Harris23Things

Shelley Paul’s “23Things” is an extremely worthwhile and informative program designed to improve one’s knowledge regarding technology tools specifically used for the classroom. In this way, it is beneficial for all educators to at least become familiar with these advancements. Some of the things I enjoy learning and utilizing the most include how to use blogs, wikis, google docs-documents, spreadsheets, presentation slides, voice threads, social bookmarking-delicious, social networking-Classroom 2.0 and Teaching Digital History, library thing, pageflakes, i tunes, garage band, google reader, RSS, 30 boxes, podcasts, photosharing-flickr, videosharing-YouTube, TeacherTube, online slideshow-animoto and many more. As a result, I hope to integrate my newly acquired knowledge into my curriculum as well as use it in my personal life. I am definitely much more comfortable with technology in general, and therefore, more apt to try new things in the classroom. I share more reflections on Voice Thread pertaining to lifelong learning, Web 2.0 and technological tools.

Classroom 2.0 and Teaching Digital History, two examples of a popular form of technology called Social Networking, are essentially online communities consisting of members interested in various aspects of education. For example, Classroom 2.0 demonstrates effective technology tools for the classroom. Additionally, Teaching Digital History provides digital information pertaining to the world’s history for students. Both of these sites include many different features and choices, thereby granting members opportunities to create, share and publish blogs, message boards, posts, latest activities, events, workshops, discussions, various tags, groups, photos, videos, wikis, music and bookmarks. As a result of this new form of technology, both collaboration and potential learning is enhanced.

In regard to educational implications, most students are already familiar with the various features due to their participation in Facebook and/or MySpace. Therefore, they successfully navigate the site immediately, resulting in greater confidence and self-esteem. Secondly, students prefer learning in a social context, especially online. In this way, this type of communication and interaction promotes student attention, interest and motivation. In conclusion, student learning is ultimately enhanced using this technological tool.

Pageflakes is a technological system that allows its users to create and organize information on its pages online, thereby providing an incredible resource for educators both professionally as well as personally.

Professionally, teachers create pages accessible to students in order to provide links with homework assignments, class assignments, student documents, group discussions and many other educational material helpful for learning. In this way, Pageflakes serves as a medium by which students collaborate with one another as well as access important information.

Regarding the personal implications of Pageflakes, individuals, like myself, use it as an organizational tool because it keeps all important information on the same page. For example, users, including teachers, display calendars, calculators, dictionaries, thesaurus’, birthdays, addresses, weather, to do lists, driving directions, traffic reports, current events, local events, stock portfolios, tutorials, world clock, e-mail, bookmarks, blogs, message boards, music, pictures, videos, podcasts, power points, Facebook, twitter, voicethreads, sudoku, concerts, movies, tv shows, reviews, and so much more. In addition, Pageflakes allows RSS feeds, thereby providing individuals with information from online sources, or websites, on a continual basis. For example, individuals receive RSS feeds pertaining to health, politics, technology, education, world travel, nutrition, fitness, exercise and any other idea or topic of particular interest. In conclusion, Pageflakes is truly an incredible form of technology for all vocations and ages.

Google Docs is a program in which users may demonstrate information in many different ways, including written documents, presentation slides and data spreadsheets/forms. Fortunately, this resource is free to anyone with a g-mail account. In addition, its features are identical to those of Microsoft Office. Therefore, it is easy to use because users are already familiar with its various provisions. Lastly, it is extremely accessible, thereby making it very convenient for all users. Due to being a part of g-mail, It is available on any computer connected to the internet.

In reference to the various features of Google Docs, users have a great deal of choices. First of all, users choose whether or not they share, or publicize, their work, ultimately deciding whether the product is public or private. Secondly, users decide whether or not other users have their permission to add, delete, share or publicize the product if it is in fact public. In this way, Google Docs differentiates between individuals who are simply considered viewers as well as those who are actually regarded as collaborators. Moreover, users are granted the option to upload, download, embed and insert essentially anything they like, such as various pictures, tables and links.

Regarding professional and classroom applications, teachers use this program in many different ways. First of all, students use Google Docs as a medium by which they can create and edit something together independently and simultaneously. For example, students can collaboratively create PowerPoint presentations, data tables, surveys/polls, study guides and notes with this technology. Additionally, this program can be used as a tool for peer editing. Teachers can assess both student suggestions to one another as well as whether the suggestions are taken by looking at the “Revision History” feature as well as receiving a direct feed by RSS. Finally, the last collaborative idea regarding this resource is using the chat feature, which promotes discussion and reflection between users pertaining to a specific assignment. In conclusion, Google Docs is truly a beneficial program for both teachers and students.

Video sharing is another technological advancement of Web 2.0. Websites, such as YouTube and TeacherTube, both provide a plethora of videos for the public to view. In addition, both of these sites also allow all users to actually create and publish their own videos on the internet. Consequently, the amount of information on the internet has increased exponentially since these sites were created due to the permissibility of participation. As a result, there is an incredible amount of information useful for all professions and vocations. For example, TeacherTube, a website made specifically for teachers to share lesson ideas, student projects and all other school-related content is a wonderful asset to all educators.

However, the amount of available information is not directly correlated with the quality of the information. Therefore, there is a great deal of inappropriate material that is accessible to children of all ages, both audio and visual. The lack of censorship and filtering of negative content creates many problems regarding our youth. Moreover, children who videotape themselves and publish their work online are not always well educated in areas, such as presentation skills, perception as opposed to reality and one’s reputation. As a result, many children portray themselves inappropriately on the internet, allowing the world to perceive them in a negative way.

Personally, I chose to view videos pertaining to ancient civilizations, technology and personal interests of mine. First, I watched many videos about Ancient Greece, many of which were clips from the movie “300″, one of which was called City of Sparta-Greece. Consequently, I can certainly attest to the increased amount of information available on the internet today. Additionally, there is a large amount of creativity, wit and satire. For example, there were many small videos, or clips, pertaining to various parodies reflecting the Greeks. Secondly, I learned How To Use Twitter from a video/tutorial. As a result, I learned that Twitter is much like leaving “away messages” on IM or “status updates” on Facebook. Finally, I saw many clips/videos of interesting things related to my affinities. In conclusion, my exploration of these two video sharing sites was very worthwhile and informative.

In regard to educational uses of this resource, teachers have the opportunity to use videos in many different ways. For example, they can show movies related to whatever they may be learning in order to enhance student engagement, attention, and therefore, learning. In addition, teachers can allow students to create their own videos, thereby increasing these same aspects as well as many others, such as student, project and performance-based learning. Overall, the ability for students to watch, create and share videos with one another around the world increases overall learning through deeper engagement, attention and motivation. Consequently, student-produced academic videos contribute greatly to the field of education. They truly are learning tools when used appropriately.

Podcasting is essentially like listening to a radio station. The most significant difference is that podcasting is more convenient because listeners have the flexibility to choose when they would like to hear a certain podcast. In the process of exploring various podcasts, I read a couple podcasts from each of the different directories, such as the arts, social studies, early childhood, math, etc. Consequently, I was fortunate to find a good amount of quality podcasts. However, I was also exposed to a fair amount of podcasts that were dull, long and not topic-centered.

Regarding educational implications of this technological tool, both students and teachers benefit from its incorporation in the curriculum. First of all, students love all forms of technology. Therefore, they almost always become more engaged in the class content when technology is involved. Secondly, podcasting promotes opportunities for both creativity and reflection. Students and teachers can create their very own podcasts or choose to listen and reflect on others’ recordings. In this way, podcasting provides the classroom with an engaging, interactive and technological tool that enhances overall learning.

In reference to specific podcasts, I enjoyed the ones that explained how to perform a specific function the best. These podcasts were of personal interest to me, thereby increasing my attention and overall retention ability. Secondly, I appreciated that these particular podcasts were only a minute long each as opposed to many other podcasts that were extremely long, resulting in my distraction and indifference regarding the specific content. Finally, I think I liked these podcasts the best because they were actual advice and/or instruction that could be easily followed and adhered to.

The podcasts from the first site were titled “How to be an effective coach in sports”, “How to lighten up at work”, “How to get organized and stay motivated”, and lastly, “How to be socially responsible”. According to the first podcast, effective coaches must demonstrate passion for the specific sport, commitment to skill development and sportsmanship, rapport with all players regardless of skill ability, life skills in addition to sport-specific skills, motivation, gracefulness despite defeat, positive role model qualities, humility, team work, little involvement, thereby emphasizing a player-centered rather than coach-centered game, compassion when players make mistakes, and lastly, fun. In addition, the second podcast simply stated that fun activities increase energy and productivity levels in any environment, including a classroom or office. Moreover, the third podcast recommended dividing organizational tasks into smaller parts, allowing enough time to complete each task, time to create new habits and the patience to allow change to occur. Finally, the last podcast from this particular site described social responsibility as voluntary service to one’s community in areas of need.

Furthermore, I also listened to a podcast from a completely different source that promoted resiliency after failure. The speaker, Dr. Cohn, is a sport psychologist. He advises all sports’ players to mentally prepare themselves for inevitable failure by emphasizing how natural and normal it is to fall short of a goal, regardless of the type of goal. Additionally, he claims all forms of failure and adversity are advantageous because they prompt self-assessment, motivation, and ultimately, improvement. Moreover, Dr. Cohn attributes success to the ability to persevere and overcome failures as opposed to becoming discouraged or unmotivated, dwelling on mistakes and displaying a negative attitude. Therefore, according to Dr. Cohn, failure is an opportunity for growth and development regardless of the field or vocation.

In conclusion, I highly recommend the use of podcasts in classroom settings. Personally, I could implement them in my sixth grade ancient history class by assigning the students to different topics pertaining to a given country. In this way, they could become an expert on one topic, share their knowledge on a podcast and then present their podcasts to the rest of their peers in the class. I believe students would appreciate this assignment because it involves student choice, small groups, collaboration, cooperative learning and technology.

Library Thing is a great resource for individuals who love books, especially for those who may not have the time or physical ability to visit libraries as often as they would like. It provides a site in which countless books are accessible to anyone. Moreover, it supplies individuals with various services, such as searching methods, tagging strategies, recommendations, reviews and groups. Essentially, it is a large-scale book club over the internet. Therefore, it connects people from all over the world in discussions and reviews regarding books.

In regard to classroom or professional implications, students and teachers benefit from this site. Students use the resource when looking for leisure books and novels. They involve themselves as much as they want to on a personal level. In addition, teachers utilize the source both to involve their students in book selections as well as to expose them to numerous opinions and reviews. Moreover, teachers visit the website for personal development as well as enjoyment.

Delicious, a wonderful resource for individuals of all vocations, easily and conveniently provides a medium by which its participants save and access their favorite websites at any time from any computer. As a result, individuals do not need to save bookmarks on their computers nor be limited to only using their own computer with their favorite sites accessible. In addition, Delicious is a great tool for collaboration, granting its participants the opportunity to share, or publicize, their websites for the benefit of others. In this way, Delicious users learn from one another by exploring other users’ subscriptions, tags and websites. Consequently, the amount of quality websites increases, thereby increasing the overall efficiency of reading, and ultimately, learning. Finally, Delicious utilizes the concept of “tagging”, equipping its participants with greater tools when searching and exploring websites pertaining to specific topics. In conclusion, Delicious is a resource that benefits each and any individual by promoting website organization, collaboration and lifelong learning regarding any topic or content area.

In regard to possible implications, Delicious is extremely marketable in both the professional and personal spheres. For example, Delicious is useful in the classroom, providing a place for teachers and students to share websites pertaining to the particular curriculum. In addition, it is also helpful personally, enabling individuals to explore topics of their choice. For example, participants can share sites pertaining to shopping, lifelong learning, parenting, etc. Therefore, the implications are widespread and consistent. Delicious is an amazing technological advancement for all professions.

It truly is amazing how many technological tools exist for both personal and professional reasons. For example, 30 Boxes is an organizational tool that would be extremely useful for both aspects of my life. Using this technology, I would have an easier template to use to keep track of all of my teaching responsibilities as well as my personal errands. Moreover, this website would be beneficial for students as well to aid in their time management and organizational skills. Although many students carry day planners around, this site is even better because it can be accessed on any computer. Therefore, it can never be lost or stolen. Consequently, it is a great way to ensure assignments are completed on time and appointments with teachers or extra-curricular activities are kept. Personally, I believe it is any organized person’s dream because it provides all the features one would want in regard to categorizing responsibilities. Regarding learning and productivity of this tool, I believe students learn a great deal of healthy habits, such as time management, organization, completion of assignments on time, planning ahead, working ahead and other examples of executive functioning the the frontal lobe, which inevitably result in greater productivity and efficiency. Furthermore, I believe students would be motivated by this tool due to the social features it entails in the actual calendar planning and sharing. Students could choose to share their to do lists, plans for the month, etc. with their classmates and peers if they wished to. Therefore, students would be accountable to their peers to follow through with whatever plans they may have.

My online video/slideshow reflects the three ancient civilizations the sixth grade studies at King Low Heywood Thomas School. Although there are only five photos so far on this slideshow, I intend to add more in the future to give a better representation of the ancient architecture. I chose to play classical music in the background of my video to aid in the relaxed and calm mood I want to set. My hope is that students will appreciate the ancient civilizations more than they already do largely in part to the incredible buildings they erected with little materials and tools for assistance. I want to emphasize their hard work, creativity and far-reaching goals that they set for themselves to accomplish.