535 - Week 5

This week seemed like a blur as I tried to successfully wrap up our Twitter assignment, explore Web 2.0 applications we've not covered in class, create an Eyejot (which was actually quite easy), and finish my Google Sites webpage (not so easy).

I'm still tossing around my feelings about Twitter. I don't enjoy Tweeting but am growing to like the endless array of resources and ideas that arrive throughout the course of the day.

In my search for a Web 2.0 tool I'd actually put to use in the classroom, I was amazed at the free tools out there. I think I could devote a month to simply investigating all of them! I invesitgated Weblist the most in-depth and created my own which I've linked to my webpage. This tool will definitely come in handy personally as I try to keep track of suggested resources that colleagues send my way! Students will most assuredly find a use for this free tool as well! Twiducate also piqued my interest. As the school year sets itself in motion, this is something I may try! I've already set up a free account. My next step will be to enter my students. Blabberize is a fun tool I ran across that allows users to make their photos appear to talk! (You really need to check out the talking llama!) Another of interest was Dipity which allows users to create interactive timelines.

I'm excited to add the finishing touches to my webpage. Adding images and photos is not going well...but hopefully all will get ironed out as I think the webpage will prove to be a useful classroom tool!

535 Week 4

This week my wheels have really been turning in an attempt to churn an idea for a screencast or podcast! I spent some time surfing the web for ideas but wasn't impressed with what I found or didn't feel it was something I'd have my students do in the classroom. Some of the ideas I came up with I needed access to my files at school which I don't have from home. Finally the lightning bolt struck and I am in the process of finishing a screencast of how to use Novelist to create a reading list. Some of the ideas I have for using podcasting and/or screencasting in the classroom include: how to do an effective Internet search (screencast), how to apply before, during and after reading strategies (screencast), how to use classroom resources to aid in success in literature and/or English (screencast), podcast examples/models of various assignments such as our "Where I'm from" parallel structure poem, how to collaborate and share docs in Google docs (screencast), etc. The opportunities are endless. I'm excited to give this a try this school year. As I teach my classes two and three times per day, podcasting and screencasting will help alleviate my feeling of repeating myself (yes, I am!) and keeping consistent in how things are presented in all of my classes. Additionally, the other literature and English teachers and I could collaborate on these screencasts and podcasts and use them in all of our classrooms. There's some great potential here!
I've been working as diligently as possible to keep up with Tweeting and my RSS feeds. I'm good throughout the course of the week, but weekends tend to be difficult as I'm always on the go with my family. I'm still not sold on Twitter although I do love the information that gets shared with me! RSS feeds continue to excite me as I build a library of resources. Check out my Google Reader!
I started building my classroom webpage in Google Sites. I'm scared and excited at the same time. At this point, it looks like a webpage, but I have a lot of work to do in the next week as well as a lot of resources to share. I can definitely see the benefits of having a classroom webpage that keeps parents up-to-date on what we're working on, provides resources for further practice, offers book suggestions, etc. I'm struggling a bit with inserting images and a picture (uggh!) of me, so I hope to iron that out soon.