My Favorite Web 2.0 tools

Web 2.0 tools are web platform in which software and files can be accessed any time and anywhere. Some of thee tools are free and some have a small fee, it depends on what package you are looking for and what you want in your product.

In the personal productivity category I chose 4shared. 4shared is a potentially free online storage area for docs, videos, and photos. They have a premium package that includes downloading for an additional fee. The site allows you to have up to 5GB of storage space that you can make either public or private.You can provide links or embed pictures, docs, or videos into web pages and blogs. You are able to rename files, access the URL, see picture dimensions, add comments,and add to favorites.Teachers are able to upload and store lesson plans and projects. If the teach allows it the students would be able to access this information. picture on 4shared: http://www.4shared.com/photo/O6_c7GCj/IMG_0010.html

In my classroom, I could upload pictures for my students to look at. When they are done looking at them, have them comment on the pictures. I can go back to the site and review their comments. I could also have them copy the picture and place it in their own document and have them write a description of what the picture is about and have them present it to the class.

In the screen recorders category, I chose Tokbox. Tokbox is a tool that allows you to use audio and video for communication. You do need to have a web cam and microphone to use this application. It utilizes the adobe flash, so you don't have to buy any additional software. It allows you to send streaming video e-mail, post an interview or resume, give a speech, and host video conference.

In the classroom, I could have my students record a presentation and then play it back to the class. This tool would be helpful if students are sick and/or injured. I could either record my lecture or they could video conference in and listen to what was going on. This would be a way for them to participate if they couldn't be there. It would also be helpful to students that were gone on school activities, so they don't miss class. Students could use this application to communicate between each other without using up their cell phone minutes.

google presentation reflection

The Google presentation allows you to create a slide show. It has several tools to make your presentation unique. You are able to import pictures from your own personal file or from the internet. You are able to draw a picture and upload it to your presentation. Changing the font, adding/changing text is easy to do. You are able to change the color of the background or have a picture be the background of each slide. You are able to write on top of a picture. You are able to use symbols on the slides. You can add and subtract slides.

With Google presentation I would be able to create a slide show for my students and give them a lecture from any computer. If I teach/have my students learn Google presentations they can use it to give great presentations to the class without using large poster board. Google presentation gives my students another tool that they are able to use in the world outside of the classroom or for other classes that they are taking.

  I have never done a power point or have used Google presentation before. I was amazed how easy it was to use. For the class project I adjusted some of the font & changed the color of some of the text. I also changed the color of a couple of the background slides. I was able to add text to one of the slides as well.

On my own I played with adding pictures, drawings, text, and changing the background. I figured out how to put text on top of pictures and pictures on top of drawings. I was able to add symbols. Click on project to find the final presentation on Google. If that doesn't work here is the URL https://docs.google.com/present/view?id=0AV8QMnClEgS9ZGNiaHpwel8xY205cjc0ZDU&hl=en

Blogging in the classroom part 2

The following reference talks about blogging and how it promotes literacy in the classroom. Huffaker, D. (2005). The educated blogger: Using weblogs to promote literacy in the classroom. AACE Journal, 13(2), 91-98. Blogging allows students to be creative and to express themselves. Blogging can be individualistic or collaborative. It can be used in a variety of classes and used with different age groups. Even elementary students are able to learn how to blog. For teachers it can allow you to reflect, plan, mentor, analyze, and communicate with a variety  of people (students, parents, co-workers, etc...). The following link has 8 rules to apply blogging to a science classroom: http://spu.mattjonesblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/blogs-applications-in-science-education.pdf. I would be able to use blogging in any of my classes that I teach. I can have all the information for a specific class on a blog including assignments, class description, and contact information. I can create a unit and have my students blog a response, take a poll, watch a video, and I am sure many other things. The one thing that teachers do have to be careful of is that students use security settings to protect themselves and that they are appropriate in what they blog since other classmates will be reading it. An example of a unit that I could have my students do would be to split the class into groups and have them create a blog on ecosystems. Each group would have to describe one ecosystem. They would have to find out what an ecosystem is, find a picture of their ecosystem, and pretend they were creating this blog for someone who knew nothing about ecosystems. When the blogs are done being created, the groups will have to visit all of the blog sites and respond to the blog. They will have to come up with 2 questions. When the project is done we will go over of the questions in class. This is just one example on how a blog can be used in class. I could have a cell unit for Biology and have my students do a blog on cells. The list goes on and on.

ed tech- blogging in classroom

Teachers can use blogging as a place to post assignments, further class discussions, or have polls. Blogging is a tool which can allow teacher and students to communicate with each other. Blogging can be a tool for teachers to get to know their students, so they are able to relate to their students better. If every student had access to the internet, the teacher could put an assignment as a blog and have the students interact with each other. Blogging could be the students actual assignment.

ed tech- biography

In elementary school, I was one of those students that wanted to play with just about everyone. I was also the student that got teased a lot too. As I got older I was still friendly and even greeted other classmates that I didn’t know very well. In one of the middle schools that I attended, I was able to participate in a program called Young Astronauts. One of the things I will never forget is seeing the Hubble Space Telescope before it went into orbit. I also became involved with band and sports. I had a blast with it. In band I was able to travel to Disneyland twice. We played in one of their plazas & the second time we marched down Main Street. It was a blast. In Field Hockey we had a major tournament in Chico, California. Field hockey was my outlet. It was one of the best things I could have joined in high school. The only bad thing was some of the injuries that I obtained, but I would do it all over. After about a semester of college was completed, I decided that I wanted to move to Oregon. I was living in California at the time. My aunt told me to go for it, so I called my cousins in Oregon and they let me stay with them until I could get on my feet.

I moved a lot as a child and it was hard to have long term friends growing up. I have been to 3 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, 2 high schools, and now I am at my 4th college. I have lived in 3 different states and at least 11 different cities. In my parents defense high school & college wasn’t their fault. No my parents were not in the military nor were they in jobs that required them to move. It has been a string of bad luck. While attending high school my sophomore year, I found out that my school was getting closed due to budget cuts.

I love to be outside. I enjoy hiking & camping. I love to take pictures. Most of my pictures are scenic or of my boys. My boys are 6 & 3 ½. I can be a very crafty person. I have tons of art project stuff (paints, crayons, markers, yarn, paper, etc…). I even know how to cross stitch & crochet. I love to bake/cook, but I hate to clean. I know how to play the trumpet, but it has been several months since I have played. I enjoy spending time with my family & listening to my boys play. I have been married now for almost 8 years.

I want to teach Middle School and High School Science. I will have my endorsements in Biology & Integrated Science. I may also try to get my endorsement in Basic Math.