Tool #4: Moving up to the Clouds!

Google Apps offers many tools to collaborate with peers and students. Google Docs lets the author type text in the same manner as Microsoft Word. The difference is, as with all templates in Google Apps, all users (author and viewers) can correspond quickly and easily. Participants can share comments, critiques, and any other type of feedback. I created a short questionnaire using Google Forms and sent it to a few people via email. This would be easy to use with students to get their thoughts on various subjects or assess their knowledge about TEKS content. I plan on doing more discovery within Google Apps - definitely an addition that I'll be using with my classroom next year!

Tool #3: Finding Online Video and Image Resources

Video hosting/streaming sites are highly used by today's educator. It is another digital tool that appeals to the digital-aged learner. Sites such as Discovery Education and, yes, You Tube have much to offer for educational purposes. I use these sites often to either introduce or reinforce concepts, typically showing clips of full-length videos to target the TEKS objective for the day. The video clip, "Polar Bears," was downloaded to my laptop from Discovery Education, then uploaded to Blogger, and "Naughty Number Nine" is embedded from YouTube.

I went to Hall-Davidson online to get more information about fair use laws. One law that I found useful was "Up to 10% of a copyrighted musical composition may be reproduced, performed and displayed as part of a multimedia program produced by an educator or student for educational purposes." The fine print suggests no more than 30 seconds in length. How do you use music to enhance the classroom experience? Is 30 seconds enough to establish purpose with the students?

Tool #2: Building Community in the Online Environment

I've been blogging, mostly by commenting on others' blogs, for a few years, so the expectation for Tool #2 wasn't much of a jump. It's good to have a voice on different issues, whether in person or online because contrasting thoughts add richness to an otherwise mundane situation. It also adds to one's knowledge base. This is why having blogs set up for student use, when managed correctly, is an asset to learning. Websites also have great educational value. I plan on navigating howstuffworks. This site is for curious people who wonder about things. The best thing about the site is that it does a good job of satisfying that curiosity. Even though its target audience is 7th-12th grade, teachers can adapt the material to satisfy even the youngest curious mind.

Tool #1 - The Blog Setup

Below is the write-up I created for the first time I set up this blog. I hope it satisfies the parameters for the first tool. Plus, I added my Voki. It's the inner me!! Whatcha think?

...of my blogging setup. It didn't sting too much. A little confusion about pasting the html code to a "gadget" but all in all, I'm satisfied with the outcome. As I posted in my last entry, I learned something - love it!!! On to greener pastures now - wait, I don't mean retirement. Errrr, on with the show.

Thing #11.5 - Evaluation

Library2Play 11.5, although less items than last summer, took about as much time to complete as last summer. The items presented this time were more hands-on and unknown to me than last year's items. That being said, I was glad to attack the things this summer because I became aware of a lot more digital items that I can make use of in the coming school year.

I can see myself using Wordle, Animoto, and other sites from Thing #2 often in the classroom. These sites offer great ways to keep students engaged in their learning.

I will continue to research innovative uses of technology that can be used in the classroom. The digital age is still in its infancy and I want to continue to grow for personal reasons and to teach students proper use of technology and raise their awareness of what's on the Internet and even preloaded on their computer.

I greatly appreciate the effort that is put in to developing the Library2Play series. I like to think I'm fairly savvy about what's available digitally, but I am pleasantly surprised by some of the things I learn from taking this course. I really can't think of anything to improve or change.

Thing #11 - Digital Citizenship

Technology has gone viral worldwide since the last 30 or so years. Cell phones, laptops, and mp3's have granted people access to all points of the globe. Educators are now expected to implement technology into their curriculum to prepare students for the future. Therefore, it's now the educator's responsibility to safely prepare students for what technology offers and guide the students toward proper, yet creative use of technology. The question posed for this blog is, "What should students be taught prior to granting them access to the technology, thus making them good digital citizens?"

Five points to stress to students:
1. Be respectful. Often people forget their manners when online and say things that are hurtful. Just because you might not see the person on the other end of the Facebook wall or chat box doesn't mean they don't have feelings.
2. Be private with your personal information. Giving too much information can be harmful to the user. Some people with bad intentions can take advantage of this extra information.
3. Tell the truth. To create the best experience online, tell the truth on your profiles.
4. Stay away from spam and pop-up advertising for security reasons. Your computer can't handle it.
5. Something I learned the hard way -- only shop at secure web sites. They protect your information and you won't get ripped-off.

I found a good lesson plan to address the above while researching the provided links from Library2Play:
http://www.digitalcitizenship.net/uploads/FoundAct2.pdf

Thing #10 - Second Life

Second life is a virtual world that is free to join. The registration process wasn't too painful. My avatar/character is LovenAces60 Oridium. Learning the movements took little effort (learning to walk, fly, sit,...). I spent a good amount of time looking to get some clothing, but when I went to the store and walked around for a good amount of time (upstairs and downstairs), all I found were women's clothing.

I'm having a hard time finding many practical applications for the demographics at my school -- elementary aged, lower SES, where many don't have easy access to Internet. However, students that are able to interact could definitely benefit from the writing and reading things that are of interest to them. A moderator/teacher could initiate topic/s to initiate round-table discussions. This could also evolve to literature circles or writing groups.