Just like many of the tools I'm discovering through the 23 Things Project, I was unaware that Google had so many great (and free!) web tools for teachers. I wasn't a fan of Google alert because I didn't know what to search for. I try to watch the news every night, so I couldn't really think of any topic that I would absolutely need an email to update me. I'm not a big sports fan, so I definitely did not want to get an email about the two teams that I have to like just because I'm from the state (Go Packers and Brewers!)
Google Calendar, on the other hand, is a wonderful tool for teachers. This is a great way to keep everyone that is involved in the classroom/school environment (parents, students, colleagues and principals) up-to-date. Not only can you share your own schedules, but you can see others calendars as well. This could be useful when setting up parent/teacher conferences, meetings, project/assignment schedules, etc. Google Calendar can be sent to your phone and you can choose to receive reminders by email or text message.
Google Translate is also an excellent resource for teachers, especially if they students whose home language is something other than English. Google Translate even as an app for Smart phones where you can speak into your phone and it will translate your words into the language of your choice. Sometimes, Google Translate is not perfectly accurate, but generally it will get the "bulk of a message" across. It is especially useful in a pinch if a teacher can't get an interpreter in time. I translated my own blog into French! Click on the link below:
The French Version of "The Brennan Breeze
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Thing #11: Finding Good Feeds
The Cool Cat Teacher Blog about selecting good RSS feeds was very insightful. She gave very helpful tips as to choosing which blogs to follow. One of my favorite tips was, "Look for people who inspire you. Life is too tough to have real and virtual people dragging you down." So true. Why would you want to subject yourself to reading down-in-the-dumps blogs when you have complete control over what you read?
As I looked through the EduBlog winners, I didn't find much that I felt I absolutely had to read on a daily basis. However, when I started exploring Google Blog Search, I found several blogs that I was interested in. It was so easy to add them to my Google Reader feed too! All I had to do was find the RSS icon, click on it, and the blog was instantly added to my feed. Searching for blogs of interest was so easy using Google Reader; I just had to type in a phrase, such as "teaching second grade," and I was able to find several blogs to add to my RSS feed. I added one blog, "Sunny Days in Second Grade," which has fantastic ideas for lesson plans, building classroom communities, and just plain hilarious stories about the adventures of second grade. Most of the useful feeds I found were teacher blogs and websites
I thought Topix and Technorati were kind of confusing because there was a lot going on as soon as you entered the page. I think from now on, I will stick with Google Blog Search.
As I looked through the EduBlog winners, I didn't find much that I felt I absolutely had to read on a daily basis. However, when I started exploring Google Blog Search, I found several blogs that I was interested in. It was so easy to add them to my Google Reader feed too! All I had to do was find the RSS icon, click on it, and the blog was instantly added to my feed. Searching for blogs of interest was so easy using Google Reader; I just had to type in a phrase, such as "teaching second grade," and I was able to find several blogs to add to my RSS feed. I added one blog, "Sunny Days in Second Grade," which has fantastic ideas for lesson plans, building classroom communities, and just plain hilarious stories about the adventures of second grade. Most of the useful feeds I found were teacher blogs and websites
I thought Topix and Technorati were kind of confusing because there was a lot going on as soon as you entered the page. I think from now on, I will stick with Google Blog Search.
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Thing #10: RSS Feeds
So far, I am in love with RSS feeds. It's kind of like a Facebook news feed because readers can keep up with blogs that they are interested. As Google describes it, "It's like a magazine you create!" I chose to subscribe to a combination of 5 blogs and websites: National Geographic for Teachers, Cool Cat Teacher Blog, PBS Teachers, Step into 2nd Grade, and Taste of Home. I love that I will always be in touch with these websites and I will able to see updates as soon as they come out. I look forward to reading about new teaching ideas and projects and finding new recipes to make!
RSS feeds can be very useful for teachers. For example, teachers can subscribe to different websites and blogs (such as the ones named above) and get the latest lesson plans, activities, and classroom ideas. Google Reader and RSS feeds can be great tools for keeping educators aware and knowledgeable about the events happening around the world, so that they can share the latest news with their students.
RSS feeds can be very useful for teachers. For example, teachers can subscribe to different websites and blogs (such as the ones named above) and get the latest lesson plans, activities, and classroom ideas. Google Reader and RSS feeds can be great tools for keeping educators aware and knowledgeable about the events happening around the world, so that they can share the latest news with their students.
Thing #9: Image Generators
http://www.imagechef.com/
The first image generator that I tried was Image Chef. I used the quote "Children are the world's most valuable resource and its best hope for the future," spoken by John F. Kennedy. I chose the apple shape because that is usually a symbol for education. I absolutely love this quote and combining the words to make a visual image is inspiring. I would love to make this into a photograph, frame it, and then hang it in my future classroom!
http://www.signgeneratormaker.com/
The second image I created using Sign Generator Maker. This website was a little more complicated and shall we say, disorganized, in comparison to Image Chef. It took me a while to find a sign that I liked and since it wouldn't let me copy and paste the HTML code, I had to save the image to my computer.
These image generators could be used to decorate the classroom. For example, children could choose a short poem, copy and paste the text into Image Chef and then have a visual representation of the poem. This application could also be used as an introductory activity. Children could type in their name and words that describe them, along with activities and foods they enjoy and then choose an image to represent themselves.
Thing #8: Please...no more Flickr...
When I first saw that Thing #8 was about Flickr, I wanted to throw a temper tantrum. I strongly dislike Flickr and I had no interest in using the website again. I began exploring some of the mash-ups and I instantly became obsessed with "Spell with Flickr." When I was in high school, I took a photography class. One of my favorite projects was when we had to go out and take photographs of things that looked like letters so we could eventually spell out a word. When it came to "Spell with Flickr," creating the words was one thing; uploading them was entirely different. It took me a while to figure out how to get them to show up on my blog, but it actually turned out to be pretty straightforward.
Applications such as "Spell with Flickr" and "Mappr" could be used in various ways in the classroom. Mappr would be great to use for a geography unit. Children could find pictures of places they have been or places they would like to go, and those pictures could be uploaded and positioned on a map. Images could be placed in the classroom blog so parents could see examples of their child's work. "Big Huge Labs" offers a variety of applications, such as jigsaw. Most children love puzzles; Jigsaw would be great for an indoor recess option or as a quiet learning activity if a child has completed their work early.
As for my feelings about sharing photos online, I think it is fine as long as they are appropriate. Especially when working with children, teachers need to be very aware of what their students are being exposed to. In addition, if teachers are uploading pictures of their students to their classroom blog, they must get the parent's permission first.
Applications such as "Spell with Flickr" and "Mappr" could be used in various ways in the classroom. Mappr would be great to use for a geography unit. Children could find pictures of places they have been or places they would like to go, and those pictures could be uploaded and positioned on a map. Images could be placed in the classroom blog so parents could see examples of their child's work. "Big Huge Labs" offers a variety of applications, such as jigsaw. Most children love puzzles; Jigsaw would be great for an indoor recess option or as a quiet learning activity if a child has completed their work early.
As for my feelings about sharing photos online, I think it is fine as long as they are appropriate. Especially when working with children, teachers need to be very aware of what their students are being exposed to. In addition, if teachers are uploading pictures of their students to their classroom blog, they must get the parent's permission first.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Thing #7: Flickr
I chose not to create a Flickr account for Thing #7. This is the first time I have ever been on the website and the first thing I noticed was that it seemed very hard to navigate. I went through the tutorial and it helped a little, but I was still slightly confused. The tutorial led me to the White House Flickr page, as well as the NASA page. It was very interesting to look through the photos in these groups; one that especially caught my eye was the satellite photo of the aftermath of 9/11. It was crazy to think that something so horrific looked so "minimal" from space.
It was hard for me to find a tag that interested me. I searched words such as education, food, dog, home decorating, etc and nothing really caught my eye. Finally, I searched the word "Cedarburg," which is my home town in Wisconsin. I miss home just about every day that I'm here, and eventually my husband and I would like to move back. I found images that local businesses have uploaded, as well as photos of some of my favorite places. Seeing these pictures put a smile on my face and made me excited to return home. Despite this, I really dislike the site because it is not user-friendly at all. Even after the tutorial, I still felt lost; I would rather upload and view pictures on Facebook. I tried over and over to upload an image as a URL and I kept getting an error message saying that the image was not "public." Next, I tried to send the picture to my email so I could upload it from there; unfortunately, it would not let me do that unless I created an account.
After almost 30 minutes of trying, I gave up trying to upload a picture to this blog post. The following is a link to the Cedarburg Chamber of Commerce group.
Cedarburg Chamber of Commerce
What a pain in the booty! I am not impressed with this website one bit...Hopefully my next post will be more positive.
It was hard for me to find a tag that interested me. I searched words such as education, food, dog, home decorating, etc and nothing really caught my eye. Finally, I searched the word "Cedarburg," which is my home town in Wisconsin. I miss home just about every day that I'm here, and eventually my husband and I would like to move back. I found images that local businesses have uploaded, as well as photos of some of my favorite places. Seeing these pictures put a smile on my face and made me excited to return home. Despite this, I really dislike the site because it is not user-friendly at all. Even after the tutorial, I still felt lost; I would rather upload and view pictures on Facebook. I tried over and over to upload an image as a URL and I kept getting an error message saying that the image was not "public." Next, I tried to send the picture to my email so I could upload it from there; unfortunately, it would not let me do that unless I created an account.
After almost 30 minutes of trying, I gave up trying to upload a picture to this blog post. The following is a link to the Cedarburg Chamber of Commerce group.
Cedarburg Chamber of Commerce
What a pain in the booty! I am not impressed with this website one bit...Hopefully my next post will be more positive.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Thing #6: So many choices!
The Web 2.0 tool I chose to explore is called Evernote. This handy application is a note-taking device that can be used and transfered between Macs, PCs, and even some Smartphones. Registered users can also use the website to access their Evernote account wherever they are. The basic version is free, which makes it even better!
This application/website is great for many reasons. First, you can take pictures of things you like, upload them, and sort them into categories such as: things to buy, redecorating ideas, etc. Users can also record verbal memos and upload them onto Evernote. This application is also great for saving websites. Evernote will keep all your favorite sites in one place and also has the capability of taking screenshots, so you only have to store the pages you need. Additionally, users can create "notebooks" to save all their important notes in one place.
This application can be useful in so many ways for teachers and students alike. Teachers can use it to record observations about their students, bookmark websites, videos, and lesson ideas, and create a shared "classroom notebook" so that all the students have access to important information. Students can use Evernote to take notes in class or as a virtual "assignment notebook," among many other things.
Website: Evernote
Video featured on website: Use of Evernote in Schools
This application/website is great for many reasons. First, you can take pictures of things you like, upload them, and sort them into categories such as: things to buy, redecorating ideas, etc. Users can also record verbal memos and upload them onto Evernote. This application is also great for saving websites. Evernote will keep all your favorite sites in one place and also has the capability of taking screenshots, so you only have to store the pages you need. Additionally, users can create "notebooks" to save all their important notes in one place.
This application can be useful in so many ways for teachers and students alike. Teachers can use it to record observations about their students, bookmark websites, videos, and lesson ideas, and create a shared "classroom notebook" so that all the students have access to important information. Students can use Evernote to take notes in class or as a virtual "assignment notebook," among many other things.
Website: Evernote
Video featured on website: Use of Evernote in Schools
Thing #5: School 2.0
The two videos highlighted on APSU's 23 Things Blog provided a helpful explanation as to the meaning of Web 2.0. This opened up a whole new understanding for me as to how these new technologies can be used productively in the classroom.
I used to think that having too much technology in the classroom could be a "bad thing." Maybe that's because I grew up without cable, I had dial-up internet until I was a sophomore in high school (2006), and my sister and I played outside, instead of being immersed in video games. I realize that times are changing, schools (and students) are becoming more technologically advanced and it is generally to our advantage to keep up with the ever-changing world of technology.
To me, School 2.0 is the phrase that describes how schools are changing to include all of these new technologies. Teachers are using iPads, Smartboards, Blogs, YouTube, social networking and so on to facilitate learning and engage their students. Children have a short attention span as it is, but adding interactive technology to lessons and activities will keep them interested, and hopefully, make the learning "stick."
I think schools will continue to change with the technology, constantly adding new gadgets and gizmos to help students learn and grow. Let's just hope they don't find a way to replace teachers with holograms...
I used to think that having too much technology in the classroom could be a "bad thing." Maybe that's because I grew up without cable, I had dial-up internet until I was a sophomore in high school (2006), and my sister and I played outside, instead of being immersed in video games. I realize that times are changing, schools (and students) are becoming more technologically advanced and it is generally to our advantage to keep up with the ever-changing world of technology.
To me, School 2.0 is the phrase that describes how schools are changing to include all of these new technologies. Teachers are using iPads, Smartboards, Blogs, YouTube, social networking and so on to facilitate learning and engage their students. Children have a short attention span as it is, but adding interactive technology to lessons and activities will keep them interested, and hopefully, make the learning "stick."
I think schools will continue to change with the technology, constantly adding new gadgets and gizmos to help students learn and grow. Let's just hope they don't find a way to replace teachers with holograms...
Thing #4: Why Commenting is so Important to Bloggers...
Honestly, I did not even realize that a reader could comment on blogs until I read the instructions for Thing #4. This is proof of how clueless I am about the blogging world, and new technology in general. I have read plenty of blogs before, but I always stop reading at the end of the content, and obviously, I don't pay much attention to anything else.
After reading the four articles posted in the "APSU 23 Things" blog, I've realized why blogging is so important. Commenting helps to create a sense of community and interaction among the writer and the readers because it opens up many doors for discussion. It allows readers to share their ideas, give constructive criticism, and offer new solutions to a particular problem. Additionally, comments allow people to discuss common interests, which in turn, creates a sense of community. Commenting literally invites interaction between the writer and his or her readers.
Blue Skunk Blog's post about commenting was short, sweet and to the point. He states, "Anywho, if you would like to make a blogger's day, leave a comment on a post. Agree, disagree, add, or just say thanks, but make it heart-felt. Make it relevant. Don't be a troll." Writers can invite these genuine comments by asking questions in your blog, as the author of ProBlogger suggests. Reading the articles mentioned above, as well as the others, made me realize just how many "rules" there are to blogging.
The first comment that I made was on "Moore to Learn's" blog. She expressed how much trouble she had choosing a name for her blog. I shared the same sentiment and also discussed why it was so hard to choose a name. The title of a blog is the first thing readers see, and of course, authors want to make a good first impression. I will be updating this post as other bloggers add more content to their blogs. I also commented on "Lugomania's" blog because I agree that Youtube is a wonderful tool for teaching, but I also think that teachers need to pay special attention to the videos they are choosing. Tammy (Tammy's Tales) also made a good point in her blog about how the key to teaching is to "beg, borrow, and steal." I agree completely--why reinvent the wheel if you don't have to! I also commented on "csilvers" blog--she had great ideas about making personalized monopoly cards for rewards, as well as newsletter templates. Finally, I commented on "Mixon's Magical 23 Things." On her blog, there was a conversation about Itunes versus Pandora. I recently discovered Pandora and I absolutely love it. I think it would be a great website to use during student work time.
I also commented on Mrs. Cassidy's Classroom Blog. This blog is so great because she uploads videos of her class and their learning experiences and allows children to write about what they've learned. She gives many helpful suggestions and ideas about teaching first graders, which is the grade I would love to teach. Her latest post was a video of the kids summarizing what they learned in first grade. My comment was about the use of technology in the classroom and how it contributes to an interactive learning environment.
The other blog I commented on is called Blue Kitchen. I love cooking and trying new foods (my husband is my guinea pig when it comes to trying new recipes!) The author had recently posted an article about organic versus inorganic foods. I commented on it by sharing a "rule" I heard about buying organic foods.
Monday, September 3, 2012
Thing #3: Blogs in the Classroom
As I alluded to in the last post, blogs don't always have to about nothing. They can be useful, too. For example, I've read blogs to get ideas about new recipes, good books to read, fun things to try, and so on. These blogs have inspired me to try new things, which is usually always a good thing!
As an educator, I look forward to reading other's blogs about teaching methods, lesson plans, classroom set-up, learning stations and all of the wonderful, work-intensive things that go along with this profession. Many of my professors have said things like, "There is no use in reinventing the wheel," or "Teaching is about begging, borrowing and stealing!" There is a lot of truth in these sayings; it is a waste of time to try to come up with a unique, never-been-taught lesson when there is a plethora of ready-made lessons out there. The trick is to put your own unique spin on these lessons. The beauty of being a teacher is that we have the ability to change, modify, and elaborate the lesson so that it fits the needs of the students in the classroom! Blogs are an excellent resource for teachers to share ideas and discuss the successes, failures, and improvements of a lesson.
Blogs can also be used in the classroom as online "classroom newsletters." I remember one of the coolest projects I did in middle school was to create my own newspaper about myself. I loved coming up with the name, creating a layout, inserting pictures, and so on. Creating a blog could be a classroom project; students could vote on titles, choose pictures to include, and create their own posts. Communication with parents is vitally important to the classroom community and a blog would be just one way to keep the parents "in the know." It is important to keep in mind that not all families will have access to the internet, so blogging should not be the only way to keep in touch with parents.
Older students can use blogs to write about their experiences with certain lessons or units, communicate with the teacher, or have discussions with classmates. Nowadays, students are more engaged if they are working with technology as opposed to pen and paper. There are endless ways to use blogging technology in the classroom!
As an educator, I look forward to reading other's blogs about teaching methods, lesson plans, classroom set-up, learning stations and all of the wonderful, work-intensive things that go along with this profession. Many of my professors have said things like, "There is no use in reinventing the wheel," or "Teaching is about begging, borrowing and stealing!" There is a lot of truth in these sayings; it is a waste of time to try to come up with a unique, never-been-taught lesson when there is a plethora of ready-made lessons out there. The trick is to put your own unique spin on these lessons. The beauty of being a teacher is that we have the ability to change, modify, and elaborate the lesson so that it fits the needs of the students in the classroom! Blogs are an excellent resource for teachers to share ideas and discuss the successes, failures, and improvements of a lesson.
Blogs can also be used in the classroom as online "classroom newsletters." I remember one of the coolest projects I did in middle school was to create my own newspaper about myself. I loved coming up with the name, creating a layout, inserting pictures, and so on. Creating a blog could be a classroom project; students could vote on titles, choose pictures to include, and create their own posts. Communication with parents is vitally important to the classroom community and a blog would be just one way to keep the parents "in the know." It is important to keep in mind that not all families will have access to the internet, so blogging should not be the only way to keep in touch with parents.
Older students can use blogs to write about their experiences with certain lessons or units, communicate with the teacher, or have discussions with classmates. Nowadays, students are more engaged if they are working with technology as opposed to pen and paper. There are endless ways to use blogging technology in the classroom!
Thing #2: There's a first time for everything...even blogging!
In my four years of college, I've only been excited about a few projects, and yes, this is one of them. Unfortunately, many experiences in college classrooms fall into this awful, monotonous cycle: death by lecture, death by powerpoint, death by paper after paper after paper. Maybe I'm exaggerating just a little, but the one common thread among the so-called "exciting projects" is that they consisted of hands-on, real-life learning opportunities. I look forward to this project because it offers so many chances to experience and "play with" these Web 2.0 tools. I am beyond excited to find out how I can integrate these tools within my classroom community.
As the title above indicates, this is my first blog...ever! When I first found out that I would be creating a blog in this class, I was secretly excited, although I had openly laughed at those people who created seemingly pointless blogs about their normal lives. OK, I admit it...I read those blogs where people wrote about trying new recipes, going to the organic grocery store, finding a ridiculously great shoe sale, or getting a free non-fat latte at Starbucks. In general, creating this blog as been a pretty easy experience so far. The only difficult part was that I was pretty much dragged, kicking and screaming, into the blogosphere. At one point in my life, I refused to be one of those annoying people with a blog. Regrettably, I find myself becoming one of those people I once laughed at. At this point, all I can hope for is that my posts are not as pointless as the ones described above.
When choosing the title of my blog, I wanted something that would be creative and memorable. The first name I chose was "Brennan's Blog." Talk about boring. I thought "Brennan's Brainstorm" would be creative, but then I spent 45 minutes trying to find a background that matched the title. Finally, I decided on "The Brennan Breeze" which I think coincides beautifully with my tropical, serene background picture. When I created the URL, I was not paying attention to what the teacher was saying about using your name, so of course, I used my full name in the URL. I quickly changed it to "mrsb23things" because this is a blog about my future profession, so why not use my future "professional name?"
The avatar was a whole new experience for me. I had never created one before, but I had fun choosing the hair and the outfit. I chose to make an avatar that looks like me; I guess it had never crossed my mind to make one that didn't look like me. I did feel a little frustrated at the lack of outfit choices for my avatar, but I settled on an outfit that would fit my professional lifestyle as an educator. Then, after I changed my theme, I thought, "Who would wear dress pants and a collared shirt on the beach?" I decided to change my avatar's outfit to something a little more "beachy," and I gave her a Starbucks cup for good measure. Teachers can never have enough coffee, after all...
Thing #1: Lifelong Learning
What does it mean to be a lifelong learner? As educators, it is important to understand what this complicated phrase means so that we can instill these values into our students. "The 7 1/2 Habits of Highly Effective Lifelong Learners" is a good reminder about what it means to be a lifelong learner. It is critical for educators to be well-versed in these habits and more importantly, to practice these habits themselves. After all, how can we expect our students to be even slightly motivated, interested, and excited about learning for a lifetime if we are not all of those things ourselves?
Reflection is also another essential practice for educators. After reflecting on "The 7 1/2 Habits of Highly Effective Lifelong Learners," I realized that I will have to make a conscious effort to practice each of these habits. The easiest habit for me is habit #1-"Begin with the end in mind." Because of my childhood and the way I was raised, I am always looking ahead and trying to foresee any problems that might occur. I always have a Plan A, B, C and Z. I know that when I have my own classroom, I will not have a lot of trouble staying organized and prepared. I understand that although it is a lot of work to implement a lesson and have several back-up lessons at the same time, it is worth avoiding that awful feeling of unpreparedness. Staying prepared and organized is also important when thinking about the end result. For me, having a set of step-by-step directions and a plan is an easy way to stay on top of my goals, evaluate my progress, and re-evaluate if necessary.
I practice habit #1 so often and so religiously that I sometimes forget to enjoy the journey to the end result, which leads me to habit #7 1/2-"Play!" This habit is, by far, the hardest for me, but it is also one of the most important habits of an educator. Teachers must make every effort possible to make learning fun so that children stay interested and involved and I realize that I need to make a constant effort to have a healthy balance between habit #1 and habit #7 1/2 within my classroom. The reason that education is such a rewarding profession is because teachers get to watch children grow, understand and transform over the course of a year. Mastering habit #7 1/2 will be a continuous journey for me but I am counting on my students to remind me of the importance of enjoying the process to the end result, which is creating a classroom of lifelong learners.
Reflection is also another essential practice for educators. After reflecting on "The 7 1/2 Habits of Highly Effective Lifelong Learners," I realized that I will have to make a conscious effort to practice each of these habits. The easiest habit for me is habit #1-"Begin with the end in mind." Because of my childhood and the way I was raised, I am always looking ahead and trying to foresee any problems that might occur. I always have a Plan A, B, C and Z. I know that when I have my own classroom, I will not have a lot of trouble staying organized and prepared. I understand that although it is a lot of work to implement a lesson and have several back-up lessons at the same time, it is worth avoiding that awful feeling of unpreparedness. Staying prepared and organized is also important when thinking about the end result. For me, having a set of step-by-step directions and a plan is an easy way to stay on top of my goals, evaluate my progress, and re-evaluate if necessary.
I practice habit #1 so often and so religiously that I sometimes forget to enjoy the journey to the end result, which leads me to habit #7 1/2-"Play!" This habit is, by far, the hardest for me, but it is also one of the most important habits of an educator. Teachers must make every effort possible to make learning fun so that children stay interested and involved and I realize that I need to make a constant effort to have a healthy balance between habit #1 and habit #7 1/2 within my classroom. The reason that education is such a rewarding profession is because teachers get to watch children grow, understand and transform over the course of a year. Mastering habit #7 1/2 will be a continuous journey for me but I am counting on my students to remind me of the importance of enjoying the process to the end result, which is creating a classroom of lifelong learners.
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