Thing # 24 - Is it the end or only the beginning?

     I really enjoyed this project.  I have learned so much about the internet and tried websites that I would not have if not required to by this class.   I really liked Thing #21: Animoto, Thing #7: Flickr, Thing#6 discovering Web 2.0 tools,  Thing#13: Google Drive, Thing # 8: Flickr mashups, and Thing# 20: Beyond YouTube.

     I have enjoyed blogging.  I never thought I would ever blog, but this project through me right out there and said "sink or swim".   I see a lot of benefits from blogging and plan to continue.  I am excited to try to integrate it into my classroom and get my kids blogging also.

     I am still not sure about Tweeting.   I will have to give it some time to see if I really enjoy it.  I have been given some great advice from fellow students about the tweeting and all the wonderful things Twitter can do for me.   But, I am still a little hesitant.  But, I am trying to tweet daily.  Send me a friend request, if you want to help me out.

     There were a few assignments that I am not sure how I will best use them in the future.  Or, for that matter, if I will use them.   But, I really enjoyed this project and would not change one "Thing" about it.  (Sorry…. I know that was corny. )    I learned a lot in the class and with this project.  I am better for both and am really glad I completed it.  

Watch out world, a blogger has been born.    See you all soon!
   

Thing #23: Creative Commons

     We discussed Creative Commons a couple of weeks ago in class.  Obviously, I had hear about Creative Commons and Copyright rules, but really did not know much about them.  The lesson and exercise gave me a lot of good information that made it very clear.
     The first part of this assignment was to show the "23 Things" assignment was based on someone else's work.  So, I copied the following from the APSU 23 Things blog:

CREDITS

Learning 2.0 - 23 Things for Teachersis based on Learning 2.0 - 23 Things, a staff development program for theMesquite 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.

     I also wanted to show a website that I had found that is similar to our project.  PLCMC learning 2.0 is the website.  It also references the following credits:

This blog has been setup to support PLCMC's Learning 2.0 program for staff. Questions or comments about this project should be directed toHelene Blowers, Public Services Technology Director for the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County (PLCMC). 

     Now that I have a clearer understanding about creative commons, I plan to pay more attention to items I want to use from the internet.  I think it is very important to try to give credit, when credit is do, to the originator.   I plan to teach my students as much as I can about creative commons so that they have knowledge to protect their original work and understand the importance to credit others for their work.

Thing #22: Livebinders

     Once again, I am working with a website that I had not heard of until this assignment.  This has been a reoccurring theme this semester.   Our next assignment was Livebinders.  I signed up for a free account and good the tutorial.
   
     The assignment was to create three binders.  I created the following three binders, 1.) Health/PE websites for kids, 2.) Educational websites - elementary, and 3.) Educational websites - teens.  I have embedded the Educational websites - elementary binder below.


Click here to open this binder in a new window.




     I think Livebinders could be very useful in a classroom.  It could be a great addition to our classroom website page.  It could give students and parents a "go to" place for helpful websites for our class.  I like the idea of having a binder that has health information that could help my students study and learn more about their health.  I could also link fun, safe game websites to a binder.
 
      For my older students, eight grade for middle school and all high school grades, I could create a lesson plan to explore websites that would be helpful for a specific subject.  This could be a good way to "team teach" with another department or subject.  Another idea is that searching for websites that gave good information about a subject could be a good lead into a web quest assignment.

     This could be very useful in both the classroom for students and as a resource for parents on the website.
   

Thing #21: Animoto

     I had barely heard of Animoto before this semester in college.   I did not know what it was until this assignment.  I really liked the website.  I signed up for a free account and took the tutorial.  I explored the different free styles before I choose Bloom.  It was very easy to add photos to my account.  It automatically let me know when I reached the amount of photos I needed for my project.  I really liked that feature.   I chose to use pictures of my kids from this past school year.  I then searched the free music.  I was not as impressed with music selection as the style selection.   But, I finally found one that would be okay and selected the song.  I also really like that you can preview the movie before you publish finish.    The following is my video of the kids.





     I hope you liked the video.    I am very excited to explore the sight more in the future.  I see many picture videos in my family's future.

     I would like to introduce my students to this website.  I also think it could be a great way to make keepsake videos of field trips, field day, class parties and various other events that take place at school.  This has my mind working on all the possibilities!!

Thing #20: YouTube and Beyond

      TeacherTube is a great website.  I had already located and explored TeacherTube while researching educational websites that could help me in the classroom for another class.   I have found some very interesting videos.  I found several good videos, but Basketball Dribbling Techniques explains several basic dribbles and gives an example of how they are performed.
     YouTube is fun.  My family has uploaded several videos of the fun times when we get together.  One of my favorite videos was my husband going down the zip line shooting the kids in the woods with the paintball gun.  That ended up causing a huge paintball war, kids vs parents, that was lots of fun.
      This video is my brother, Chris, on a kiiking swing that he and a friend built.




     I checked out a couple of other video tools and applications per the assignment.  Powtoon seemed pretty neat.  You can make your videos have animation.  The sight is free and seemed to be easy to use.    I think it could be a good way for them to make a fun video about eating healthy foods.  I would like to explore it a little more to determine how I could use it best with my students.

Thing #19: Beyond Facebook

     Teachers must be very careful when using Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites. When I use Facebook, I try to be very careful of what I post or what pictures I use because not only does it reflect me, but also my children.  Those pictures will get out on the internet, not matter how careful you are, and before posting you need to ask yourself "Do I want everyone to see them?".  The same goes for your posts, people will find a way to get the "not so great" posts and spread them around.   Now, I do not think you need to hide who you are and what you do, but you need to think about what you are posting. Ask yourself "Is this something I want my kids to see one day?", "Would I want my Mother or Grandmother to see or read this?".   

     If you can be honest with yourself and use common sense, social media is a great thing.  I think it is a great way to reach your students, parents, fellow teachers, and resource.   I found some great tools, as I have mentioned in earlier blogs, during this experience.  Heck, I opened a Twitter account (I never thought I would say that…lol) and expect it to be a great tool  professionally.   Social media can be a great experience, you just have to be smart and think before you post or tweet.  

      During this assignment, I was asked what other online communities I was involved with besides Facebook and Twitter.   Facebook is the biggest, I just signed up for Twitter and  I use and like Pinterest a lot!  Also, for this assignment,  I looked into a few other sites.  I liked Classroom 2.0.com the best.   I like that there are several different ways to be involved, communicate and get information.  I also liked that there are members from all around the U.S. and World.    As far as the other sites they suggested we explore,  I already use Yelp, Goodreads, and several recipe and cooking sites.    

      I expect to integrate technology into my classroom and teaching.  I hope to use it in a fun and innovated way to not only teach the students but to allow them to explore and possibly to teach me.

Thing #18: Twitter

     I have never used Twitter before and never thought I would ever have an account.  I am not into the whole "hashtag thing" that is so popular right now.  I created an account solely for this assignment.   You can visit my page (or Twitter account) by clicking @Susseducation.   I did not understand Twitter or what it was used for until doing some research.  The video Twitter in Plain English was very informative.  I also found this blog,  8 Sure-Fire Ways To Tick Off the Twitter verse by Jennie Cromie, with some great advice.   I also found this blog to help teachers with hashtags, The Complete Guide to Twitter Hashtags For Education.
      It is important to understand social networking and their outlets.  The students we will teach are constantly on social networking and talking to each other with various social networking sites.  As teachers, we need to know what sites they are using and what draws them to those sites.  We need to understand their "language" and use it to our advantage.  Reach out to them and use the technology tools that they love to teach them what they need to learn.
      I look forward to exploring Twitter more and how to use it effectively in teaching and communicating with my students.  I am sure there is a lot more to learn and I look forward to the exploration of that knowledge.