Thing 7

At first I was a little skeptical about Flickr. I assumed it was just another photo uploading site like Photobucket. It is similar but has so many useful features. I like that you can choose a certain year in time to search for photos. First, I think that being able to post your pictures on Flickr for your friends and family to see is a great way to keep in touch. Also, everyone can comment on your pictures and it will keep up communication with friends and family that you might not have a chance to before. I also appreciate the privacy of the site. It is great to know that you can have the option to set who can see your photos. I especially like the Watch the World with Flickr. I think that I could use it in my future classroom to show the students photos I may have not had access to before. For example, Flickr gives you access to view photos from The Library of Congress, The Smithsonian, The New York Public Library, and The U.S. National Archives. In addition, I thought that having different groups was a great way to narrow down photos by interest. For example, I like a lot of vintage images so I types in vintage and came across the photos presented below and was happily surprised. It actually made me feel happy to see the photos I found. I also found a group put together where the photographers put together a story in 5 frames. I thought that was a cool idea. Here is an example of one title Short Term Memory: http://www.flickr.com/groups/visualstory/discuss/72157627637574313/ , it was cute, right?
This next photo is great! It includes a photo from Bologna, Via Ugo Bassi, 1938 in a newer more present day photo. The photographer lined the pictures up perfectly. For example, a building that was built many years ago are in the pictures and even the windows and lines on the sidewalks are lined up perfectly. For example, this picture shows an old vintage picture of a soldier walking down the street and this picture is in the main picture that is present day. If that makes sense I do not know. But it is great. The photographer did this in more than just one picture and with more then one setting and different people. I love everything vintage and these pictures are awesome. Check this one out by Giuseppe Savini

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8913851@N04/6191244295/in/pool-67147471@N00/

Thing 6

Picnik is an online photo editing site. It is free to use, but for an upgrade to more features there is a fee once per month. I thought it was really fun to play around with. I used the free version which allowed me to take my photo and edit it. There are basic edits such as cropping, rotating, sharpening, and resizing. However, the effects list is huge. For example, black and white, sepia, boost, soften, vignette, matte, infrared film, lomo-ish, holga-ish, gritty, HDR-ish, and the list goes on and on. You can add text to your photos, stickers from many categories, frames, and even touch ups such as blemish remover, and insta-thin, highlights, sun tan, teeth whitening, and lip color. Like I said, for some of these features you have to pay a month fee, but that is the only thing I dislike about it. It was super easy to use and save to my own computer. As far as how much I would use it in school I am uncertain that it has any academic uses. However, I could use the photo tools to enhance or edit photos I might use in my classroom and on the walls. For example, some features were about Earth Day, Breast cancer awareness, and holidays. http://www.picnik.com

Thing 5

School 2.0 means that the students of today are not the same as the students of yesterday. Teachers cannot teach today’s students the same way that they taught yesterdays’. Students of today are using IPods, computers, game systems, smartphones, Yahoo, Wikipedia, Google, and You Tube just to name a few. School 2.0 is affecting how students learn. It helps students experiment on their own and not just memorize material. For example, instead of just giving a student a report to do on weatherization, the student could make a complete presentation with animation, figures, videos and graphs. In addition, School 2.0 is helping with communication. Students are now using Facebook, Flickr, and blogs to communicate. Teachers can now use a blog to present material to a student who may have been absent. In conclusion, the students of today have changed and I feel that the way teachers teach them has to change with them. School 2.0 gives teachers and students this possibility. It means that the future of schools with forever be transforming because the students and teachers are changing.

Thing 4

Commenting on blogs helps to create a sense of community and interaction because when someone meaningfully participates in the blogging you are creating meaningful relationships and a community. Also, by getting and receiving comments like links, tweets, feedback, or a simply hello helps to spread the content or message. For example, by blogging on our education blogs we are able to look at and receive information that we may not have found on our own. In addition, by responding to comments you are showing consideration for the comment you received. You are acknowledging your readers and showing appreciation. This all helps in the sense of community and interaction. 

I commented on ADuchscher's thing four because he gave a great idea for using blogs to help his students. He presented the idea that teachers could use their blogs to post examples of what he will be looking for when he assigns his reports. I thought this was great because it would help the students to become more clear on the assignment. In addition, it might help a student who may have been to shy in class to ask a question. This gave me a personal connection because in middle and high school I was the shy student who may not have asked for additional help when I needed it. 



Bretlea's thing 9 stuck out to me because I had a difficulty time navigating through the image generators. I was not to happy with what I was able to come up with but was excited when I saw Bretlea's post. Her ideas were fun and creative and promoted a fun learning environment.

Kayla Copeland's thing 4 was interesting. She gave a brief summary as to what she had read which gave readers an idea as to where she was coming from. Commenting on others blogs or websites should be taken seriously and she made that point. Our comments should have meaning and not just be said to draw attention to our own blogs. I think our blogs are about creating these relationships where we might share the same interests and learn new ideas and information from each other.

Robert Gallowitz had an awesome overview as to why teachers need to keep up with the ever changing technology. School 2.0, to me, is about the way students have changed in the way they learn. Since this change we as teachers should be expected to learn about and excel in using technology. Students will not be interested in lectures and writing on the board. Today they are using iPods, smartphones, computers, kindles, and many more and they expect teachers to know how to use technology.

I decided to post a comment to Candice Casaday because at first I liked the appearance of her blog. After reading through a few of her "things" I noticed her picture from flickr. It was very clear and I could see every detail in the picture. She mentioned that she had not used flickr before and neither have I. In addition, she said that she would like to use flickr in her classroom to present pictures in her lectures or presentations. I thought it was a good way to use flickr in the classroom because including graphics in my lecture will keep the students interested or get them back on track if they start getting loud or not focusing.

Thing 3

Using a blog in my future classroom

To begin, I would use a blog in my classroom for classroom management. By posting a blog I would be able to provide my students and their parents information on class requirements. I would also be able to post handouts, inform students and parents of upcoming events or scheduled activities. Also, I would be able to post homework assignments. I think this would be a great tool for parents to use and to get involved in their child’s education. Some students may be in the habit of telling their parents that they do not have any homework when they really do. Parents would be given the opportunity to know exactly what is going on in class. In addition, if students have any questions about homework or projects they may be working on they could post them on the blog.

Another way I could use a blog in the classroom is for a student portfolios. Here I could post how my students are doing in class and what areas they may need to work on. Since a blog is something that everyone would be able to see I would not give out any personal information. This blog would specifically be for the class as a whole.

I never thought about using a blog before in my classroom, but after having this assignment I am glad that I will have the knowledge now to make a blog and have it available to my students and parents.

Thing 2

Setting up my blog was easy, but editing it started out a little frustrating. I had to go to a different website to create an avatar then figure out how to get the avatar to the blog. It was not difficult but having to jump back to different webpages and register or sign up for different sites was frustrating to me. First, I had to set up a user name. I decided to keep my name simple. I had to use my last name for the assignment, but I used other letters in my first and middle name to add to my blog name. Then, I had to create the avatar. This was interesting. However, having to sign up just to assess more features held me up. If I had not signed up on the avatar page I would have had to set up an avatar that looked nothing like myself. Afterwards, going through the clothes, facial features, accessories, and hair was fun. I decided to go with an avatar that had my hair and worn an outfit suitable for a teacher. Of course, I added a cup of coffee to show a part of my personality. I drink coffee every morning to start me day.  

Thing 1

7 1/2 Habits

I love the idea of lifelong learning. Lifelong learning is one of the main reasons I decided I wanted to become a teacher. So, I think that habit #1 is my easiest; I do have an end in mind. I enjoy being in school and learning something new every day. What better way to continue doing what I enjoy then to become a teacher. In addition, I feel that lifelong learning will keep my brain active. Learning something new and different makes life more interesting. I would be very bored if I did exactly the same things every day and never had any new experiences. Also, I am good as using technology to my advantage. The internet has helped me tremendously when I am stuck on a topic or idea that I do not understand. Also, in the past teachers have allowed students to bring voice recording devices to record lectures. I have utilized this to my advantage and it helped me learn the material. At the present moment I feel like my disadvantages are obstacles and that I do view problems as challenges. There are many other things in my life right now that also need a lot of my attention and school sometimes has to be put on the backburner. However, it is on my mind all day until I can get to it. Then, by the time I have a chance I am worn out from the day and probably do not give 100%. Still, I am going to keep trying and giving it all I have until I reach my final goal, to become a teacher and a lifelong learner.   

Cool tool that Google has to offer. Google Translate

Google translate allows you to write anything in any language and it translates it to any other language.


Hello,my name is Candice. I am enrolled in educaion 3040 with Professor Ann Wall.


Hola, mi nombre es Candice. Estoy matriculado en la educación de 3040 con la profesora Ann Wall.


http://translate.google.com

Web 2.0 Awards List: Remember the Milk

Remember the milk is on online website that allows users to set up and organize daily tasks or to do lists. I am excited about this website because it will allow me to write down and organize, by due date, my school assignments. I had actually been stressing about how I will remember everything. Now that I have found this site I will not have to write it on random sheets of paper and accidently forget about it. There are alerts that can be set up before a task or assignment is due. Assignments can be sent to my cell phone, email, or I can check the site and mark off tasks. I love that I can even set up assignments and manage them from iGoogle. Each time I log onto my computer my iGoogle webpage will appear with the Remember the Milk gadget. I can review upcoming tasks and add, edit, complete or postpone assignments with this gadget. It will really help keep me on task.
https://www.rememberthemilk.com