One Final Thing...

It is kind of sad knowing that I am done. I feel like there are still so many things that I haven't learned. Also, I know that things are changing all the time. I feel that all the new things that I learned will be ancient within 6 months. I hope that is not true. But, I would love a "refresher" course as more tools are introduced.
After all is said and done, my favorite thing is the image generator. I still go back and try to add fun pictures to my blog. I also enjoy going back to Flickr. I love looking at other people's photographs. As I go forward, my goal is to keep my knowledge of Web 2.0 tools. I also want to find more ways to incorporate these tools in my classroom. I think it will make my teaching that much more exciting.
Before I say good-bye (for now), I would like to thank my librarian Elizabeth Warrick for encouraging me to take this class. I would also like to thank Andrea McFadden. She was a great resource when I had questions as I worked through the 23 things.

Adios for now.

Thing #23

Classroom 2.0 is a wonderful resource. I loved having the ability to communicate with so many teachers in one place. Also, there were so many great ideas in one place. I think that a teacher's best resource is another teacher. Classroom 2.0 provided ideas from teachers that teacher all grade levels and all over the world. I spent quite a bit of time scrolling through the forums and looking at different teacher's question. I also found some great suggestions of things of Web. 2.0 things that other teacher are doing that I would like to try in my class.

Thing #22

Hello, my name is sweetpea and I am addicted to FaceBook. They say the first step to getting help is admitting you have a problem. I am already a member of FaceBook and I am on it ALL the time. Most of my friends are teachers that I work with. FaceBook is actually a great networking tool. Numerous times I have "facebooked" a friends to find out information about things that are going on at school. It is a wonderful way to keep in touch while not in school. Facebook is also a great way to release stress after the school day. There are great games to play and other applications that I enjoy. I will continue to use FaceBook to stay in touch with my friends.

Thing #7b

The dictionary word of the year is "unfriend." I loved this article. I love that the New Oxford American Dictionary is always thinking of ways to make itself modern. I kind of relate to my previous post with the word "google." I think when dictionaries add these pop culture words to their publications it keeps the English language modern and up-to-date.

This year's addition is unfriend; as is "I am going to have to "unfriend" you on FaceBook." I LOVE IT!!!

Thing #21

I have to start off by saying my husband HATES the term "google."He hates when the word is used as a verb. I try to tell him that it is in the dictionary but he doesn't care. With all that be said, I did not realize that there so much to Google. I have used the Google search engine many a time and now because of this class I have used Google docs. This time I experimented with Google Calendar and iGoogle. I have to say that I probably wouldn't use Google Calendar. I am still a paper and pencil kind of gal when it comes to the calendar. I have a large calendar that sits on my desk at school that is what I use. I think I like because it is big and I can't miss it. I also experimented with iGoogle. I enjoyed having my own customized homepage right at my fingertips. As you know, I am a new news junkie. I liked that I was able to set the page so that I could have the information that I wanted right there in front of me.

Thing #20

Google Docs is another tool that I could spend an endless amount of time on. I enjoyed how there were templates that you could search and find a form that would benefit you the best. I love not having to reinvent the wheel. Also, I think Google docs is a great way for teachers to communicate with one another. I know many times when making plans we (my team) always discusses making our own assignments to go with whatever we are teaching in class. Google Docs is a great way to make a document share it with your team and get everyone's input before deciding on the final presentations. Yet, another tool to make teaching easier.

Thing #19

I have actually used VoiceThreads before and I didn't even realize it. I was in a class for my Master's and took the class on-line. Several times during the semester the professor had us listen to lectures that accompanied PowerPoint presentations. I think VoiceThreads can be used in the classroom for the same purpose. Again, I think any thing that can grab, hold, and maintain the student's attention is great. I think it adds a great variety for the classroom.








I also found this great VoiceThread that can be used in class to show students how to make writing more exciting.