THING #18

As far as the online productivity tools are concerned, they do have their advantages especially when it comes to allowing access to documents, spread sheets, and other productivity tools to others without e-mails and attachments. Other advantages included the fact that the platforms are free! That is always a plus. The problem with Microsoft platforms is that there are old and new versions which are not compatible with other platforms. However, in working with OpenOffice.org I could not find a usable tutorial. In working with Google Docs. I did find a tutorial which was useful in explaining how the platforms worked. Also the GoogleDocs. was much easier to use and had a format which was much like the formats we are all used to on the traditional Microsoft platforms. If anyone knows about an OpenOffice tutorial, I would be interested as I could not figure out the Presentation section at all.

THING #17

Another idea with possibilities for my classroom I created a Rollyo account about news http://rollyo.com/mrouse/rouse_news/. This will allow my students to go to the opinion page of news sources and study the rhetoric of opinions. It will also allow AP students to see how persuasive writing is done professionally and also to check out the rhetorical devices. This is a great way to limit searches and also to see how others have used reputable search sources and add them to my Rollyo .

THING #16

Janis Benefield the librarian at Stratford created a Wiki for a CATCHER IN THE RYE project that I used with my junior AP class. It provided a wonderful opportunity for my students to have the information for research, bacaground for the project and web links all in one place. After seeing the Wiki ideas and explanation videos, I can see other ways to use a Wiki if I can create one. One way would be to have students create trading cards about characters or elements of the novel. Another trading card idea would be to create cards on rhetorical devices. An additional idea would be to have student groups collaborate to comment on a book for reading groups that have been assigned to different novels. Students could edit the Wiki by adding information they found on web sites or blogs.

THING #15

Library 2.0 is the library of today's world. It requires using materials and tools from the web to access and create learning materials. It is a new way of thinking about research and finding information. I have discovered, self-discovery, that the web does provide a plethora of usable tools and information to access that information. The major obstacle to this, however, is be willing to find out how to access this information and know who the experts and reliable presenters of this material are. Library 2.0 not only provides the information, but the tools to access and manipulate the information to create a product which illustrates one's learning and allows one to share that learning with an audience of one's choice. Libraries need to shift into this 2.0 model. Instead of book the library will provide and organize materials for those wanting to access it. However, we cannot lose the wonderful function of the library, to provide reading of literature, the classics, and leisure reading materials. I am from the old school at this point and want to hold on to a book; however, I am sure that the future of this too will be computer generated on Kindles and the like.

THING #14

Using Technorati is a way to use tags to help find blogs on certain subjects, topics and issues. It is a way to see what individuals and experts have to say. If you want to find out about what others have to say on a topic or issue this is a way to search for blogs, posts about subjects you want to research or discuss with others. It is a way to bounce ideas off of a large group without actually being with them. It gives you ideas to use. It seems that looking using these different methods gives you a variety of posts. The tags seem to be a more efficent method on first glance. I did not have success with the key word search suggested, but I tried one of my own. The link "popular blog searches and tags" was not available; however, I did look at top 100 blog searches in a couple of topics and can see how this would lead to blogs on topics of interest.

THING#13

I am almost at information overload. I thing that I might bookmark all of the sites and tutorials, blogs, and information from 23 Things into delicious. I have been taking notes, however, bookmarking would make better sense. This would also allow me to share many of these bookmarked sites with others including my students. Best of it would help me recall the sites that I find. Using tags is the best method to name sites so they are easy to organize and find again once they are bookmarked. The way to to send these bookmarks to others is through the bookmarking site as delicious gives you options at the end of the bookmarking process. If the person is on delicious too he/she can view the bookmark. If not you can email or twitter the bookmark.

THING #12

1. Two important points about blogging are (1) That you should invite questions with your blog in order to get a response. It makes sense -- why else would you want to blog if you did not want people to respond to your blog. (2) The other important point is that as one blogs he/she should be humble and gracious. Material on the computer is so often misconstrued if it is not clearly stated .
2. The exercise which required me to respond to other bloggers was a difficult experience for me as it was my first time to respond to comments made on line by others. It was good to be required to respond to a blog as it allowed me to see that it is not that difficult especially if you have something in common with the blogger.
3. The use for my technology experiences this summer are to help me with my students during the next school year. I found interesting blogs on the use of satire as used as a theme in Huck Finn and also as a theme which runs through modern life. Another interesting blog had to do with philosophical quotes found in Mark Twain's writings.

THING #11

LibraryThing was a great cite for cataloging books I've read. I signed up and added more than 5 books once I got started. I checked out the tabs and looked at groups I could join - one reading YA literature and another group in my area. This is a good source to help find out about current books and what readers think about them. It is also a good place to discuss the books you have read. Sometimes when you finish a book you want to talk to someone else who has had your experience -- reading a book is a great experience which if you buy into the book truly involves you.

THING #10

Working with online image generators was fun. One of the links I found http://dummies.book.cover.txt2pic.com/ gave me an opportunity to make a DUMMIES BOOK cover. I also looked at other generators include the Trading Cards, cartoons with word bubbles and magazine covers. I can see many applications personally and in the classroom for these fun images.

It took some time to play with the DUMMIES cover making the words and getting an idea to fit the cover.

THING #9

Blog searching is certainly time consuming. I spent quite a bit of time trying to navigate blogs. I tended to want to read blogs by professionals as the quote from COOL CAT TEACHER BLOG put it with his quote "The next best thing to be wise oneself is to live a circle of those who are. " The tool I found easiest to use was the Google Blog Search. Not only did I search the two you suggested but I found two that I added to my Google reader including one from NCTE Secondary Section ( some great blogs on thing I can use in my class room) and NPR News Topics. Blogline's Search tool was not available -- I guess because I am using Google Reader. Syndic 8.com was difficult to read and figure how to use. Atomic Learning looked interesting but I need to find out if it is available to me via Spring Branch.

THING #8

RSS readers provide an interesting way to sift through all of the available information on different topics on the web. There will be much information that I would never be privy to without such RSS readers. It is amazing how much information is available on topics which is no accessible in the time availabe for most people. Using this will allow both teachers and students to keep in touch with the news and commentary about this news all in one place. Signing on to a reader such as this will allow me to keep up with issues in the news as I work with AP students in the 11th Grade who need to analyze, synthesize and argue about specifc non-fiction topics. A service such as this would also provide those students an opportunity to read about current events and controversial topics to use in their writings.

This type of reader will also provide me an opportunity to see what is new in the world of travel, cooking and recipies and new fiction which comes on the scene. This will allow me to use technology for leisure too.

THING #7

I really enjoyed exploring the Google tools. I worked on my Google web page, looked at the calendar option. I also checked out Google Scholar and put in a search. I found a great article to use with my students about censorship and THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN. This book is the summer reading required by my AP juniors. My favorite Google tool, I must say was Picasa. Check out my album. My son, Michael, my oldest had his first child, Delaney Jane on June 29th. Click on his picture above to see the array of pictures I took right after her birth when she was first in the nursery. Isn't Micahel a proud father!

THING #6

This was an eye opening, enjoyable, creative thing or things to do. I tried several of the applications and have an idea about using my family pictures and vacation pictures other than in an album. These are fun ideas. I see an idea for trading cards with my student to study literary works or authors. I did make a mosaic-- inspirational poster I would like to include. I used a picture from Flickr.

THING #5

Often when presenting material to the class through the ActivBoard especially using a flip chart or slide show a visual is just the ticket to help students to click on to the information and help students to hook the information for use in their memory. The summer reading for AP students was Huckleberry Finn and I feel certain that I this image can be used to introduce Twain to the students. This portrait as well as those of other authors will give students a face to connect with the biography and works created.

THING #3

Once I finally get started my goal for this course and this summer is to work on target dates and try to work at least one hour per day. I know, however, that it may take me longer to work with my blog and the posts in order to feel more comfortable with the prcesses involved. The work on the computer gives you a feeling of accomplishment when complete; however, the process is sometimes frustrating. It is necessary for me to write down the directions and then take the process step by step. Inadvertantly I missed the Avatar directions the first time. I hope that I have now accomplished all steps to this point.

THING #2

My learning goal for technology is to continue to learn more about new technology as it continues to be more a part of our world and the world of the students we work with. I know that I continue to be a part of my student's world if I can be a part of the world of technology. I also set up a goal of being more patient with accessing and using technology following a step by step process. Of the habits mentioned the easiest for me to accept to be an active participant because that is how I best learn. I learn by actively participating. I ask my students to be active in their learning because I know it is a good habit for learning and how I myself learn best. The habit I find the hardest is to have confidence in myself as a competent, effective learner especially when it comes to using computers as a tool. Since I did not begin my learning travels with a computer, it has been an uphill battle for me learn the learning tools available with a computer. My hope is that this course will help me.

New to blogging/learning goals

This is my very first blog. My hope for my 23 Things course is that I learn more about new technology and how it can be utilized in my classroom this year. Although I am as some cliche's may say "an old dog" or "no spring chicken", I hope to continue to learn how to use new technology as a teaching and learning tool. My teaching has moved from a classroom devoid of technology to one with computers and ActivBoards, interenet and UTube, Wikis an Web pages.