Thing #23

1. What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?

My favorite discoveries were the tools that explained everything so well. I'd seen Wiki's Made Easy but did not know that there were so many other tech learning tools available. I am also glad to know how to use my computer to make and edit videos with audio. I'm looking forward to using that very soon. The Web 2.0 Awards, blogging,

1. How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?

I will continue coming back to this blog and reviewing some of the many tools I've learned to use. I know that I will be able to utilize more of them when I can use them at my leisure (is there really such a thing?). :) I will look for the entire list of 43 Things to see what are some of the other things that were not included. Don't misunderstand me, 23 Things are quite enough -- I'm just inquisitive!

1. Were there any take-a-ways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?

I was only surprised by how time quickly flew by (the summer). Here I am at the eleventh hour rushing to complete the last assignment. Content wise, I must say I have come away with a greater appreciation for the vast number of new technological innovations that are available.

1. What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?

Nothing immediately comes to mind. I felt that I needed a little hand-holding but you already had made that available, I just could not come at the times offered.

1. If we offered another discovery program like this in the future, would you choose to participate?

In the future, I'm sure I will participate in another discovery program like this. With this one behind me, it will be easier. I no longer have the fear that I will not be able to understand what to do. Also, there are so many links to online help and demonstrations that failure is not likely.

1. How would you describe your learning experience in ONE WORD or in ONE SENTENCE, so we could use your words to promote 23 Things learning activities?

Success is assured because every 'Thing' is introduced with several examples and demonstration videos.

Thing #22

Social networks are extremely popular among the younger generation. Therefore, for a teacher to bring in the ability to create a social network among the class is teaching the way they learn. Since learning to work as a team is one of the skills that the business community is calling for, Ning could help facilitate it. A good example of appropriate use in elementary school is for a teacher to set up a social network that requires students to practice all types of writing through interactions with each other. For instance, if the teacher has taught expository writing, the students need to practice in a post to another student. The advantage is that, unlike unmonitored social networking, the teacher's Ning would require conventional spelling, sentence structure, grammar, punctuation, etc.

Thing #21

Using videocasts and podcasts allow us to use a medium that capture the attention of students. Programs like Photostory and Audicity are designed to be easy-to-use, which allows most teachers to be tech savvy enough to utilize the technology. The following Photostory was made with photos taken at Housman's Career Day:

Thing #20

One of the best practices in education is establishing Professional Learning Communities. In order to have team member buy-in for this idea, the team needs a good understanding of what a PLC is and how it works. This video is a good example of how a Teacher Tube video can be used and it will also answer the questions listed above...

Thing #19

When thinking about what is special about the tool, the site says it best when describing what it does, "After scouring the web for Web 2.0 sites both new and old, we developed a "short list" of over three-hundred sites in forty-one categories. From there, we had some of the web's best bloggers, entrepreneurs and business people vote on winners, narrowing the field to 174 place-getters and Honorable Mentions."

There are sooo many web sites, web tools, web helps, etc. out there that it's impossible for one person or group to informed and accurate about them all. That's what makes this site so valuable. It seems that they've included everything! I was pleased to see that most of the things in this program are highly rated by the awards committee. We're learning to use the best!
I will use this site a lot. Whenever I'm considering using the web with students, a valuable part of my research will be to check this site.

Thing #18

Yes! yes! for online productivity tools! I was introduced to Open Office some years ago. Of course, my first celebration was because of the money I saved. Now, however, I also applaud the online productivity tools because they allow accessibility from any location. No longer is it necessary to have MS Office loaded on the computer. With flash drives being so inexpensive and in abundance, a document can be saved on the portable drive and edited or completed on any computer with Internet access. Hooray!!!

Thing #17

WOW!!! This 'thing' has become one of the easiest because of Bruce's video. It is sooo detailed and easy to follow. He took the right amount of time and detail because I could understand it immediately. I can see Rollyo as being extremely valuable to classroom teachers and librarians. Whenever students are searching for information, the available websites need to be limited.

Thing #16

Wikis are a innovative tool that seamlessly wove it's way into our technological lives. I've found that many users began using Wikipedia and did not realize that they know it was a tool called a Wiki. Since other applications of the tool are now available, we find that we know how to use it. Schools can use wikis in communications with parents. In planning a school carnival, career day, or health fair, parents should appreciate being able to help in the planning without having to pack up their younger child and drive to the school. That might help to improve parental involvement.

Thing #12

I've been commenting on some blogs but did not use my SBISD email address. I become protective of my email address because I don't want a lot of reply mail and debate about my points-of-view. I hope this does not create a problem. If necessary, I can go back and list the titles of the articles.

Two of the most interesting blogs were from "Two Cents." There was an article about John Quincy Adams being a Twitter (he kept short blurbs about where he was and what he was doing on a daily basis). I had to comment that I never desired to visit the Twitter website until I read that article.

I also commented to Mary Grace Landrum's blog. I admire her work on the school board and she arranges to attend our school's Career Day every year.

Thing #15

To me, Library 2.0 means a fluid learning environment that infuses the best of technology with the existing (traditional) library structures. Meshing the two environments requires listening and talking -- collaborating and introspection.

Library 2.0 requires lots of forethought because to create a hasty 'solution' could be as detrimental as remaining unresponsive to technological innovations. Being a Library 2.0 change agent (librarian) requires answering the question that libraries have been answering throughout its history, "What is the best, easiest, and most cost effective method to deliver the most relevant and useful information to those we serve?"

Thing #14

In my keyword search, I found that the qualifiers made quite a difference (no surprise there!). Searching for 'All of the Words', it located 164 entries. No entries were found for the 'exact phrase.' There were 722 blogs about education (by any authority and in English) and 722 results in the URL search. There were 27 found in the Tag search.

Tagging is a valuable tool because it allows the user to narrow the search for information. Just as qualifiers (i.e., all of the words, some of the words, exact phrase, etc.) help to locate the right information, tags confine the search to blogs, sites, bookmarks, etc. that have the same tags. Technorati can help an educator because it provides so much information about blogs.

Thing #13

This bookmarking site can be very beneficial -- especially in my situation. I have 3 computers (one belongs to SBISD) and I find myself very frustrated when the bookmarks I need are not on the computer I'm using. I need to be able to access all my bookmarks from anywhere! As stressed in the tutorial, being able to share bookmarks with coworkers will make all of our jobs easier. We've already been sharing bookmarks through a link in an email message. Using a social bookmarking site means that the site becomes accessible from any computer, not just the one I was using at the time. I've already added some bookmarks to my Delicious account.

That's All for Summer 2009

I learned a lot and look forward to next summer. I know that I won't have some of the many distractions that I have had this summer (and I'll begin knowing a lot about 15 of the 'Things'). We re-acquired our strip shopping center (http://www.loveandtruth.us) which became a time hog! My focus is now on moving forward in that ministry, which includes getting that website in much better shape!

I have already been introduced to some of the Things between 11 and 23 so it'll be easier when I try to tackle it next summer (if it's offered). Thanks for the opportunity!

Thing #11

I Love LibraryThing!!! After having lost several books, my husband and I would both love to keep an catalog. We are very serious about our books!

Library Thing is super simple to use. I posted 7 books in almost no time at all. I plan to use it in my counseling office so that I'll have an inventory of books on every counseling subject. This will be very beneficial. I used to write that information on a sticky note and post it inside the front cover of the book. It would take a long time to find the book that would be appropriate for a particular student's age and counseling topic when I'd have to open each book and read the sticky note.

I checked out some user groups. I haven't found a user group that I want to join, though. I was very interested in the Christianity group.

Thing #10

In an attempt to find the most user-friendly image generator, I was attracted to the
Kid-Friendly Image Generator. I created this image:










The Smiley Face Generator proved to be a good one for counselor-related pictures. I created a simple sign there.

Thing #9

• Which Search tool was the easiest for you?

I liked the Google Search tool. In reflection, I guess I like it because it is a format with which I'm familiar. However, none of them were difficult to use.

• Which was more confusing?

None of the actual search tools were confusing. I was a bit confused when I visited Edublog's Award Winners but later realized that it is really not a search tool.

• What kind of useful feeds did you find in your travels? Or what kind of unusual ones did you find?

I found the Library2Play and Spring Branch ISD searches interesting. I saw some comments by some of my co-partners (I guess) and I read some articles. Of course, searching for 'counseling' brought up lots of blogs about 'end-of-life counseling.' I had to be more specific and search for 'School Counseling' to get useful information that I will use.

Thing #8

• What do you like about RSS and readers?

RSS and Readers are great ways to stay abreast of current postings by blogspots and news services.

• How do you think you might be able to use this technology in your school or personal life?

Actually, I'd already begun using the technology and didn't even know what they were. My 33 year old niece is finally pregnant and began a Blog about her experiences. When she sent the link, I naturally, clicked to follow the blog. Once I created my account, my 'ever wise and knowledgeable computer' put her blog as one that I am already following.

• How can libraries/teachers/administrators use readers or take advantage of this new technology?

As a Counselor, I can use the technology as a way to encourage my students to keep an online journal. I could subscribe to their Blog and comment between sessions or when they come to see me. I'll probably use the latter method since I could elaborate in their presence. I'm not a big proponent of cybercounseling but this technology incorporates a medium that the students love as a means to increase writing.

Thing #7

I looked at several things that are available with Google: calendar, Reader, and Alerts. I was already familiar with Google Earth and Atomic Learning's Google intro. I wish Google Scholar was available when I was writing my dissertation but, alas, I made it anyway.

Reader and Alerts can be useful tools when the class is researching a particular topic. They are ways to be notified when new information about the topic is available. Of course, they can be used with any class or any topic.

I began a calendar for my ministry since that was something I wanted to do anyway. Once I created it, I realized that it would not be something I want to share (this group would not be interested AND it is not related to education). However, the calendar feature can be very useful. If I do set one up, it could be shared with others who are interested in the ministry agenda. In the case of educational applications, a classroom calendar could be shared with parents, co-workers, team members, administration, etc.

Thing #6

I am intrigued by Mappr. Since I LOVE traveling and, therefore have lots of pictures, Mappr would be a good way to display some of them.

This might also be a creative way for students to share their summer vacations since that is one assignment that students know they will have when they return to school.

Thing #5

Since I am a counselor, I searched for "Feelings" and got this picture:

Thing #3

I made my Avatar but got stuck because I thought I was supposed to bring it over to my blog. Ha Ha!!