Final Thoughts

I think my favorite discoveries was the use of a reader and diigo.  I am now using both almost daily.  The number of blogs that I have found during this adventure is awesome.  There is so much information that people have and are willing to share that is of great value to me as a teacher.  Now that I have made it through the Things, I feel that I need to go back and take them all in again.  When I am learning different things I can do on the computer, I will focus in on a couple and then I completely forget about others that I wanted to explore.
I love learning new things, especially involving technology.  So this class was incredible for me.  There were a few things that I already used but for the most part, it was new.  So that was exciting.  I am going to keep trying to use these tools in different ways.
I love the format of it being on our own pace to discover how we can use the tools.  I would definitely do another course.
Thanks Nancy for your help and bringing these tools to me.  It was great!

Thing #23

The video was kind of cool but it was a bit hard for me to catch all of it.  I will admit that I never have completely understood the laws.
For this program, the credits have been posted.  Some of the assignments have been changed along with the content within it, the input of the videos, to work with teachers from different contents in order to explore web 2.0
For me, I will continue to struggle with understanding the laws.  I am more aware of citing source of the information.  I will need to be aware of what I am using and make sure that I share with my students the importance and rules of using CC.  

Thing # 22

Nings
I like the concept of social networking sites that are specific in content.  Think about how people could share their ideas without going to conferences or being able to continue the sharing of information with people you met at conferences.
I had never heard of Nings before this course.  It is quite interesting.  I know several teachers use Facebook to have contact for specific clubs or organizations.
My problem is that I am getting into following so many different blogs that I don't know if I would want another thing to follow. (The reader has made it so much easier to follow them!)
A Ning could be used fairly easy in my class.  So many of my topics are review, students could set up a Ning for a topic.  All sorts of information and videos could be compiled and posted regarding the skill and applications of the topic.  A Ning could be used as a private way for my classes to communicate.  A place where students could post successes and challenges and receive input from each other.

Thing # 21

I looked at the Education Podcast Network. There were a few podcasts that I liked and decided to subscribe: Teaching with Smartboards and Instructional Technology Podcasts.  I added both of these to my google reader.
I mainly use ITunes for subscribing to podcasts. There are several that I have subscribed to that I use for school and personal use.
TEDTalks,NPR, and What's on your macbook? are a couple from ITunes. Many of the podcasts that I subscribe to are based on technology and how to use a specific technology in the classroom.
These podcasts that I found today are like many that I search for dealing with technology.  I take what I can from them.
In the classroom, I have met the majority of the goals that I set for myself in terms of being a "traditional teacher".  I am ready to do some things that just isn't the norm in terms of teaching math.  This keeps me interested in my job and hopefully shows my students some different ways to look at learning.

Thing # 20

I like using videos with my students.  I think it gives them an opportunity to hear important concepts in a different way.  Videos are also a way for students to see things from a different perspective without the trouble of finding people to come into my room.
I think the Evaluating Websites video is important for all students to see.  Each year I give at least one project that requires students to do research.  It bothers me so much how students will take something as the truth without question.
I have seen the 2nd video, A Vision of Students Today, before but I cannot remember where I have seen it.  I think there will always be a place for some people who need the classroom to be focused on learning but there are so many other ways that people can learn.  I believe we are in a time for great experimentation in how we can use technology to learn.
On YouTube, I watched a video about going from Web 1.0 to Web 2.0 to Web 3.0.  Initially, the web was just informational.  Then, with what I have done in this course, web 2.0 is more interactive.  The users contribute to the information.  It is more like there is ownership involved.  The progression is that the web is becoming personalized.  Different sites will "anticipate" what you will want ; give recommendations for other things you may like.
The amount of videos on You Tube is so much more than Teacher Tube in terms of what I would look for to watch and use.  But, even though I do use videos in my class, it is rare that I will use them off of either of these sites.  I have found other instructional sites that have videos that I prefer to use.  One of the main reasons is that I find the search time on these two sites to be longer than on the instructional sites that I have found.

Here is a video that I am embedding.

Thing #19

Library Thing catalog

Setting up my catalog was very easy.  I don't have a large selection of books at my house.  I love to read but I, almost always, use the library.  About the only time I buy a book is when I need it for a class that I am taking.  So with that being said, two of the books that I put in my catalog belong to my husband, two are from my classes, and one is for pleasure that I had around the house.  These books were not that popular.  A Beautiful Mind was the most popular with 2176 and surprisingly (haha) my educational books are not that popular.
I do like that there are recommendations that are given for books.  I really love historical fiction to read for pleasure.  Most of the time, I wander through the stacks at the library trying to find books that I think I would like so I believe I would benefit from the recommendations.
It is interesting all the groups and discussions that are on LibraryThing. I have participated in book clubs in the past but found it difficult to maintain meeting attendance.  This use of discussions within a group would be a good way for me to be involved in a group without having to make time in my schedule for a meeting.  There were several discussions that included A Beautiful Mind.   I really like the local page. I saw on it a book signing, Pat Benatar, that I really would like to attend.  I have a framed poster from a 1998 concert in San Francisco that I would love to see if she would sign.

Thing# 18

I started using a wiki last year in my class.   I would post videos or thoughts and ask my students to respond to them.  My students also used the wiki as a method to interact with me when they were having difficulties with assignments away from school.  Our department also used a wiki to communicate and share information this past school year.
I am very interested in the Atomic Learning website.  There are many resources on the site regarding how to do things using technology.   I liked seeing the samples of how wikis are being used in the classes.
I have not decided how I will use my school wiki this coming school year.  I know I will use it for sharing information but how I will use it in other means I have not decided.  Last year, I started with the wiki and then when studywiz became operational, I switched to using it with my students.  It was easier to have the kids always go to one site.

Thing #17

In some ways, I agree that the way I think has changed so the way I read has changed.  It also depends upon what I am reading.  If I am reading an actual book for pleasure, I am able to focus and be completely involved in the reading.  But, like many of my students, if I am having to read a book for a class, I cannot focus myself.  I
Now when it comes to reading off the internet, I am believe it is the setup of the pages that makes it so difficult for my brain to focus.  If what I am reading is long on the page it is more difficult for me to grasp than if the same length was separated onto multiple pages.  On the web, there are also so many things to distract from the reading.  Many words or word groups are links in a different color that will drag my attention to them plus all of the advertisements along the sides of the site.  Reading these articles were difficult for me.  It was hard to make myself not just skim them.
Today I was talking to another teacher in my grad class and she was saying that she is going to print out an ebook that we are using because she feels that in order for her understand, she has to be able to physically write her notes about or underline information on the paper.
I believe as a culture we are accustomed to things being quick so we want to be able to get to the point fast in our reading.  I am not sure to what extent the posts on social networking sites or cell phone texts have made.
I agree that the internet is becoming our clock, tv, telephone, radio, etc.  The use of computers is essential to my life.

Thing #16

I chose to use the IGoogle start page mainly because I use google so often and it connects to my email address too.  It was easy to add, delete, or move stuff around.  Right now I set it to be my home page but I am not sure if it will stay that way once school gets started.  Sometimes with school, it is nice for the school website to come up when I open my browser.

I don't really see that I would ever use an online calendar.  I looked at MSN's and 30 boxes but in the past I have found that there are just some things that I just can't use technology to do for me.  One of these is a calendar.  I use a calendar but most of the time once I write something down I don't have to look at it again in order to remember.  It is the act of physically writing it.

The to-do lists are interesting but I don't know if I would use it really.   I have a notes page on my phone and laptop that I could use but then it comes back to me remembering if I would just write it down.

The to-do lists could be used in a class where there are several parts to a project and the students needed to check off their progress.  I did not explore all the gadgets that can be added to the start page but there might be some on there that would be useful in a class.

Thing #15

Flowcharts and Brainstorming.
I explored Gliffy.  I really like the different types of flowcharts.  For math there are Venn Diagrams that can be made that I can use to assist me in class.  I also liked that I could make apartment layouts.  This would be a great tool in a class that was studying area.  It gives just that something a little extra that could be fun.  The flowcharts are also great for making concept maps.  About 4 years ago, I made up flowcharts that showed how all the math concepts within certain main topics related to one another.  I believe activities similar to that would help students.
I also explored Mindmeister.  I thought this site was very interesting.  It would be great way to organize thoughts and determine a plan of action.  It is a great resource to use when brainstorming ideas.  It could be used in any class in that way.  I was thinking that students could use it to provide options of how to approach problems.

Thing #14

The options in Google are ones that I don't know that I have as much of a use for in terms of work, school, or daily life.  I already use different websites that offer similar options as Google Calendar and Picasa web albums.  I thought the Google Notebook would be helpful to me and for my students.  When I am gathering information, many times I will document information in Word.  The Notebook could be a useful tool.  I am wondering if it would be useful for students if they were doing a webquest.  

I looked at the Google Alerts.  I don't know if I would use it.  I know one person who uses it quite often to get sports information.  Would it be useful in a math class?  Not sure.  My brain is not seeing a use for it in the manner that I would need to know when something is happening.  

I don't know, this is one that I would need to think more about on how it could impact my class or my research.

Thing #13

Wow is all I can say about the social bookmarking.  I was telling my husband that I am so glad I am taking this course because it is making me realize how much is out there that is useful.  I really am ancient in my ways of just bookmarking websites and having no way to organizing them.
Delicious is cool and very easy to use.  I am progressing through the process of a research project for my Masters degree.  The use of Delicious and Diigo will make such a difference in my research.  I can't wait to begin using both of these.
Granted, I only spent a short amount of time exploring these sites.  I love the highlighting and sticky notes of Diigo.  My graduate classes are all online so I am continually reading articles on my laptop.  Just today, I was talking with someone about how to highlight on our laptops.  This is great because I can do the annotations and organize at the same time.  Incredible!

Thing #12

At first, I was a little anxious about making my own searchroll using Rollyo.  When I was exploring the site, I was able to find information easy but I just did not feel comfortable thinking I could make one up myself.  However, it was quite easy to set up.
I use the internet to research topics, lesson activity ideas, and for personal interests and I have a huge list of favorite websites.  Using Rollyo would cut my search time of my favorite websites an incredible amount of time.  I like that I can keep my searchrolls private so this is like my own little organization of information.
Really Cool!

Thing #11

Commenting on blogs creates a sense of community because it provides the feedback that we desire for our thoughts and ideas.  When we talk to our friends, we are inviting them to respond to us; we want to know if they agree or disagree.  In a way, if no one comments then I am being told that my thoughts do not hold much value.  Writing comments can also help a person to see something they did not see before.  We grow in our knowledge by learning from one another.

I like the CoComment.  It is a great tool especially if you are a person that comments and follows several blogs.  It is a good way to keep everything organized.
I have to admit that I am more into just lurking.  In summer school, my kids were saying that it is being a creeper.
I read and commented on the following from our group:  Jane'e Techie Efforts,  RHHSTechPlayChandler,
Margaret's Thoughts on Things,  Mr. T's World, and  Dabney's Things

I googled some math teacher's blogs and found several that I liked and decided to follow.  A couple I found several years back too.  Teaching and coming up with new ideas is difficult at times so the use of blogs is a wonderful way to share ideas.  I don't think it is right to not share.  As a teacher, one of my goals is to provide students with opportunities to learn; so if I have an idea that meets that goal, I do not believe that I should keep it from other teachers who are trying to do the same thing.  I am very grateful to all the teachers who believe the same thing.

Here are a few of the blogs that I am not following:  mathteachermambo, exponentialcurve, I want to teach forever
The comments that I made on these dealt with how they use some specific activities.

Thing # 10

I used a couple of those listed in our instructions: Image Chef and Happy Face.  I also made my name at www.textspace.net and did Hawks at www.spiffytext.com.  I was thinking that I could use these text generators to make concept cartoons.  I could put some information within a comic and then the kids would have to reflect on the information.  This year, I am wanting to determine groups so I could use these to make signs for who is in each group.  Also, it can be used just to have a little fun to put it on a test, where I use it to determine different forms of the test but the kids think it is just a little note to them.

Thing #9

The easiest one for me to find feeds that I was interested in was the Bloglines.  I was able to find several different feeds that I liked.  Most of them were for personal use but I am hoping that with more exploration I will be able to find some feeds for my classes.
I was able to find some blogs to follow that involved mathematics through Google blogs.  This one was easy but it took a little longer to find some feeds that I liked.
I explored Technorati and Syndic8.  It seemed a little more difficult for me to find what I liked with Syndic8 but it was not too bad.
I looked into many different kinds of feeds.  I subscribed to some comics and news.  In Bloglines, I looked at the feeds for the libraries and sports.  I think I would be able to pull data from those for my classes.  Again, I found more recipe feeds.  I also found one on abstract art that I liked.

Thing #8

I added a couple feeds on recipes.  I really like changing up what I cook so using the RSS feed makes it so much easier to look for new things to cook.  Also, I like that it is easy to organize the feeds using Google Reader.
Also, I added a couple news feeds, cnn and msnbc.  I rarely watch tv news or pick up a newspaper to learn what is going on in the world.  Using the reader makes it so much easier to go to one place versus going to several different sites.
I also subscribed to the Cool Cat Teacher blog.  I ran across this blog a couple weeks ago and then I saw it on our instruction page for this thing.
Right now, I am seeing using the reader for more personal use.  I am trying to think of how I could use this in my math class.  I use several instructional websites that have video and audio links.  The use of the reader might be a good way for students to access the instruction.  I will have to think of how I could use it.  Right now, I am struggling of how to use it.  But I was thinking  in history, students could follow current events.  If a teacher had all their students using blogs, the use of a reader would be the only way to track the use of the blogs.
The students could use a reader to follow all of their teachers' blogs too.  If a teacher posts their lessons on a blog, then both administrators and students could follow it easier through a reader.