by leaving comments, or in the classroom with discussion. The teacher could even have a web-site that the students are expected to keep up with, and this is one of the ways that the students would be able to do that. RSS has made the busy persons life a little less stressful by putting all those things that one must just keep up with throughout the day in one spot. Most people like when the world comes to them. 
http://www.google.com/profiles/matthew.ciezki is my public page!!!

Thing #9

ImageChef.com Poetry Blender

     Image Chef made these images possible. What a fun and neat way to personalize photos and ideas. The process that one must follow in order to use these images is quite simple. One can just play around on the web site to find different ways of displaying information. Saving the picture with "save as" allows the picture to be saved to the desktop which can then be easily uploaded to be displayed elsewhere. A teacher could use this site for word association. Instead of the words Green Bay making up of the heart, a teacher could find different images and have them made up using the word that actually makes the shape. Another idea would be to use settings that may hold the attention of students; much like the stadium photo above for sport fans, but instead of a self portrait a teacher could say something to the effect of even a filled stadium understands the importance of Benjamin Franklin which could then lead the class into a discussion of electricity. Without Mr. Franklin all games would have to played during the sunlight hours.

 

Thing # 8

My Presentation

     Flickr and/or Flickr Mashups are both excellent tools that can be used in the classroom. A teacher could use it to introduce a new subject to students by using a key word that directly relates to the new subject; much like the above example. The searching of introduction material could be done by the class as a whole, or the teacher could split the class up into groups have them search for certain key words from the new material in order to allow the students to come up with their own ideas about what they are going to learn. Tools such as Splashr could be used by students, and teachers, to visual enhance presentations. Flickr could also be used to give students images in which they create stories using the photos provided, or the a teacher could use Flickr to make word association flash cards, or even a communication board.
     Sharing photos online is a great idea. It allows others the opportunity to experience something they may not have had the opportunity to do. Looking at pictures is a great way to share life, a great way to understand life. Playing with the various tools and setting up different presentations. The process was very simple; once again a key word, topic, or idea is all that is needed. Uploading the presentation to this blog... well, that is where using these tools got some what frustrating. The instructions to do so are not universal for the computer illiterate, and even after I did more research on how to upload a presentation the process was still unclear and unsuccessful. The concept/idea is great, but if it can not be used to maximize the learning opportunity for students then the concept/idea of Flickr and it;s tools are limited to extra curricular activities.

Thing #7

     

     I chose the above picture because I like the title the most, but I also like what the creator did to make it personal by adding words that describe what her ideas of happiness are. The word I used to find this image was happiness, and the title stuck out; "{ Happiness .. only real when shared ,,". Happiness is much more enjoyed when shared. Nobody likes to have a good time by themselves. The other thing I found neat about the photo is how the smiley face is drawn over post-its with one word written on them. This may be the creators way of saying happiness does not come in one way, shape, or form, but it can come from any direction at anytime.
     The only downside to Flickr is that in order to use and/or share a photo one must register for an account and wait on a license to get approved via Flickr contacts the originator. The membership is free, but when trying to upload a photo for an assignment I do not really want to wait two to seven days to know if I can use the image or not. So, if the image is not yet up I will come back and upload it when I get the approval.
     Overall Flickr is really easy to use, entertaining by-self or with company, and it is fun to see what images pop up for specific search words. This will be a great tool to use to find photos useful in the classroom. One could even turn this into a word-of-the-day class activity. 


photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22910954@N08/2403068469/ 

Thing #6

     I looked into Pandora Radio because I enjoy music; it can take a person out of one mood and put them into another. This Web 2.0 award nominee is of no surprise to be found on the hot topic list. Radio that the user can control... to an extent. The user can decide on the genre of the music by either typing in an artist or song which in return cues the Pandora to create and play one's music of that same genre. The site offers an upgrade that allows one's music listening to be completely uninterrupted by the annoying commercials. The upgrade is called Pandora One, and it only takes 36 dollars a year from the bank account; that is three CD's. Another downside of Pandora is the ability to only skip so many songs in a given amount time (6 songs in 1 hour), but this is something that can easily be avoided by creating multiple stations of the same genre. Other than the commercials and inability to skip more than six worthless songs in an hour, Pandora Radio is right on.
     After one creates a station a song can be liked or disliked. If liked the song will randomly be looped back through the play-list. If the song is given the thumbs down... well, annoying sounds will forever be silent inside the creators speakers. Pandora Radio is also linked with sites such as facebook and twitter which allows a larger social network. Songs that are liked by ones friends on facebook will be shown on the station creators home screen when viewing Pandora's website. This feature is neat because it shows one who like who, and sometimes he/she may be surprised (because of this feature I am no longer a NKOTB fan). The other idea that Pandora Radio has capitalized on is opening up people to new experiences. Because of Pandora I have come to find some great new artist that I would have never heard of. The radio is always playing songs I know, songs I don't know and get the thumbs down, and songs that intrigue me and make me take on a new interest. Pandora Radio has broadened my horizons. Pandora Radio is the way to go. Go create a station sit back, relax, and enjoy some life... compliments of the concept Web 2.0.

Thing #5

    Web 2.0

     Richard MacManus (2005) describes Web 2.0 as an "...everyday, non-technical people using the Web to enhance their lives and businesses", and the act of people using it as more of a movement; he goes on to explain "[t]he Web is an infrastructure, a foundation. What we create and build on the Web is what Web 2.0 is all about". From the time society figured out that a stick could be used as a cane the advancements of technology has been heavily sought after. Wars have been fought and decided on the fact of higher technology. This technology should be adapted in to the classroom. A student should have to construct a project on the Internet as well as create a hands on representation too. The student needs to learn how to write on paper and type on a keyboard. The student should know how to problem solve using a book and using the Internet. The best of two worlds has never been looked at as a bad thing, and in time something else will replace what society knows as Web 2.0.
     Web 2.0 is best described by Susan McLester (2007) as "...today's Internet [that] has become a pervasive influence on the daily lives of a significant number of citizens across the world". The Internet has opened so many opportunities that were not there before. Now people can have what they need at their finger tips. Even most public libraries offer free Internet use. However, as much as the Internet has changed the lives of the older generation, the younger generation sometimes assumes that the way they experience the world is the way in which it has always been. Web 2.0's use in the classroom must be maximized; if this is how the world is going to work then students need to become much more familiar with using the Internet as a tool rather than a source of entertainment. The presidents, vice-president, human resource workers, or anyone that has the power should be getting on this; as a company they could easily sponsor some type of fundraiser to ensure that schools are technologically able to teach, which would better prepare the companies employment future. This is called protecting your assets.

Thing #4

    Don't Be Scared it's Just a Comment

      Commenting creates a sense of community and interaction among blogger because bloggers then know that they are not alone and they are not writing only to have their words lost in that cloud in the sky. Commenting in its own is interaction that more often than not causes a snowball effect of interaction that soon turns into a community, and in blogging one can keep their community as big or small as they want it. One point to make is that by commenting and asking a question requires more interaction from the original blogger; it provides an opportunity for a higher level of thinking and different perspectives to be seen, or read. The other point to make was not to criticize in a harsh manner, or use sarcasm that could be taken this way. Often times when reading it is hard to really feel the authors original intent, but it should be this that is the goal of any author. 

The Who, What, and Why

http://deshuser.blogspot.com/  
     I decided to read and comment on this blog because I have had the opportunity to get to know this person and like the persona that she puts out.

Comment Left: Maybe we should have got together and worked on this blog thing together:) Sounds like we both had a good time with it. I really like the quote and totally agree with what a teacher should do, but what can a teacher do if the student does not know where the door is? Just something to think about. Oh yeah, and... Quack! Quack! ;)

Why: I left this message because it seems as if we were both on the same page trying to put this blog together, and I wanted her to know that she wasn't alone. I asked a thought provoking question to understand her more, and the "Quack! Quack!" well that's just in reference to her bleeding orange:)

http://michellesimportantthoughts.blogspot.com/
     I decided to read and comment on this blog because I really like what she had to say and want to know more. This individual could prove to be a great study partner as well.

Comment Left: I have also found talking about what I am learning to family and friends is highly beneficial. If you ever need a new friend to talk school business with I will be more than happy to lend you an ear and opinion if wanted. Also I commented on Sarah LaBean's thing #1 about how to view problems. You should check it out. I think it may help, or at least provide another outlook towards problem. Could not figure out how to link this in a comment, but this is where you can go.

http://sarahlabeans.blogspot.com/2010/09/thing-1.html#comments

Why: I was interested in her learning skills as they are similar to mine, which could prove to be highly beneficial to both of us. I also saw that she had a similar post to another individuals blog I had already posted on and thought that she might like to read that one too.

http://somedaygoodmanteacher.blogspot.com/
     This was one I happened to enjoy while browsing through. This individual thinks on a level that I often do not, or overlook. So reading this blog could be beneficial to generating new ideas, or just a different look at things.

Comment Left: Yes, yes, yes!!! Love all the ideas. Way to think and make it personal to you. Of course not every student is going to have parents that are able to afford a computer. How would you ensure all parents are involved. Parent involvement is a huge key in a child's education, and I am glad you see that.

Why:  I wanted her to know that her time and effort in addressing the specific topic were not unnoticed, and were appreciated. I also posed the question to evoke thought into her mind.

http://sarahlabeans.blogspot.com/
     I decided to read and post a comment here because she was the first one to leave a comment on mine, and after reading her blog I wanted to leave some words of encouragement, promise, and hopefully a view she has not yet seen.

Comment Left: A thought to think about... A problem is another opportunity to learn something new. Most problems are called problems because they put people out of their norm and the feeling of uneasiness comes about, but the second time one encounters something that could be labeled as a problem he/she will be more ready for it; even more so if that person sees the problem and remembers that instead an opportunity to learn something new has presented itself. I have faith in you because you are where you are now. I have seen so many friends and family fail due to lack of effort. So, keep the effort, build off of your strengths, and the confidence will follow.

Why: Well, as I described I have seen many fail for lack of effort and I did not want her effort of getting where she is now to go unnoticed. The words I wrote are how I confront problems and it seems to work for me so I figured it would not hurt anything to live, learn, and pass on.

http://justanotherblogger2-third.blogspot.com/

    I read and commented on this blog because she read and responded to mine. Man, that snowball effect works, but in the end I liked the HOW she wrote. It seems we both are fond of entertaining others with words.

Comment Left: I really like the analogy you used with using blogs as a way to sneak in the vegetables:) Great concept!!! I can easily see a student taking a higher interest in reading and writing using the blog to get kid's to eat their veggies idea. That was something I had overlooked... thanks for making that great point.

Why: Because this individual had a great view and I wanted to point that out, and she asked me a question which shows an interactive blog relationship.

http://j-walkblog.com/
    I read and commented on this one because we could all use a little laugh in our day to day lives.

Comment Left: OK, unless the corn chip packs the punch; this has got to be one of the most disgusting things I have ever tried. I lacked the corn chip so I just mixed some PB and some catchup, and then was somewhat sick. Yuck!!!

Why: I left this comment because it said try recipe and report back here, as in the blog site, and well that was the experience I gained from reading this blog. Coach Ski's cold hard truth: Peanut Butter (of any texture or brand) does not go good with Catchup (of any brand).

http://www.theskistory.com/
     Well the reason I read and commented on this one is because this is my wife's blog and I would be in BIG TROUBLES (yes babe, that's for you) if I did not. Plus she has a good sense of how to write in a way to make other people want to read her thoughts.

Comment Left: I am so glad that you decided to inform me that there is a time frame in which we can conceive;) Our poor little fictitious guy(probably should have said girl here) may miss out on this wonderful opportunity due to insurance and bids??? Whatever! Here is where I put my foot down and tell your boss to move on over!!! I love you and look forward to the day we become parents together:)

Why: Because when I read her post on how her work effected our baby's birthday I felt my two cents were in need to be established. Plus I know that she is excited about having a baby and I feel that it is important that even though I may not show it all the time having a baby is something I often think about.

 

 

Thing #3

Blogging and How it May be Used in the Classroom

      Blogging would be a great way for a teacher to not only ensure that students are technologically able to keep up, but they are a great way for the teacher and student to stay connected. Times like now, more often than not, request some type of technology understanding in order to function smoothly throughout the day. It could be used as a journal for the kids over the weekend so the teacher can keep the students involved. The students could receive grades and/or assignments for a missed class using a teacher's, or classroom's, blog. If the student's are given the opportunity to create their own blog, the teacher may grasp a greater understanding as to where the kids are coming from (not literally) and be able to adjust his/her teaching style to better fit the learning style of the classroom and/or individual students. The teacher could also make a blog site that is really fun, really educational, but also maybe not required. This way the teacher could explore with different teaching methods and different ideas in order to see what works best before presenting a concept to the class as a whole; a type of beta testing for teacher lesson plans. The blog could also be used for student reflections of what may be clear in the classroom and what is not.

     Keeping a blog for personal reasons is not a bad idea either. Most of the time when recalling something it is drawn back by memory, but if a blog were available there would be no second guessing as to what happened and the results of the happening; this would allow a teacher to see what has worked, what has not worked, and possibly discover patterns that may arise. Assuming that all teachers are keeping a blog of their teaching experiences, it would be a great idea to have all of those blogs interconnected among teachers so that they may learn form one each others mistakes and successes. Just having a blog as a teacher may be interesting for the students; one could share about who he/she really is, and make the learning experience more personal for the students. The teacher could also blog about their favorite sports team, or something in politics (there is always something that can be blogged about there).

      Blogging is also a way that some people can gain experiences. If a person is unable to experience something firsthand, reading a blog may give them the insight that they seek on any particular subject. Students reading blogs from specific locations of the world, other than their own, can make them more diverse, and more accepting of differences since they have been open to more experiences. A history book, newspaper, or magazine is not going to give the same experience as someone that has lived through something. The main reason I think that a teacher should blog and allow access to his/her site to his/her students is to show that their is more to a teacher than teaching. Most of my childhood I assumed that the teacher was always at the school with no life other than figuring out more ways to stump societies youth. The students should know that there is more to their teachers than a book. I believe that if a teacher allows his/her students to know them on a more personal, yet still professional, level that the teacher would in return get to know his/her students on a level that the teacher has not yet experienced, and that could prove to be highly beneficial. Making things personal and professional may be a challenge for some, but at the same time it could be as easy as the coloring of the lines in this blog. I could ask the students to give their ideas as to why I chose these colors. A blog would also be a neat way to introduce a new subject over the weekend by asking some simple thought provoking questions.

#2 of 23 Things

     "Teach Effort... Learn Life.": What it means to me.

     Throughout my life experiences I have learned two things that I hope to pass on. Effort above all things is everything. The amount of effort put into anything is everything. The amount of effort, or lack of, put into anything shows up in the anythings end results, and anything is possible with maximum effort. The other thing I have learned is that I am not done learning, nor will I ever be. Whether society accepts it or not, the live human brain will never stop learning; it is hard wired to continually learn. So, learn life and know that the experience is worth the effort. Anyone can live through life, but it is what we take from it that makes us who we are, and this is why I decided on this specific title.

     As said before, creating this blog was easier than I ever thought that it would be. I am kind of frustrated that I allowed the fear of technology to hinder me for so long. At first I thought I was going to be jumping into a unknown world of motherboards, PC's, software, and enough confusing downloads to give me an anxiety attack, however, the concept is simple and the instructions are very universal. In doing this one blog online, my confidence in technology has greatly increased. I finally am able to do something other than D2L(my schools online feature; Desire to Learn) and facebook online. Yay!!! All in all the experience was great and has me looking forward to the rest of the class. 

     MY AVATAR 

     Look at that crazy little dude, and he was fun to make and play around with too. The experience reminded me of Mr. Potatohead. Remember that guy??? Yeah, like virtual Mr. Potatohead. I decided to make my avatar as close to the real thing as possible mainly because... well, I like who I am, and I do not see a need to change anything. Instead I added my favorite color in shirt choice, casual comfortable style in clothes, a football because the sport has impacted my life in so many ways, and without much accessories because that is me in reality. My little guy is simple... like me. Now, will his attire always match the seasons??? Let's just hope that is automatic. He may just have to remain to be the year round laid back, comfortable, life experiencing dude. My efforts tend to lead to bigger things.

Credits

 https://elearn.apsu.edu/d2l

 

#1 of 23 Things

Lifelong Learning Habits
     The easiest of these for me to follow are: "Begin with the end in mind" because if one cannot see what he/she wants, or needs, there will be no desire to reach it; "Accepting responsibility for your own learning" because I understand that the amount of effort put into something directly effects the outcome; "View problems as challenges", and view challenges as an opportunity to learn something new; "Have confidence in yourself as a competent, effective learner" by modeling being excited about new life experiences; "Teach/Mentor Others" because it is a challenge, because two heads are better than one, because it generates ideas, because it is our future, because it induces socialization, and it will teach one something new about himself/herself; and "PLAY" because if learning were not fun it would not be worth it, and if anyone out there is having trouble with this one... I got your back.
     The hardest of these for me to follow are "Create your own learning toolbox" and "Use Technology to your advantages", mainly for the same reasons. I do understand that having more "tools" in one's "toolbox" is beneficial, but there are a many of "tools" out there, and it takes time just to understand whats out there and more time again to see if the idea worked. Technology is a prime example of one of these "tools" that come in a plethora of ways.
     What I hope to learn by playing with Web 2.0 tools this semester is that I am not computer illiterate, and that technology does not have to go over my head. End Result: Take advantage of learning what technology out there is most benefificial and suited to me best, and to have a few more "tools" added to my "toolbox".
     My First Blog
     Wow! Now, that is a title that should be up on Mom's fridge. I have read blogs, but I never thought I would be doing my own. Thank you Austin Peay State University for requiring this great learning experience as a part of your Education Program. Setting this up was a lot easier than I expected it to be; possibly on the fun side. What??? Education... college... fun??? Hey, wait a minute. Yup, that's right fun, and I hope that everything I teach, no matter the subject, is always fun to the learner. To find out more about my blog and me tune into #2 of 23 Things.

Credits

Learning 2.0 - 23 Things for Teachers is based on Learning 2.0 - 23 Things, a staff development program for the Mesquite Independent School District. That program was based on the Learning 2.0 program that was designed by Helene Blowers and adapted by the California School Library Association and others. Content and style for Learning 2.0 - 23 Things for Teachers has been borrowed and duplicated with permission, under a Creative Commons License.