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!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
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!!
Stats Assignment
I setup an account with www.sitemeter.com because I liked the way the results were shown better than the other statistic site. I placed the counter at the bottom of my blog site using the directions they gave on their page. That simple step-by-step directions on how to add to blogger really simplified finding where to position it – very nice! It will be very interesting to see how many people access the site and where they are from.
Once again, I disagree with your view that there is no value in these stats to education other than showing or proving there are readers all over the world. I think that using this tool with students gives them some real world interest. It may just provide enough interest to one student that reaches them - - when no other could! Never under estimate thechnology OR statistics!
Once again, I disagree with your view that there is no value in these stats to education other than showing or proving there are readers all over the world. I think that using this tool with students gives them some real world interest. It may just provide enough interest to one student that reaches them - - when no other could! Never under estimate thechnology OR statistics!
Map Assignment
I took a look at both of the Social Map sites but didn’t spend too much time dwelling on them. Adding the Cluster map was very straight forward and not difficult at all. I will be anxious to see those hits start happening on my map!
I disagree with your statement that there is no value in these maps to education other than showing or proving there are readers all over the world. First of all, you are tweaking the interest of KIDS looking at MAPS and helping them discover there are people all over the world doing the same thing they are doing on a COMPUTER! Any tool using technology that allows students to discover things about their world is of great value in my book!
I disagree with your statement that there is no value in these maps to education other than showing or proving there are readers all over the world. First of all, you are tweaking the interest of KIDS looking at MAPS and helping them discover there are people all over the world doing the same thing they are doing on a COMPUTER! Any tool using technology that allows students to discover things about their world is of great value in my book!
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