Is it the end or only the beginning?

My journey through the completion of my 23 Things has truly been an adventure. There were times during the exercises when I was both amazed and completely frustrated by the resources. I began my journey intimidated, worried by the technological aspect and unsure if I would be able to master the various tools. Now, here I stand at the finish line elated. The amount of knowledge, skills, and self-confidence I have acquired through these tasks is amazing. Two of my favorite exercises were Thing 6 where I discovered my love and new addiction to Pinterest and Thing 12 where I discovered Google Translate and Google Books. The knowledge and skills I have gained from this course will aid me in becoming an effective educator. The resources presented in these activities will assist me with organization, efficiency, and foster increased communication and collaboration with students, parents, and peers. I intend to continue following the educational blogs I have identified in previous exercises to maintain and further my knowledge regarding 2.0 tools. I also intend on maintaining a blog, if not this specific one, something very similar. I do not have any suggestions for course improvements at this time. I enjoyed my experience and look forward to future opportunities to utilize the knowledge and skills I have acquired.

Thing 23

I discovered on the 23 Things original website that: “Learning2.0-23 Things for Teachers is based on Learning 2.0-23 Things, a Staff development programs for the Mesquite 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 the permission, under a Creative Commons License.”

The Creative Commons License gives credit to the original authors/creators and permission for others to utilize it. Now that I am aware of Creative Commons I will look for opportunities to incorporate it into my future as an educator. I also intend on educating my students on its purpose and how to properly share and utilize their own and other’s intellectual property.

Thing 22

Live Binders is an extremely useful tool for gathering, organizing, and storing information. Additionally, information stored in a live binder can be accessed easily from a number of devices with internet access. I would utilize this resource in my classroom for organizational purposes involving important documents and websites. For this exercise I created my free account on Live Binder. Set up was fast and uncomplicated. Next I created a new educational binder. I named the binder SPED for special education. The first tab is TN. Gov. and contains links to Tennessee’s Department of Special Education. The second tab is labeled AT and contains resources for Assistive technology. My third binder tab is labeled Communication Disorders and contains resources regarding communication disorders and a research paper that I wrote on them. I think Live Binders is a great resource and intend on utilizing it further. Special Education Binder.

Thing 21

This may have been my first time using Animoto, but it definitely will not be my last. I had so much fun creating my presentation and can imagine numerous applications for future projects. Set up for my free Animoto account was extremely easy and quick. I browsed through free themes until I found one that appealed to me and began uploading photos. I chose to create a presentation using photos form my family’s trip to Walt Disney World this past summer and was very pleased with how all of the elements came together for the final product. The only downfall with the site is that it requires a paid membership to create presentations longer than 30 seconds.
Walt Disney World 2013

Thing 20

YouTube is a video hosting website that I have previous experience utilizing. In the past I have searched through videos on YouTube for research and entertainment. One aspect that I find extremely useful is how simple it is to share videos that you post or find on the site. One downside that I have encountered is that some schools block the website so it cannot be accessed in the classroom because not all content presented on the site is suitable for students. During this exercise I was introduced to TeacherTube, which is very similar to YouTube but designed for teaching. I selected the following video from YouTube regarding the use of technology in special education classrooms. I recently had the privilege of observing in a Life Skills class and observed firsthand the important role technology plays in educating special needs students.

Thing 19

Facebook and Twitter are probably the most common names that people associate with social networking. As the popularity of social networking continues to rise, so does the number of available sites. Sites like Facebook and Twitter encompass a wide variety of subject matter. However, there is an increasing trend in subject specific social networking sites. I recently became an active member on a site called GoodReads. This site is designed to inform and connect readers. Through the site I have reviewed books, participated in literary circles, made book suggestions to friends, and discovered scads of new books I would like to read. Social networking sites present enormous opportunity for individuals to connect and share valuable information. As a prospective educator it is my responsibility to set an example of proper social networking etiquette. One way of doing that is by always considering your audience and ensuring your comments and content is appropriate.

Thing 18

Being an effective communicator is an essential element to becoming a successful educator. Social networking sites like Twitter provide opportunities for people to connect and communicate.  Individuals can share ideas, events, and express their emotions. Social networking has the potential to be an extremely powerful resource for educators seeking to foster communication and additional interest involving academic activities with students, parents, and colleagues. For this activity I set up the following Twitter account   Zero4Operator. I chose to utilize an alias connected to my 23 things, rather than use my real name. While setting up my Twitter account I selected several educational sites to follow.  Teachers. Net and Special Education are two examples. My experience searching with hashtags was a little disappointing. Due to the high number of search results I spent a lot of time sifting through information that was not always relevant to what I was looking for. Perhaps I only require additional exposure and practice using Twitter. Overall, my experience was positive and I look forward to becoming a proficient “Tweeter.”

Thing 17

I can’t say that I am overly impressed with the Delicious bookmarking tool. Perhaps I have become spoiled by a certain social image bookmarking application. For this exercise I created a free account on Delicious and viewed the associated tutorial. I then performed a search using the words “educational technology.” A list of bookmarks appeared. One of the differences that caught my attention was that there were no pictures with the results from my search, just tags. I am a very visual person and I like being able to see a preview of what the bookmark is about. I ended up clicking on a few different links and was really surprised that they had nothing to do with educational technology and had been mistagged. I spent a lot of time just searching for something relevant. I am not sure this is the most efficient site available. With that said, I absolutely see a place for social bookmarking sites within education. I think it is a great way to exchange information and collaborate with peers. Perhaps the most rewarding benefit is being able to organize and access your bookmarks from multiple technologic devices. I have read multiple posts by individuals who swear by the Delicious bookmarking tool. I believe my evaluation boils down to personal preference.

Thing 16

UStart equals increased productivity. That is a joke right? Not since I discovered Pinterest has anything come close to equaling that "time sucker," until today. I consider myself to be a very organized individual. Nonetheless, there is always room for improvement, which is why I was so excited to acquaint myself with the tools suggested in this exercise. I started out by exploring NetVibes and quickly realized that the content heavy page was not to my liking. I was able to create “Dashboards” but was unable to figure out how to get multiple tools onto one single page. I moved on to Symbaloo and felt that I still had to spend a lot of time clicking on the various icons to get to the places and information that I wanted. Finally I tried UStart and instantly felt at home with this application. I customized my page by adding specific widgets and feeds I regularly utilize. My biggest problem came while I was customizing my page I happened upon several new widgets and feeds that caught my interest so I added them. I actually began using my UStart page exclusively for a few days until I realized that I was not being as productive as I had been before I began utilizing the tool. I routinely found myself reading articles and engaging in activities that took me away from my original task. I did utilize the calendar feature offered on UStart and appreciated being able to sync it with other applications such as Google and Facebook. However, I was disappointed that I was never able to figure out if the tool offers an alarm feature to notify you about upcoming events. One resource from this exercise that I did find useful was the Lifehacker website. The site offers a lot of suggestions on how to search for things online more efficiently and other web tools that can increase productivity. I found the following article pertaining to Google searches especially helpful. I am not positive if I will continue to use UStart on a regular basis. In one respect having all of my online tools/applications in on location was convenient. On the other hand it also led to a lot of unproductive, off task behavior.

Thing 15

Wikis can be a useful resource for gathering and sharing certain types of information and exchanging ideas. However, one aspect that still concerns me is the accuracy of content. Because Wiki pages can have multiple contributors it can be difficult to monitor all the material being contributed. Additionally, there is always a question of objectiveness.  Is the shared information from a nonbiased perspective or is it colored with personal opinions and preferences? One of the Wikis that I especially appreciated was the Book Lovers Wiki. This Wiki requires users to obtain permission before adding or modifying content.  I believe this practice is one method that assists in maintaining the integrity of the of the Wiki. I see many valuable uses for Wikis within an educational setting. I intend to utilize one in my own teaching practice to champion open communication, assist in creating a community of learners, encourage collaboration, and make classroom information and projects more readily accessible to students and parents. One of the main concepts I will impart to students regarding the use of Wikis is the importance of carefully considering the source of the information and its creditability.  

Thing 14

Flowcharts are an excellent tool for demonstrating concepts, relationships, and organizing material.  Prior to this exercise the only flowchart I had created was done by hand and very unprofessional in appearance.  For this “thing” I chose to explored Gliffy and Bubbl.us.  Gliffy specializes in flowcharts while Bubbl.us is a mind map application. After signing up for a free trial account on both sites I decided to create a flowchart depicting a frog’s life cycle. This topic relates to two projects that I am currently working on.  Out of the two applications I preferred Gliffy. I reviewed the online tutorial for both sites but still found myself struggling with Bubbl.us .There are a wide variety of tools on Gliffy that are extremely easy to use.  I foresee many areas in which this application could be utilized within an educational environment. This application could be used to create flowcharts to organize research material for lessons, organize the flow of instruction, and demonstrate complex concepts or relationships in a more simplified manner for easier comprehension. It would also be beneficial to have students have the ability to create their own flowcharts for various class projects. The following is a link to the flowchart I created. Frog Life Cycle.

Thing 13

Those of you who have read any of my previous posts will not be shocked to learn that this was my first experience with Google Drive and Zoho. I began by familiarizing myself with both sites and the different applications available on them. It was evident early on in my exploration that I was more comfortable using Google Drive. The applications offered on Google are very similar to those I am familiar with in Microsoft. I decided to create a slide show using the presentation tool in Google Drive.  After having the opportunity to personally experience these tools I see enormous potential for application within the classroom. The tools on Google are easily accessible through multiple devices, not just PC users. Additionally, they support collaboration by allowing multiple users to contribute to a project. My biggest compliant regarding Zoho, besides the difficulty I had in navigating the site, is that not everything offered is free.  I look forward to utilizing the other applications offered on Google Drive in the feature. The following is a link to my presentation created on Google Drive. My Google presentation.

Thing 12

A few weeks ago I discovered Pinterest while completing one of my “23 Things.” At the time I was convinced that I would never find a web tool that I loved more. I was so wrong! Today I discovered Google Translate. In previous blogs I have mentioned that I am attempting to learn Italian. What I haven’t told you is that I am trying to teach myself.  With a nonexistent budget for learning materials the process has been slow with very little achievement. Google Translate is the pot of gold at the end of my green, white, and red rainbow. The tool allowed me to translate from English to Italian and Italian to English. Once the translation is complete the tool creates a list of words with the same meaning but with a different tense. The absolute best part of this tool is that you can actually hear the translation in the desired language by pressing the speaker icon. The tool can translate for every language I have heard of and a few I haven’t.  The tool would be an amazing assist for teachers with non-English speaking students. It would also be useful for assisting students in learning other languages and introducing them to various cultures.

The other Google tool that caught my attention was Google Books. This tool allows the user to search for books on a global level. Text that may not be available in print in the United States can often be found through searching with Google Books. In addition, many of the books can be previewed for free. I am currently taking a children’s literature class and have used the tool to help me locate books that are suitable for the course. This would be a useful tool for locating books to incorporate into lessons or for students to use when trying to locate research material. Here is an example of one of the books I found using Google Books. Bat’s at the Library by Brian Lies.

Thing 11

Finding feeds is never a problem. However, finding “good” or “quality” feeds can be more challenging. There are several tools that I enjoy using to help me locate sites with information I find interesting and relevant. Technorati  is my favorite tool to utilize because it is very easy to navigate, has detailed information, and allows for broad and detailed searches. When I am really looking to save time I search for specific posting as oppose to a blog. My second favorite search tool is Google. My least favorite tool is Blog Search engine.org . Every time I click on the site my security software finds viruses and spyware. Two new blogs that I happened to discover  and am now following on Feedly are Ms. Adventures in Italy and Italian Language Blog. I am interested in traveling to Italy and am currently trying to learn Italian so these site are extremely interesting to me. I also started following  The Cool Cat Teacher Blog. I am very excited to feel more connected to what is happening within the teaching profession.

Thing 10

RSS is an answer to my SOS!

Trying to keep with the latest information on the web can be overwhelming not to mention time consuming. RSS, Real Simple Syndication, offers a solution for those seeking to simplify and minimize the amount of virtual running around they do. An RSS reader brings new information and updates to you in one location. It is completely customizable and provides updates solely on the sites you have selected to follow.  

This activity was my first experience with RSS and I have to admit it feels like an answer to my SOS distress single. In the past I have had difficulty staying current with a number of the sites I enjoy following. There have been instances when I have missed out on an opportunity because important dates have already passed by the time I get the information. I am thrilled that I no longer have to spend so much time and energy checking each individual site. With my RSS reader all that information will come to me and be in one accessible place. Setup for my Feedly account was simple and quick. One of the added bonuses I encountered while personalizing my account was the discovery of two new pages I had never heard of but am very interested in.  I am still being exposed to new things even while I am condensing the process by which I stay informed. I think this technology will be a great asset to my personal and professional life. It will help me use my time more efficiently and keep me current. Information will still be relevant by the time it reaches me. I think teachers could utilize RSS technology in a multitude of ways. I intend to incorporate RSS into my instruction to assist in teaching media literacy.

 

Thing 9

I created the above image using an image generator on Image Chef. This particular exercise took much longer than I anticipated. There is a huge selection of generators to choose from on the web. I spent a great deal of time browsing on one site and did not realize they were no longer functioning until I attempted to create an image. I then discovered Image Chef and was pleased to learn the site was free, operational, and easy to navigate. I created the image above using the “visual poetry” application which can be found under the “Create” tab. I selected the design's shape , color, and font. I then entered  my favorite quote by W.B. Yeats and created my image. I believe that image generators can be a very useful tool within the classroom. My favorite aspect is these tools allow users  to add a personal touch to projects.  I noticed several applications on the site that I would utilize as an educator such as reminder notes and word mosaics. The only downside that I encountered is that it can be very time consuming trying to decide on a specific image generator.  

Thing 8

Move over Van Gogh there is a new artist in town. Okay, so I am not, nor will I ever be Van Gogh. My artistic ability is equivalent to most preschool students. Nevertheless, I sure felt like an artist after seeing the images I could create using Spell with Flickr. This tool is perfect for people like myself who want to create visually interesting images but lack the ability and time. Mashup tools like “Spell with Flickr” offer numerous possibilities for classroom application. For example,  I can imagine using this tool to decorate my classroom . I would create motivational word images to hang on the wall. I am a proponent of photo sharing. However, I think it is important that people always consider who their audience is and if their image is appropriate for public viewing.

Thing 7

Rio with butterfly, a photo by debramillan on Flickr.

I am confident that those of you who read my last post will not be surprised in the least to learn that this exercise was my first foray into the world of Flickr. Prior to this assignment I was completely unaware of the sites existence. I decided to start by creating my own free account even though it is not mandatory to utilize the site. Setup was a very simple and quick process because I selected to sign-up using my existing Gmail account. My attention was immediately grabbed by some of the photos featured on the site’s homepage After. familiarizing myself with the site’s many different features I uploaded my own photo. I chose to share one of my dog Rio sleeping with butterfly on his back. I think it is a cute image and I felt comfortable sharing it in a public venue. I added the following tags to the photo; apsu23things, dog, pit bull, butterfly, and Rio. Prior to this experience the only site where I have posted photos was Facebook. I have mixed feelings towards my Flickr experience. I found the site easy to search and a wide Variety of photos. However, I had some difficulty uploading my own. I am hoping that with additional experience I will be able to navigate the process more smoothly. I absolutely can see an application for this product in the classroom. Teachers and students would be able to search for and share relevant photos pertaining to lessons.

Thing 6

The Web 2.0 tool that I selected to explore was Pinterest. I know many of you reading this probably have a shocked facial expression and are thinking “She is just now getting around to Pinterest?!?!” The answer is, yes. I have been aware of the website’s existence and overwhelming popularity for some time now but had yet to visit. So when I saw it listed among the approved sites for this activity I decided it was time to explore. What originally started out as a brief perusal turned into a four hour pinning extravaganza. I began by creating an account, which was exceptionally simple. I then imported my contacts to find and follow friends. That is approximately when my addiction to Pinterest started. I noticed an interesting activity one of my friends had pinned and immediately knew I wanted to try it out with my own children. After indulging in some personal browsing I began thinking of how I could use the site for educational purposes. I am currently working on creating a unit plan for another course and needed to find relevant activities to incorporate. I typed in a few search words and was flooded with tons of ideas. I created an educational board and started pinning ideas to it so that I could easily find them later. The only downside I uncovered during my visit is that not everything is free. I viewed a few activities that I was really excited about only to realize that they had to be purchased. Pinterest in an excellent resource for organizing, sharing, and getting inspiration for educational activities. The following is a link to one of the activities I am incorporating into my unit plan. Ecosystem activity .

Thing 5

After reading the material associated with this exercise and seriously considering the question “What does ‘school 2.0’ mean to you?” This is what I have come up with, school 2.0 means accessible education. It is not the profound answer I had hoped and prodded my brain to come up with. Instead, it is the result of my own personal experience using web 2.0 and school 2.0 technologies that has shaped my existing knowledge on the subject. Two years ago I had the desire to go back to school and become a special education teacher. At the time I had two children one of which who was an infant. My educational goals seemed like a pipedream at best. Then someone suggested taking online classes. The next thing I know I am enrolled in college and working on my degree from home. School 2.0 made higher education accessible to me. It not only removed the physical barrier but also physiological barriers that had been a hindrance through my early education. Sitting in the digital classroom provided a certain sense of anonymity. Without a room full of people staring at me I felt free to ask questions, was more comfortable engaging in class discussions, and gained confidence in my ability as a learner. Because of school 2.0 I have become a more active participant in my education. It has opened up a number of other educational opportunities as well. A few months ago I decided that I wanted to learn Italian. I do not have the financial means to hire a language tutor so I turned to the internet. There are literally hundreds of free websites that offer lessons and videos that I am able to utilize. Web/School 2.0 has expanded the traditional classroom. Learning now takes places in a multitude of venues with the aid of new technologies. I did the necessary research for this particular exercise while using my smartphone and eating lunch in McDonalds.

What does school 2.0 mean for the school of the future? I don’t need a crystal ball to foresee that this is the direction education is heading, and I am a proponent.  I think school 2.0 present immense opportunities for both educators and students. As a prospective teacher I am consistently reminded that no two students learn the same way. My own instructors strive to provide me with the necessary tools to be an effective instructor for all types of learners. I see web 2.0 technologies as additional tools to add to my existing arsenal.  

Thing 4

Can anybody hear me? Does anybody care?

Those are two questions that went through my mind when I learned I would be creating and maintaining a blog for this course. The answer to those questions came with the first comment I received from a fellow classmate. Okay, so what if it was part of the assignment for “Thing four” and the person will receive a grade. It still served as validation. Out of a full class they chose one of my blogs to comment on.

Blog commenting is essential for creating and maintaining a sense of community. It promotes interaction between author and reader. Comments allow readers to become an active participant instead of a passive observer. Comments can help guide the writer, letting them know the topics that readers are most interested in. Also, interesting and purposeful comments can draw additional attention to your own blog.

For the assignment I commented on the following five people; Ashley Irwin, Christy Washington, Davie Wallace, Whitney Wise, and Kayla Kitchens.

Ashley’s “Thing 3” post caught my attention and was extremely relatable for me, which is why I chose to comment on it. I wanted to let her know that she was not the only person who enjoys writing but was anxious about sharing her ideas in a public venue.

Christy’s post for “Thing 2” grabbed my attention because she mentioned redoing her avatar to make it “more fun.” I had redone my avatar for the exact same reason.

I commented on Davey’s “Thing 4” post. I wanted to let her know that I appreciated her commenting on one of my blogs as part of her response to assignment 4. I read her reason behind choosing my blog to comment on and felt as though she might have misunderstood my original post. I wanted to let her know through my comment that even though I have relied on statistical facts in the past, I am very excited to interact and benefit from other people’s ideas and experiences through blogging.

Whitney Wise’s “Thing 3” post shared many of the same reasons and strategies that I had mentioned in my response to the activity. I also shared a personal experience that related to the topic.

I selected Kayla’s “Thing 2” to comment on. I have been fortunate enough to have Kayla’s assistance in setting up and navigating my blog. I wanted to tell her thank you for the help and confidence boost she has given me and to tell her that she needs to give herself more credit. She knows a lot more than she lets on.

 I selected http://cranberrycorner.blogspot.com/ as one of my blog sites outside of 3040 to follow and comment on. I am currently creating a unit plan for one of my other classes. I came across Cranberry Corner while researching activities to incorporate. I commented on a blog that detailed an ecosystem activity. I had seen the activity on other sites. However, this was the first time someone had listed a step-by-step guide, which I found useful.

The other blog I selected to follow and comment on is http://girlinflorence.com/ . I hope to relocate to Italy when finished with school. The blog covers a wide array of topics relating to the region. I commented on a post asking for more details and to praise some of the pictures she had taken.

Thing 3

Maintaining a blog presents multiple opportunities. It is an effective avenue for exchanging resources, ideas, and personal experiences with fellow teacher candidates and professionals. I intend to use my blog to promote and encourage communication and participation with student’s parents. Student success depends enormously on receiving support from their parents. A blog is an excellent method of keeping parents informed on classroom goals, projects, and potential opportunities for their involvement.

After exploring some of the best teacher blogs of 2012, I am excited to utilize educational blogging to develop student literacy and technology skills. Additionally, I intend to use blogging to create a global classroom and educational community.

Thing 2

I am a completely novice blogger. I have zero experience in reading or writing a blog. In the past I have gravitated toward literature and websites with statistical, objective, and research proven information. I am looking forward to the personal aspect that blogging presents. Exchanging resources, ideas, and personal experiences with fellow students and professionals is intriguing. I was surprised with the level of ease in creating my blog. I found it extremely helpful that our instructor demonstrated how to setup our blog in class and was available to provide assistance to those who needed it. I opted to post under my full name so I may incorporate my blog into a professional portfolio. My blog name “Press zero for operator” refers to my level of inexperience with blogging and web 2.0 tools and my need for assistance as I travel through the technology highway.

Creating my avatar using the Doppelme website was simple and entertaining. I enjoyed the diverse selection of facial expressions and features I was able to choose from. My avatar shares some aspects of my personality and physical appearance. We both have long brown hair and brown eyes in common. I selected a colorful dress for my avatar to wear, which is my favorite type of clothing. I also gave my avatar a dog to represent my love for animals and the fact that my own dog is never far from my side.

Thing 1

After exploring “7 ½ Habits of Lifelong Learners,” I absolutely agree that “attitude is everything.” The easiest of the 7 ½ habits for me is accepting responsibility for my own learning. Accepting responsibility begins with acknowledging that education is a lifelong process. Success depends on placing a high priority on learning and requires a daily commitment. Early mornings and late nights are sometimes a necessity. I am often tempted to hit the snooze button when the alarm goes off at 5:00 AM or watch an extra hour of television instead of pursuing academic activities. I realize those types of choices, however small; will ultimately determine my effectiveness as a future teacher and a lifelong learner.

“Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.” – Albert Einstein

One of the habits that I look forward to strengthening is number six “Use technology to your advantage.” My current technical knowledge is basic and in some cases primitive. I am excited to gain and apply new technical knowledge and skills to increase my effectiveness as a student and prospective educator. My greatest expectations for personal gain from Web 2.0 include; building additional resources to strengthen, expand, and add diversity to my learning and teaching toolbox.

I am looking forward to creating and maintaining my blog. Blogging presents an exciting opportunity to share and collaborate with fellow students and professionals. My confidence regarding my technical ability has already increased after the successful and relatively easy setup experience. I am eager to begin utilizing the knowledge and skills gained from this course.