Comments on: Reflection June 23 http://writingwithtechnology.edublogs.org/2009/06/20/reflection-june-23/ Another excellent Edublogs.org weblog Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:53:40 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: Michelle http://writingwithtechnology.edublogs.org/2009/06/20/reflection-june-23/comment-page-1/#comment-85 Michelle Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:06:52 +0000 http://writingwithtechnology.edublogs.org/?p=74#comment-85 Ok--I either didn't read the directions very well or I forgot all of the directions by the time I reached the end of my reflection. It was probably both! ~ Michelle P. Ok–I either didn’t read the directions very well or I forgot all of the directions by the time I reached the end of my reflection. It was probably both! ~ Michelle P.

]]> By: Michelle http://writingwithtechnology.edublogs.org/2009/06/20/reflection-june-23/comment-page-1/#comment-84 Michelle Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:00:59 +0000 http://writingwithtechnology.edublogs.org/?p=74#comment-84 Have I learned anything today that I can use in my classroom or share with others? Yes!! Wordle and geogreetings are fun sites to share. Those sites might not be very useful in the classroom, but neat when I want to create a word cloud that could be used as a graphic or send a greeting to a geography geek. Google docs has a lot of interesting templates and uses, but I am afraid I will not be able to utilize it in the classroom because of email restrictions. Some of the templates looked beneficial and I will direct students to these for assistance in creating resumes, cover letters and other documents. Wetpaint.com was a great place to create a wiki. I am the moderator of a group that usually uses email to communicate. I created a web page with scheduling information that each member will have access to my logging onto the website. I think I can also use this with some of my classes to keep them informed of upcoming projects and activities. The portaportal is a great organizational tool and I'm looking forward to sharing it with my colleagues. I think it will also be beneficial to my students when accessing a web site. I have been able to pick up a few tips today and look forward to learning more tomorrow. Have I learned anything today that I can use in my classroom or share with others? Yes!! Wordle and geogreetings are fun sites to share. Those sites might not be very useful in the classroom, but neat when I want to create a word cloud that could be used as a graphic or send a greeting to a geography geek.

Google docs has a lot of interesting templates and uses, but I am afraid I will not be able to utilize it in the classroom because of email restrictions. Some of the templates looked beneficial and I will direct students to these for assistance in creating resumes, cover letters and other documents.

Wetpaint.com was a great place to create a wiki. I am the moderator of a group that usually uses email to communicate. I created a web page with scheduling information that each member will have access to my logging onto the website. I think I can also use this with some of my classes to keep them informed of upcoming projects and activities.

The portaportal is a great organizational tool and I’m looking forward to sharing it with my colleagues. I think it will also be beneficial to my students when accessing a web site.

I have been able to pick up a few tips today and look forward to learning more tomorrow.

]]> By: Doug French http://writingwithtechnology.edublogs.org/2009/06/20/reflection-june-23/comment-page-1/#comment-83 Doug French Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:35:42 +0000 http://writingwithtechnology.edublogs.org/?p=74#comment-83 Today I learned that Wordle and GeoGreetings are two very useful and VERY FREE sites that will help a “scared” Internet user develop technology use. I think of sites in terms of whether or not my (technology-challenged) Mom would be able to use it and explain to her friends about it. These are both examples of sites she might be hesitant to use but could explain to another technology-challenged person how to use in just a few minutes. Could I use these in my classroom? Well, yes and no. I could use Wordle but I would have to restrict them to NOT use the gallery somehow…and they would be curious as to why I am restricting it and probably see a Wordle with many obscenities. If I had them type in their words in a Word document and I pasted them into Wordle and sent them the .pdf file that would probably be a better route to take. The kids would like GeoGreetings. If I were still a Social Studies teacher, the geographic use would be obvious. The fact that each letter only seems to have one picture from one place limits the geography-talk to 26 places, I guess… --Doug Today I learned that Wordle and GeoGreetings are two very useful and VERY FREE sites that will help a “scared” Internet user develop technology use. I think of sites in terms of whether or not my (technology-challenged) Mom would be able to use it and explain to her friends about it. These are both examples of sites she might be hesitant to use but could explain to another technology-challenged person how to use in just a few minutes.

Could I use these in my classroom? Well, yes and no.

I could use Wordle but I would have to restrict them to NOT use the gallery somehow…and they would be curious as to why I am restricting it and probably see a Wordle with many obscenities. If I had them type in their words in a Word document and I pasted them into Wordle and sent them the .pdf file that would probably be a better route to take.

The kids would like GeoGreetings. If I were still a Social Studies teacher, the geographic use would be obvious. The fact that each letter only seems to have one picture from one place limits the geography-talk to 26 places, I guess…
–Doug

]]> By: Michele Kelley http://writingwithtechnology.edublogs.org/2009/06/20/reflection-june-23/comment-page-1/#comment-82 Michele Kelley Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:35:09 +0000 http://writingwithtechnology.edublogs.org/?p=74#comment-82 I think today could be compared to visiting Hy-Vee on Monday mornings. Every Monday Hy-Vee offers free samples of the newest and often most popular products within it's store. You can taste test their bakery fresh pumpkin pie, savor a slice of pork loin dripping with the hippest new bottled marinade, or nibble a Dibble from the frozen food section. You get just enough of the product to form a first impression, but not enough to decide whether you want to buy stock in the company. Today in class we sampled portaportal, gmail, Google docs, blogs, and wikis among other things. I was able to get a taste of each, but truly need to take some substantial time to delve into them on my own before I can make any kind of commitment to using them in my classroom or personal life. I will say however, that the taste of each was intriguing enough to tempt me to find time to explore them. I don't have any questions for tomorrow. However, I do plan on arriving hungry and grazing through the aisles of Web 2.0 Michele I think today could be compared to visiting Hy-Vee on Monday mornings. Every Monday Hy-Vee offers free samples of the newest and often most popular products within it’s store. You can taste test their bakery fresh pumpkin pie, savor a slice of pork loin dripping with the hippest new bottled marinade, or nibble a Dibble from the frozen food section. You get just enough of the product to form a first impression, but not enough to decide whether you want to buy stock in the company.

Today in class we sampled portaportal, gmail, Google docs, blogs, and wikis among other things. I was able to get a taste of each, but truly need to take some substantial time to delve into them on my own before I can make any kind of commitment to using them in my classroom or personal life. I will say however, that the taste of each was intriguing enough to tempt me to find time to explore them.

I don’t have any questions for tomorrow. However, I do plan on arriving hungry and grazing through the aisles of Web 2.0

Michele

]]> By: Roxanne Hoover http://writingwithtechnology.edublogs.org/2009/06/20/reflection-june-23/comment-page-1/#comment-81 Roxanne Hoover Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:32:31 +0000 http://writingwithtechnology.edublogs.org/?p=74#comment-81 I liked getting to know portaportal again. I won't forget my login and password this time thanks to my "things to remember" file. I loaded many things that I found interesting and useful. My favorite item today would have to be the wordle activity and the geogreetings. I will probably use the wordle activity with vocabulary or my history of science topics. I usually have my chem students pick a chemist, research them and then create a crest. The wordle activity would be a different way to show the chemist's life story. I like the google docs templates. I feel like I found a goldmine of templates. I can't believe I never stumbled onto them before. I will also probably use my gmail more often since there are so many resources at my fingertips on google. I liked getting to know portaportal again. I won’t forget my login and password this time thanks to my “things to remember” file. I loaded many things that I found interesting and useful. My favorite item today would have to be the wordle activity and the geogreetings. I will probably use the wordle activity with vocabulary or my history of science topics. I usually have my chem students pick a chemist, research them and then create a crest. The wordle activity would be a different way to show the chemist’s life story. I like the google docs templates. I feel like I found a goldmine of templates. I can’t believe I never stumbled onto them before. I will also probably use my gmail more often since there are so many resources at my fingertips on google.

]]> By: Karla McQueen http://writingwithtechnology.edublogs.org/2009/06/20/reflection-june-23/comment-page-1/#comment-80 Karla McQueen Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:27:30 +0000 http://writingwithtechnology.edublogs.org/?p=74#comment-80 Love the portaportal website. For the short amount of time that I am in the classroom, it will be very useful. No more typing in the wrong address and wasting time. It also is a great search engine that is very organized. Something that I will use often. Love the portaportal website. For the short amount of time that I am in the classroom, it will be very useful. No more typing in the wrong address and wasting time. It also is a great search engine that is very organized. Something that I will use often.

]]> By: Sheryl http://writingwithtechnology.edublogs.org/2009/06/20/reflection-june-23/comment-page-1/#comment-79 Sheryl Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:25:50 +0000 http://writingwithtechnology.edublogs.org/?p=74#comment-79 I am much clearer now on the difference between a blog, a social network, and a wiki. The Common Craft videos are very clear and informative. I am also intrigued by the possibilities of Googledocs or some other online way of sharing documents. This could enable students to share their writing with me without having to print. It would also bypass some other problems I have with document location in my Mass Media class. It would also get around the "I left my jump drive at home" or "I saved it to my computer at home" laments that I hear. Photo Story is interesting from what I've seen, but my students are Movie Maker veterans, and I think it is a more sophisticated way to do video and music. Photo Story might be a good place for people who haven't done Movie Maker to begin or for younger students. It certainly seems very easy, and the average Movie Maker project takes a large chunk of time. I am much clearer now on the difference between a blog, a social network, and a wiki. The Common Craft videos are very clear and informative. I am also intrigued by the possibilities of Googledocs or some other online way of sharing documents. This could enable students to share their writing with me without having to print. It would also bypass some other problems I have with document location in my Mass Media class. It would also get around the “I left my jump drive at home” or “I saved it to my computer at home” laments that I hear.
Photo Story is interesting from what I’ve seen, but my students are Movie Maker veterans, and I think it is a more sophisticated way to do video and music. Photo Story might be a good place for people who haven’t done Movie Maker to begin or for younger students. It certainly seems very easy, and the average Movie Maker project takes a large chunk of time.

]]> By: Addie http://writingwithtechnology.edublogs.org/2009/06/20/reflection-june-23/comment-page-1/#comment-78 Addie Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:25:35 +0000 http://writingwithtechnology.edublogs.org/?p=74#comment-78 today! Well lots of info, set up g-mail account, added contacts to it and learned to Chat on g-mail! Fun. I think this would be a good way to Chat between co-workers, more professional than such sites as Facebook! Also worked with Wordel. This was neat and several classmates had some good ideas on how we could use this site in our classrooms. geo greetings was a very interesting site, however its one of those things that I just wouldn't use in the classroom. The writing prompt after lunch was fun. Had to tell what we knew about a few terms such as social networking, twitter, nings, Digital immigrants, Digital born, and Digital Natives. I did't know about all of these terms, but had tons of fun writing about them. Google Docs has tons of info, almost to much, It's hard to try to process all that is out there, and how I can use it. I have to remember just a bit at a time! Learned lots of new TECH stuff today! Hopefully can use some this coming fall. Addie today! Well lots of info, set up g-mail account, added contacts to it and learned to Chat on g-mail! Fun. I think this would be a good way to Chat between co-workers, more professional than such sites as Facebook! Also worked with Wordel. This was neat and several classmates had some good ideas on how we could use this site in our classrooms. geo greetings was a very interesting site, however its one of those things that I just wouldn’t use in the classroom. The writing prompt after lunch was fun. Had to tell what we knew about a few terms such as social networking, twitter, nings, Digital immigrants, Digital born, and Digital Natives. I did’t know about all of these terms, but had tons of fun writing about them. Google Docs has tons of info, almost to much, It’s hard to try to process all that is out there, and how I can use it. I have to remember just a bit at a time! Learned lots of new TECH stuff today! Hopefully can use some this coming fall. Addie

]]> By: Renae http://writingwithtechnology.edublogs.org/2009/06/20/reflection-june-23/comment-page-1/#comment-77 Renae Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:18:16 +0000 http://writingwithtechnology.edublogs.org/?p=74#comment-77 I will be honest. When we bagan today, and we were introduced to Portaportal, I immediately decided I would never use it. However, I think it's probably one of the most usable and "cool" sites I've encountered. I cannot wait to use this with my students, especially while I'm on maternity leave in the fall. Also, I'm likewise excited to start working with a Wiki... or Google Docs. I think these will be GREAT ways to stay in touch with my kids. I plan to put prompts on Google docs and allow my students to contribute to the prompts so I can keep up with what's going on in my classroom. I would like to have some more information on pod casts. Renae I will be honest. When we bagan today, and we were introduced to Portaportal, I immediately decided I would never use it. However, I think it’s probably one of the most usable and “cool” sites I’ve encountered. I cannot wait to use this with my students, especially while I’m on maternity leave in the fall. Also, I’m likewise excited to start working with a Wiki… or Google Docs. I think these will be GREAT ways to stay in touch with my kids.

I plan to put prompts on Google docs and allow my students to contribute to the prompts so I can keep up with what’s going on in my classroom.

I would like to have some more information on pod casts.

Renae

]]> By: Sharon Luke http://writingwithtechnology.edublogs.org/2009/06/20/reflection-june-23/comment-page-1/#comment-76 Sharon Luke Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:35:43 +0000 http://writingwithtechnology.edublogs.org/?p=74#comment-76 I was excited to learn more about the portaportal site. I was introduced to this site in an earlier workshop, but didn't really use it the way it is to be used. I feel like I will be able to organize my sites and resources so much easier. I am anxious to move some of my listings from my hotlist page to my portaportal site. I also like the way the wordle site looks. I am thinking I will use it as a first day presentation on my SMARTBorad with just my students names on it. I am also thinking of putting my vocabulary words on it, then reading the meaning aloud, and having the students come to the SMARTBoard and circle the matching meaning. I am anxious to start both these activities. I was excited to learn more about the portaportal site. I was introduced to this site in an earlier workshop, but didn’t really use it the way it is to be used. I feel like I will be able to organize my sites and resources so much easier. I am anxious to move some of my listings from my hotlist page to my portaportal site. I also like the way the wordle site looks. I am thinking I will use it as a first day presentation on my SMARTBorad with just my students names on it. I am also thinking of putting my vocabulary words on it, then reading the meaning aloud, and having the students come to the SMARTBoard and circle the matching meaning. I am anxious to start both these activities.

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