Course: Exploring Web 2.0 - SWheeler: "Blogs and Blogging
Wiki Webpages
Basic HTML
RSS - Real Simple Syndication
Blogrolls
Blog Searching
Tagging
Choosing Your Favorite Blogging Software
Social Bookmarks
Image Tools
Podcasting
Video and Slide Tools
Personal Learning Communities
Online Storage and Productivity Tools
Skype
Social Maps"
Monday, January 12, 2009
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Online Productivity Tools
I tried the three online productivity products and found that Google Docs was my favorite due to its variety of content [calendars, docs, presentations, etc] and ease of use. I felt like it was very Office-like. Zoho Writer was my next choice and I found the editing and creating of new documents very easy and innovative on this site. Think Free was my least favorite and I will least likely return to it.
I really liked the fact that you can use tags to label your documents and find them in a variety of folders without having to save them in multiple locations.
I would not be willing to give up Microsoft Office for one of these tools YET – but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen in the future.
I also don’t think schools and businesses should abandon installed versions of these productivity tools for the online version I do think there is a possibility that these types of products will continue to improve and challenge the purchased programs to constantly improve to remain competitive.
At this point, I am still more comfortable using the installed productivity tools without regard to the cost and would choose them over the free tools but I do think there are some really wonderful aspects to consider for their future success.
I really liked the fact that you can use tags to label your documents and find them in a variety of folders without having to save them in multiple locations.
I would not be willing to give up Microsoft Office for one of these tools YET – but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen in the future.
I also don’t think schools and businesses should abandon installed versions of these productivity tools for the online version I do think there is a possibility that these types of products will continue to improve and challenge the purchased programs to constantly improve to remain competitive.
At this point, I am still more comfortable using the installed productivity tools without regard to the cost and would choose them over the free tools but I do think there are some really wonderful aspects to consider for their future success.
Online Storage Sites
I see a great amount of value in these online storage sites and I will definitely use them in the future. What a great way to not only store and back up but to have access to your documents you may need when you are not on your own computer or your school server. You can actually sign in from any where [that has internet access] and have the ability to see and use documents you may need at that time.
I think I would give up my thumb drive to use these accounts. There is always that worry in the back of my mind that, “Oh! What if their internet access is down and I can’t sign in to the online storage site?” These kinds of things keep me up at night! How about you, Shawn?
I don’t think schools should abandon their own student and staff servers. I think this only because we would lose a lot of the control we have right now. Oh! As I write this I can’t believe I’m saying it! Do we NEED to control everything? Hmmmm
As always, there is concern when students are on the World Wide Web. I think there is always a need for teacher and parental supervision and guidance. This type of site is not all that bad in that the students are saving their own content online but there is always that worry of what if….
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Online Discussion Forums
I started off searching for young adult book authors, quilters, readers, tennis players and found, of course, more than a myriad of information on anything you could want!! My husband was having some issues with our Fifth Wheel and he even found a discussion forum that helped him solve his problem, too. Discussion forums are extremely helpful when you have questions.
Anything having to do with communication on the internet is and will be a concern for us as advocates for our students. There are always those people out there that don’t believe rules are made for them. There are negatives but the positive aspect of discussion forums far outweighs them!
Anything having to do with communication on the internet is and will be a concern for us as advocates for our students. There are always those people out there that don’t believe rules are made for them. There are negatives but the positive aspect of discussion forums far outweighs them!
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Digg and Yahoo Buzz
I created accounts in both Digg and Yahoo Buzz. If I had to choose one, I would definitely pick Digg. Personally, though, I will not continue using either one. There are so many superior ways to access information that I feel these don't warrant the time it takes to continue to use them.
I would be very hesitant to use these in the classroom. There are so many ways for students to access excellent information without having to weed through a lot of questionable information that I would not suggest these two sites in an educational setting.
I see a problem with language and reasoning within these types of sites. I feel that could be cyber-bullying could take place and that we should just not go there and save a lot of headaches for our classroom teachers and administrators!
I would be very hesitant to use these in the classroom. There are so many ways for students to access excellent information without having to weed through a lot of questionable information that I would not suggest these two sites in an educational setting.
I see a problem with language and reasoning within these types of sites. I feel that could be cyber-bullying could take place and that we should just not go there and save a lot of headaches for our classroom teachers and administrators!
I found using Twitter very fun and easy. Only two of the original five people I chose to follow were actually using it, so I searched for more and found several people from our class that were actively using Twitter on a daily basis. I thought it was interesting and could be useful in communicating. I didn’t think the site was as in-depth as, say, Facebook though so probably will not continue using it in my personal life.
I don’t see a lot of use other than superficial communications as far as an educational use. Any teacher could use it in planning and make it a tool for their class communications. Beyond that, I don’t see any many other benefits.
The fact students could user Twitter from their computer or cell phone causes me to consider some of the negative aspects of it but overall does not cause that much concern. Technology is developing every minute and there will be so much available on CPU and/or Cell phone very soon. I really think it’s a fact of life and we do not want to go backward – but rather forward.
I would tell my family that Twitter was a communication tool to use similar to instant messaging – rather one dimensional.
I don’t see a lot of use other than superficial communications as far as an educational use. Any teacher could use it in planning and make it a tool for their class communications. Beyond that, I don’t see any many other benefits.
The fact students could user Twitter from their computer or cell phone causes me to consider some of the negative aspects of it but overall does not cause that much concern. Technology is developing every minute and there will be so much available on CPU and/or Cell phone very soon. I really think it’s a fact of life and we do not want to go backward – but rather forward.
I would tell my family that Twitter was a communication tool to use similar to instant messaging – rather one dimensional.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Skype Assignment
I installed Skype without incident and found it to be fairly easy to use! What a cool tool! If anything ever happened to my cell phone, this would be definitely worth having. Until that time, the cell is definitely my phone of preference! I don’t know of anyone else using Skype – other than peers also using it for this class.
Skype would be a great tool if students were to make calls to another school in a different state. Club or Student Council officers could use this to get tips and ideas from each other. This could introduce them to networking – something that will be important to them in their post high school future!
The video aspect would be fabulous for students to have that “visual” aspect of talking to someone in another state. If students were exchanging ideas, they could use the camera to actually show the product to the calling student[s].
Of course, adult supervision should always be first and foremost any time students are making calls on behalf of a class project. There are always those problem children or problem adults who think the rules of etiquette don’t apply to them!!
Skype would be a great tool if students were to make calls to another school in a different state. Club or Student Council officers could use this to get tips and ideas from each other. This could introduce them to networking – something that will be important to them in their post high school future!
The video aspect would be fabulous for students to have that “visual” aspect of talking to someone in another state. If students were exchanging ideas, they could use the camera to actually show the product to the calling student[s].
Of course, adult supervision should always be first and foremost any time students are making calls on behalf of a class project. There are always those problem children or problem adults who think the rules of etiquette don’t apply to them!!
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