THING 13

The above is a picture that I created on google doc.  I very much enjoyed google doc.  It was user friendly and had lots more to offer than Zoho.  For me, Zoho was hard to navigate through and I could never find my files after I created them.  I am sure they are lost somewhere out there in the World Wide Web.  Maybe they will find their way home.... or Not.  The applications that Google Doc offered could be used for educational uses.  There is a program for presentations, where lessons can be prepared and used for in class.  Utilizing the web can also allow for the presentations to be shared easily (or any document created on Google doc).  There is also a database option where a grade book could be created.  Google doc also has a document creator, form creator and a drawing board.  All of these tools have potential to be useful in a classroom setting for both teachers and students.  I think it is neat that all of these tools can be found online in one location for Free!!  That is awesome.
As I said before BOO on Zoho and two thumbs up on Google doc.  I just found Zoho difficult to use and got frustrated. 

THING 12

I explored the iGoogle, Google calendar and Google translator.  I can see that the tools could be very useful for anyone.  With my crazy schedule of working at two locations and going to school the calendar had lots of options to notify me of event.  The calendar would prevent me from double booking myself, which I tend to do too often.  The iGoogle is a neat way to personalize your Google account.  It allows you to customize a page to fit your needs and interests.  I enjoyed getting to set my own "theme" for my page allowing it to look all pretty and colorful.  The Google translator could be a great tool to use for teachers who have students that parents who read in other languages.  Google translator could also be used by students to check their work in foreign language classes.  

THING 11

I enjoyed using Google blog search.  It is very similar to the normal google search engine and I am already familiar with using it.  That is probably why using Google blog search was easiest to use.  Google blog search is also my favorite.  I must have a secret obsession with Google.  
Topix.net is not my friend.  I was very confused and lost in trying to use it. Google is very direct and simple page with a place to type what you want, hit enter and there you have what you were looking for.  Topix.net had some craziness about politic crap on it that I had no interest in at that moment.  I do not like using pages that are cluttered up with a lot of crap. 
In my travels I found some really neat feeds on gymnastics (another one of my obsessions), hunting, physical education, and cooking.  I did not find anything unusual in my searches. 
I did discover that you can look for feeds in the actual google reader itself.  There is a search bar at the top of the page that will locate what ever your heart desires.

THING 10

I was not aware that such a tool like RSS and newsreader existed.  I am very impressed and excited to have the links and blogs report to me when there is new items.  It is a great idea and time saver for site to report to you. 
This technology can be used in my personal life by subscribing to sites of personal interest and allow me to acquire new ideas (such as cooking recipes) along with current events.  
In school this tool can be used to bring to my attention updates or changes in school related news.  I can use RSS and newsreader to bring new ideas into my classroom to help make me a better teacher.  Teachers can use RSS to keep in touch and share ideas with each other to enhance the education system.  Teachers can take advantage of RSS by using it to find lesson plans and ideas for their classroom.

THING 9

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

http://www.fototrix.com/border/?border=0-600-480-blood&key=&version=saved&wrap=image

http://graphics.imagetemplate.net/magazines/?page=5

These tools were very user friendly.  At first I was uncertain how to go about using the different websites but just upload a picture and go from there.  The image chef gave me a little trouble when I tried to change the shape I could never figure out how to do that.  The hardest part of the other two examples was which one to pick.  There were so many picture boarders and magazine covers to pick from that it was hard. 
I can see how these tools could be used in the classroom.  Motivational props could be made from these tools along with classroom assignments.

THING 8

Flickr and Flickr mashups could be used in my classroom for multiple things from decoration to creating puzzles for students to solve that incorporate standards.  I can see myself using flickr in my personal life to decorate my home and create neat gifts for friends and family. 
I can see sharing photos online as a good and bad thing.  Some people post things online that others would rather not see and there is not always a way to get around seeing what you do not want to see.  But I do enjoy looking at most photos that people put online.  One bad thing is that some people may post a picture of someone who does not want to a picture placed online.   

THING 7

thornypup's photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelloudon/337638145/

I enjoyed searching Flickr and seeing all of the amazing pictures that are available.  Navigating through Flickr was very user friendly and this photo was very easy for me to find.  I selected this picture of a pig because I was raised on a pig farm.  This photo reminds me home and all of the summers I spent raising a hog to show at the county fair.  The pig pen that I would keep my show hogs in were very similar to the type of fencing seen here in this picture.

THING 6

I explored Google Earth!  I love this application.  The fact that I can sit in my living room and locate the farm in Arkansas that I grew up on is amazing.  The details that Google Earth shows is very impressive.  The website allows you to zoom in and out of locations, look up addresses, determine distances between places, 3D and street views.  There are countless activities that Google Earth could be used for in an education setting.  I did not like how some images where hard to zoom in on or took a long time to focus.  Also not all images are current which could cause some issues for certain learning activites. 



http://www.google.com/earth/download/thanks.html#os=win#chrome=yes#chromedefault=yes#updater=yes

THING 5

• What does "School 2.0" mean to you?

Going in to the field of education "School 2.0" will be an important and valuable tool that I will be able to use in the classroom.  It is a modern approach to education that will allow students to be more interactive with their education.  Students today are very technological and will be able to relate to "School 2.0."

• What does it mean for schools of the future?

"School 2.0" has the potential to change schools dramatically.  Depending on how advanced the government allows the public school system to become, students could possible simply stay at home and use distance learning. I do not see that actually happening anytime soon.  But, "School 2.0" could allow for lectures to be recorded and placed on the web for students to review when ever they need.  It also will give students different ways to learn by being interactive.   

THING 4

When actively commenting on blogs it allows you to connect and get to know people who have similar experiences, likes or even dislikes.  Typically when people have common interests they tend to enjoy conversation with each other and a bond grows.  Using a blog a number of people can be reached which develops a community of people who interact with each other. 

Two points of why commenting is important:
1.  Writers want feed back on what they are posting.  When a writer gets to review feed back it encourages them to write more posts.  The more comments a writer receives the more he or she will feel the need to write. 

2.  Comments also lets the writer know what the readers think of their thoughts.  This turns the blog in to a conversation between friends within a community. 

7 Blogs I will follow:

1.  23thingsbyme.blogspot
I commented on thing 5.  Thomas stated how it is much harder to "unlearn" something and I agree completely.  I am following Thomas in his blogging process because he has an insightful way of looking at things and I always love to hear his thoughts. 


2.  apsueducation.blogspot
I commented on Katy's thing 4.  She had great ideas and tips on how to be a polite commenter and the importance of keeping a blog alive by comments.  I am following Katy's blog not only because she is in my class but she has sat beside me in another class and I find her thoughts always fun and meaningful. 


3.  23thingstodowhenyouarebored.blogspot
I commented on Amy's thing 1.  Her post was very enjoyable to read.  She is a very outgoing person who is full of thoughts and ideas; for that I am going to follow her blog.


4.  benyeargan.blogspot
I commented on Ben's thing 3.  He had made a comment on how there is too much stuff out there to be filter through to find anything worth using or reading.  I am following Ben's post cause he is my neighbor in class and I am interested in learning more about his views and thoughts.


5.  guspainter.blogspot
I commented on Scott's thing 4.  The point of human interaction being key for blogging is very true.  I am following his blog because we have had a previous class together and I enjoy and value his conversations.  




6. couch-gymnast.blogspot.com
I am a gymnastic coach so this blog seemed interesting to me.




7. www.modernhogfarmer.com/blog.html
I grew up on a independent hog farm north of London, AR.  So this blog picked this blog because farming is another important thing to me.

THING 3

Registering my Blog


This step reminded me of cooking.  Just follow the directions and you are done!  The only difference is that when cooking you get to taste the outcome and with the blog I am just praying that I did register it correctly.

THING 2

Setting up a blog and adding/ creating an avatar:

I was at first intimidated by creating a blog.  I get lost on the Internet on a regular basis and was NOT looking forward to blogging.  Once I calmed down and actually started the process I soon realized that it was not going to be that awful and complicated.  It was fun to design my blog.  I enjoyed playing with the different designs, colors, fonts and so on.  I also had too much fun creating my avatar.  I did tone my avatar character down from what I originally created, but the process was fun and educational. 

THING 1

 Seven and 1/2 Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners

I have always thought that as soon as you began to think that you know everything is the moment that you truly become ignorant.  I do strive to always keep an open mind to learning new things.  Everyone should strive to be a lifelong learner.  I believe that my weakest of the 7 and 1/2 habits is using technology to my advantage(number 6).  I know that I always hand write out papers before I begin to type them on a computer.  I do not like using the Internet to do research.  I always feel as if I get lost or never find what I am really needing.  My strong points would be number 7 and it's 1/2.  I am a very action oriented person so the play habit I am all about.  I also enjoy teaching and mentoring others (probably why I am working on a masters in Teaching).