Thing 23

Wow!! What a journey. I've learned so much with this class. Not only about what is available out there on the web, but about me too.

Regarding myself, I have learned that I am not very successful in pacing an online class. I don't have the discipline to continually work on the assignments at a continuous pace. By my faults, I have had to cram nearly half the class assignments into 2 weeks. I really didn't like the pressure I put onto myself. I much rather prefer a physical class with person to person dialog. I always have lots of questions when learning (especially with regards to computer knowledge), and felt very isolated. But with the content I was learning, it is obvious that we are becoming a person to computer world. I did finish all Things successfully, some with quite a bit of frustration. But I did it!!!!

Regarding the 23 Things, I learned SO much. I never knew how big the web really was. I knew it connected the entire world, but never to the degree that I know now. And just by learning about these 23 Things, means that there are another 23 thousand more. Probably just as we were learning about these Things, more were being created. I am hoping that the videocast that I subscribed to will help keep me learning about all the possibilities.

I do hope to continue to use some of the Things that I learned about. I will be keeping my blog, but will most likely be making it private for my own journal use. I did enjoy journaling. I would like to keep my wiki for our classroom. I hope to learn more about it so I can make it work for our families.

I would also like to revisit the 23 Things website to further explore some of the Things that I rushed through or would like to refresh myself on the topic.

Thing 22

I created a wiki space. Here it is. I even embedded my blog into it just to see if I could. I was able to, but it didn't appear where I wanted it to. I tried to move it around but to no success. Editing my wiki was difficult for me. I need to work on that more.

I am not sure which would be better for classroom communication: a blogline or a wiki. I'm really not sure what the major differences are. The people who are allowed to add to either site can be controlled, all kinds of content can be embedded, and I think they would both serve the same purpose.

Since I have been working with my blog since the beginning of 23 Things, I am most comfortable with blogs, but would like to see my classroom have a wiki for the purposes of sharing upcoming calendar events as well as parents being able to share news and pictures of their children for others to see. I plan on exploring my wiki more to learn more. Maybe in the fall I can be the person in charge of our classroom wiki.

Thing 21

I had no idea what a wiki was until now. It is so cool. Our school needs to have one of those. Right now we have a bulletin board in the lobby divided into categories (such as junior kindergarten, kindergarten, early intervention, preschool, wpsee, etc.) and spaces. Each teacher is supposed to be posting current information about what is happening in their program in their space. It's not often updated. Not to say that a wiki would be updated either, but it would be easier to update a wiki by typing and maybe uploading a picture of student work than stapling a cutsie thing on a bulletin board. Also, parents can view the wiki anytime and anyplace. Information can be added by any teacher, the principal, the PTA, etc. We should do it!

I love the wiki from the schools from different hemispheres. What a great learning tool for the students to be able to communicate all their questions and concerns with someone on the other side of the earth.

Thing 20

After learning about podcasts in Thing 19, I was curious as to where to get them. Now I know. I am surprised to find that podcasts are free. With everybody trying to make a buck, I was amazed.

I did a lot of searching for a podcast I wanted to subscribe to, which took a lot of time to hear samples of many. I subscribed to "Howcast Tech & Gadgets". It is actually a videocast that explains computer technology in a very gentle, simple way. It introduces new information regarding computers each episode. For example, it teaches how to set up an email account, how to use a flashdrive, how to set up a wireless network, how to share files betweena a PC and a Mac, etc. I figured I can continue to learn about computers even after 23 Things is over. I would like to feel more comfortable about using a computer without fearing it. Hopefully this videocast will help.

Thing 19

I have heard about podcasts before, but have never listened to one. When I was taking some graduate classes, some of the professors would upload their lectures into podcasts. I had no idea what they were then. I think that podcasts are great for students especially, not only FOR them but BY them. I am looking forward to the next "Thing" to learn about how to search for podcasts and to see what kind of podcasts are out there about a variety of different subjects. I can see myself using podcasts, as long as I also learn how to download them to my ipod ( even though I know I don't need an ipod to listen ). I am also curious as to whether books are on podcasts, like "books on tape" for an ipod? I'm guessing that if there are book podcasts, that they aren't free. But I would like that too.

Thing 18

This is a really neat slide show. I really liked the content.

Do Not Believe Everything You See (V M )

View more presentations from Valeriu Margescu.

I wasn't impressed with Slideshare as I thought I would be. First, I thought searching for slides was difficult. I waited a VERY long time for 2 of them to download. So long that I ended the program and had to shut it down twice. Second, some of the slide shows I was checking out indicated that there was music with it, but I heard none. I checked my speakers and volumes settings and they were active. Third, I didn't find it retrieving relevant slideshows based on my searches. I liked the ZohoShow ideas much better. It seems to me, this website reverts backwards in technology compared to other "Things" we have learned about.

Thing 17

Again, as I have said before...there is so much out there! I really liked ZohoShow. My kids like it too. It will make doing projects with a partner so much easier, and it can be accessed from any computer.

Library Thing was neat. I looked up several books to check reviews from other readers. I would use this site when choosing a book to read and then comparing my thoughts with those reviewed. (Although, another reason to sit on the computer!)

Zvents site was ok. It is a site that lists local events so you can find something to do. It seems that it relies on people listing the known events though. I'm sure there is much more to do than what is listed.

My husband and kids LOVED GoAmimate. This site lets you create animated videos. You can even incorporate your own pictures into the scenes, your own voice, your own characters that you created, everything!! I'm going to be prying my younger daughter off the computer and away from this site. I never should have shown her.

I did like the Flashcarddb also. My kids will both benefit from that sight.

I did a google search for "online productivity tools" and it came up with all kinds of links. I clicked on a blog that listed over 100 tools that were broken down by category. There really is so much out there!!!

Thing 16

Google Docs is really neat. I can see how this would really come in handy when our team is typing a students' IEP team report. Each team member can enter their own report information on the acutal report to be printed later. One person doesn't have to have each team member email them their section of the report to be pasted into the report. That would be great for our situation.

As for my personal life, I still need to do more exploring. I did show my kids a little of what is available that I did find. They seemed to like it, especially for group projects. As usual, I want to revisit Google Docs as well as other sites I've learned about.

Thing 15

Since I have set up my Bloglines account and subscribed to blogs I haven't used it once. When I set it up, I didn't really think that I would ever spend the time to look over everything that I subscribed to. With that thought, I think that I would use Delicious more than my Bloglines account. Obviously, I will put my most used websites on my Delicious account. But that's where I think it weird to make my frequented sites public. I also don't want to find myself trapped on a computer for hours at a time submerged in reading everything I subscribed to.

Maybe in the future, I will find Bloglines useful. But right now, I don't have time nor do I want to spend the time to use it. I think that Delicious will come in handy once I customize it better.

Thing 14

Delicious is kinds neat. I like the idea that I can access any of my tagged sites from any computer. What I don't like so much is the idea that everyone is able to see what I think is important or worth keeping shortcuts for. I guess I don't see the benefit yet of being able to see what other people tag or for them to see what I tagged. Maybe I'll get it more later. I had a hard time coming up with 10 sites to tag. I don't spend much time on the computer (hence my lack of computer knowledge) and so I don't have sites that I frequent. As long as I keep all this knowledge fresh and use it, I'm sure I will reap the benefits soon.

Thing 13

I think it is a great idea to be able to save interesting or important websites to a common website that is accessible anywhere I might be. Although, it is another website that I could easily spend more time on.

It does seem convenient to be able to tag a saved website in order for someone else to be able to benefit from it as well. I can see this working in my classroom for the parents to be able to search and find sites, articles, coupons, parent classes, information about a very specific issue, etc. that we might recommend to them. However, without being on the Delicious site yet, I'm not sure if our class could have their own account and relative items could be stored there for all our parents to benefit. If it works the way I think I am understanding it to, then it could be great for our parents to have a common place to visit for our specific information we want to share with them. And in return, information that a parent might think other parents would benefit from could be tagged onto the class account.

Thing 12

I loved this widget. I liked that it works eye and hand coordination. I love stuff that works the parts of the brain that I feel get forgotten.



Well, I see how important it is that I learn how to center or do whatever I need to in order for my entire widget to be seen and usable. Just like in my Thing 10 where my embedded video wasn't entirely viewable. Kathy, I will be emailing you and will edit Thing 10 and 12 when I learn how to fix it. I really want to share this fun widget fully!!!

Thing 11

I did post comments on 3 fellow 23 Thingers blogsites. I felt a little bit like I was intruding on their personal diary. Those were their comments on their spaces and I didn't need to add my two cents. It could be helpful if in my blog I was asking for numerous opinions about a specific topic though. But it did make me very aware that people may be really reading the thoughts that I write.

Thing 10

My kids love this video and think it is hilarious. I didn't know what to embed so I thought I would share a laugh with whomever wants to view it.



I did download a video to keepvid, but am not real sure why I would use that. I understand that You Tube is not accessible in some work places. I guess that may be a reason.

I also can't figure out why only part of the video screen is viewable in my post. Part of the screen is cut off and you can't see all of the funny stuff. Oh well, at least I was successful at embedding. I'll play with it later.