Thing #15

So, basically stated, a wiki is a central location where users can edit and save information without having to send, receive and organize separate emails and files. Instead of planning an activity by sending information to all participants, the participants can simply sign in to the wiki and retrieve or add information about the activity. While exploring this activity, I found wiki’s to be extremely simply to use and navigate. Educator’s will find wiki’s beneficial because it enables a streamlined process for planning events such as dances, afterschool activities, and other collaborative efforts. Similarly, wiki’s provide a place for students to use when planning their own activities. Organizations such as the Student Government Association can use a wiki to successfully plan and run the Student Government when planning social events both during and after school hours. Students are no longer limited to the school day when conducting meetings or performing other coordination efforts that would normally require large amounts of missed time from the class. Wiki’s free up that time by centralizing the information and allowing access from any remote location with internet capability.

For my APSU23thingssandbox exploration, I decided to add two pictures from my blog and post about them. I also posted a copy of “Thing 2” from my blog. To be honest, I was unclear on the instructions and spent some time attempting to figure out the intent of the sandbox. I am still not clear and honestly could have spent my time on something a little more constructive for me. However, I gave it my best effort and feel pretty good about using wiki’s in the future.

Thing #14

Mind maps and flow charts are useful tools for assisting the user in completing projects or assignments by providing logical sequencing, and archiving of information. Mind maps allow the user to see connections between various thoughts and ideas by mapping them out on the computer screen for visual representation. Similarly, flow charts take ideas and information through a sequence of events from its beginning to its end. For me, mind mapping is the first step taken in completing a project because it allows you to get all of your thoughts out. Then the information can be “mapped” in sequential order to show the connections and eliminating any information that is not needed. Once the mapping is complete, a flow chart can sequence the information so that it flows seamlessly from its beginning to its end.

I plan to use the mind meister tool to archive my notes and brainstorm ideas for my upcoming paper about my observations of the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corp at a local area high school. This tool should enable me to complete my project by organizing everything in a clear, concise manner which I can then use to produce an organized, complete representation of my observation experience.

Thing #13

Zoho Writer has quite a few useful tools. The idea that web based documents can be stored, retrieved, edited and published without actually saving it to the hard drive is outstanding. As a teacher, having the ability to collaborate with colleagues is quite an advantage given the possibility for corrupt files, viruses, and worms that could destroy your work. Students can also find web based applications for word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations useful when working on group projects. Each student could access the application, update or review the collaborative work, and then publish the finished product for grading without it being necessary to be in the same place. Web based productivity tools such as Zoho writer and Google docs offer students an alternate means to store their individual work for retrieval from any computer. As the student moves from the classroom to the library and then home, the files are ready for retrieval and use whenever they are desired.

Personally, I was more comfortable with Google docs only because I have a Google account. Zoho Writer did appear similar to the common Word application used by most people, but was not a deal maker for me. I like the way that a Google doc allows you to upload your file directly, then share it with your friends, coworkers, or colleagues. In addition, while working in Google doc one could easily transition to other Google applications using the toolbar at the top. In all, both Zoho and Google offer the user a secure and effective way to create and use documents, spreadsheets and other applications right on the web for easy retrieval, sharing and convenient publishing.

Thing #12

Google calendar

U.S. News

Nascar

For this exercise I chose to explore and create a Google calendar and Google alert. All of the tools for use in this activity offer a degree of application for educators. The calendar tool is always something that can be utilized as a schedule keeper, or to track assignment deadlines, etc. The alert function is an advanced means to receive updated feeds about literally anything you want. I chose to have my alerts sent as an RSS feed to my Google reader account. However, the option of sending them to a particular email address is available. In an educational setting, the calendar would be of particular use provided the school does not mandate using their calendar tool. In addition, the alert feature does not seem to be of value for the classroom. To me, this feature is more for personalized preferences such as sports, news, or happenings geared towards those things that interest the user. I also tried the Google translator tool and found it fun and extremely easy to use. You simply type in what you want, then hit the translate button and it is retyped into the new language. This is a tool that can come in handy for quick translations in the classroom.

Thing #11

For this exercise I found myself a little overwhelmed with the amount of RSS feeds there are. I reviewed the search tools and found the Google’s Blog search was the simplest way for me to add subscriptions to my reader account. I managed to subscribe to several feeds that I would like to follow and will read them daily. For me the search tool “Syndic8” seemed very complex and a little confusing. The web page was extremely cluttered with various links to different content feeds. As a new user of the RSS function, I am still not sure of what exactly I want to subscribe to, so the less busy it looks the better. During my exploration, I was surprised to find that just about every website and blog has the capability of RSS feed. The options are limitless when it comes to decisions about what to include in your reader and what to leave out. I just kept it simple and chose a few feeds to subscribe to the discuss history. I will monitor them for a while to see if I need to add any feeds that might better fit my desires. I was really drawn to the Google search tool for finding different feeds. Since I enjoy reading the news headlines, I am mostly attracted to news type feeds that discuss the day’s events from a global perspective. I will let everyone know what I find out.

Thing #10

The subject of RSS feeds really did not interest me prior to completing this learning activity. Usually, I would open the various web pages of news that I like to read in order to be updated on the latest headlines, or facts. However, I now know that subscribing to those RSS feeds that I am interested in, makes my time management skills a little sharper. I especially appreciate the fact that from one web site, I can view and read everything I enjoy. This will definitely come in hand when I want to be updated about current events and there is a time constraint such as lunch time or planning where quick reading is necessary. Also, RSS feeds may assist with lesson planning by enabling me to research history headlines or current news events more systematically. With RSS feeds teachers can import a “feed” that fits the current discussion directly into the class for the students to see for themselves. Personally, I chose to subscribe to the following feeds using Google Reader: the Cool Cat Teacher Blog, ESPN’s Major League Baseball feed, Fox News Headlines, the Stuff You Missed in History Class, and Today in History. I plan to read them every day or so in order to familiarize myself to each of their particular features. I will let everyone know how my progress is.

Thing # 9

http://www.imagechef.com/ic/final_widget.jsp

http://www.headerbar.com/templates/

For this posting, I chose two image generators that focused on my home state and my blog name. For the first image, I used one of the generators called "Image Chef". This particular image maker allows the user tocreate a personalized license plate. I chose to create a license plate from the State where I was born, Maryland. The name “Bocephus” is the name of our family’s dog. "Bo" is a Treeing Walker Coon Hound and he was adopted from an animal shelter in Kentucky. This particular image generator was very simple to use and required no software to download to your computer. To use it, you simply open the desired license plate image you want and type in your desired name. Then import it directly to where you want by following the directions listed. The second image generator I chose is a header bar creator. This program allows you to import new headers into your particular blog by simply selecting the style you want and saving it to your blog. I found this program just easy to use as the license plate maker. In the classroom I may use image generators such as these to spruce up some projects my students may work on either individually, or in collaboration with others. Importing images into class projects using image makers found on the internet are a fun way to make history lessons come alive. If used correctly, projects and lessons plans developed using animations usually captures attention, and sparks positive thought processes.