#24 "You're almost finshed, but..."

Just when you thought it was safe to jump into the water.... landshark!  Answering some questions:

What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?

Definitely my new life love Livebinders!! I plan to add that to my arsenal of online tool toys.  Overall I enjoyed creating the blog itself.  Though I have started blogs before I tend to lose interest before long.

How has this program affected your lifelong learning goals?
Hmm....  I tend to be a learner in general.  I am always looking for more things to try and it was fun trying some of them.

Were there any take-a-ways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?
One thing that surprised me was how difficult it was to get registered for some of these things.  It was definitely an uphill battle.

What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?
Though I enjoyed some things, many others I just found tedious.  I tend to be fairly web savvy and I am always up for a new site or program, but some of them were just more trouble than they would be worth to me.  Also after a while I was overwhelmed with websites.

How will what you have learned influence your practice as a teacher?
The jury is still out on that.  While I can see the value of some of the things, having the time to design and integrate them is not easy to find.

How do you plan to keep up with new developments in web 2.0? Recommend a way that you have found to be useful.
I am on the web a lot and get a lot of exposure to the new "things" coming down the pike.  One way that has been interestingly useful for finding new "web 2.0" things has been Pinterest, yes Pinterest. It seems to be a website that I can easily follow and search.  It is also very current.

#23 Creative Commons, or "Can't we all just get along?"

I had noticed at the beginning of these 23 Things that Dr. Wall had credited her web creation of The 23 Things.

Credits

Learning 2.0 - 23 Things for Teachers is based on Learning 2.0 - 23 Things, a staff development program for the Mesquite Independent School District. That program was based on the Learning 2.0 program that was designed by Helene Blowers and adapted by the California School Library Association and others. Content and style for Learning 2.0 - 23 Things for Teachers has been borrowed and duplicated with permission, under a Creative Commons License.

I have already begun using Creative Commons for reproducible images.  As an artist I understand the value of retaining ownership of your work, but also wishing to allow use of it but controlling that usage.  

#22 It's Aliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiive binder.

Wow I am in love!!! Livebinders where have you been all my life? I will hold you, and pet you, and love you..... I can see sooo many possibilities.  I began by organizing my physical science bookmarks into binders, so far I have: Physics, Chemistry, and Teacher Tools.

Here is the beginnings of the Physics Binder:

Physics

I could definitely see some use for this in the classroom!  If you had information you wanted the students to read or share you could have a binder for each lesson.  If you wanted to have a webquest without all the webquest program hassle (sorry!) you could easily put it all in a binder!  If you wanted students to produce a model (poster, presentation, etc.), you could put several examples in a binder  for them to reference at their leisure.

I plan to sit down and organize all of my bookmarks, papers, etc. into these binders.  That way I can access ALL of my work from anywhere and it will be in an organized manner that I can understand!!!!

I love you Livebinders!

#21 Domo Arigato Mr. Animoto.

Animoto!!  Very fun!  Check out the clip of some of my paintings.



I enjoyed Animoto, but maybe I'm just missing the point.  I don't know that it is much better than powerpoint presentations and if you want to make something longer than 30 seconds you have to pay.  I probably will not be using it.

#20. Youtubing with POWER!

Check out this great video about making plasma in your microwave with just a grape!!!  Plasma is the most common form of matter, however it's not one we get to see much in person.  This video shows an exciting experiment making plasma at home!

 

Youtube is such a great resource in the classroom.  There are so many cool science videos to show students.  Since we can't always have all the supplies it has become an indispensable tool for me.

 

 

 

Now I will attempt to use the website Magisto!!!! (Echos in my head...)  Let's do this!  BRB!  Huh.  Back so soon you say... For some reason Magistooooooooo would not allow me to create an account.  It looked like a really fun site too. 

 

Next I tried flixlab.  Don't even go there, it's not a live site anymore.  I'm beginning to sense a pattern.

 

 

MeMoov? No.

 

 

Ok.  So I'm pretty web savvy, I use many programs across several genres.  I simply cannot find a live website for video platforms!  Perhaps they couldn't compete with mega giant youtube.com.  So this was a frustrating experience for me.  I had very high hopes for Magisto too.

#19 The Social outcasts.

Ah the joys of social networking.  Of course you have your facebooks and your twitters, but give me good ol' Pinterest any day!  I looooove pinterest!  I use it almost everyday.  I use it for school ideas, chemistry ideas, lab ideas, as well as crafting and recipes.  It appeals to me in a very visceral way that I cannot fully explain.  It has been an excellent platform for sharing ideas and information found around the web. 

I am fascinated by the "Pinterest for Teachers".  I am not sure I had noticed it as it's own entity until this very time!  I am very excited to check it out and use it often!

#18 The Social butterfly.

I have been on twitter Me :) for about 4 years or so now.  I seem to take it in spells.  I think it would be a great way to make class announcements and to keep an eye on the pulse of your students.  As a matter of fact so many of these great programs and sites would be quite useful.  However, there simply are not enough hours in the day to keep up with all of them.  I think perhaps starting with one, and then building as you become accustom to using it and keeping it updated is perhaps the best plan of action. 

#17 Something Delicious this way comes!

Delicious

Hmmm, I am not feeling the social bookmarking love.  I can see how it would be good from the standpoint of always having your bookmarks available from any computer at any time.  I can also see the theory behind it, and the potential for sharing bookmarks with people of similar interests.  I am not sure it is a service I will, however, use.

Now if you'd like to talk about Pinterest....

#16 Organize me! Please!

Hmmm, I must ponder the theoretical benefits of having to remember yet another website to remember websites. Please enjoy this gif while you are waiting: 

 

 

Of the three customizable start pages I preferred the look of @Start.org.  It had a pleasant background and easy to read fonts.  I preferred that the information appeared on the start page itself, rather than having to click a button to travel to each individual site. Though I doubt I will use it.  I am becoming overwhelmed with all of the websites about websites!

 

I actually use my google calendar quite a bit.  It is linked to my phone, so that no matter where I add an event it appears on all calendars.  I have also used it to send reminders and invites.  It's quite handy!

 

As for the other widgets or tools, I could use the file converters (zamzar.com and PDF converter) tomorrow!!  I am always needing to convert files at school or for lessons.  I will definitely be using these!

#15 Wiki tiki tavi!

Oy Vey!!! The wiki!!! The apsu23things sandbox refused to be my friend.  I begged and begged.  I pleaded.  I promised it brownies in a mug.  Nothing.  It refused to send a verification email to my email address.  And, without said verification, was quite adamant "NO wiki mango for you!" 

Alas, I am resigned that "tomorrow will be a better day!"  And perhaps the verification will eventually arrive.

icanhazcheezburger.com

Here we are a couple weeks and one stomach virus later and the apsu23things.wiki has deigned to allow me to enter!  Yay!!  I really enjoy the concept of the editable wiki.  I can see a lot of potential for collaboration amongst students and teachers.  I will definitely keep it in the back of my mind!

#14 Mapping the convoluted mind or, as we like to call it in the biz, going with the flow!

#14 Mind Mapping and Creating Flow Charts.

My first thoughts are, why did I chose the programs I chose.  In this case it was fairly simple, their design appealed to me.  I liked the colors and the ease of use.  I was attracted to their little advertising icon.  Amazing the power of that first consumer hook!

So I decided to take Gliffy and bubbl.us out for a little test drive.  See if it could withstand the clutter in my mind without over loading the server!  I have to admit at first blush I was favoring Gliffy. All the fun shapes, the pretty color text, ease of use.  And then I tried bubbl.us *angels sing aaaaaaa*!  And I fell in love!  I loved the little pop up boxes, the way everything connected, how easy it was to start a new set or add new boxes... I adored it!!! I would certainly put it down as my go to mind mapper or flow chart creator!!

As it turns out Science is perfect for these types of tools.  And what a great activity to be able to have each student on a computer creating a mind map of their current knowledge of a subject before each instruction, and then one after!!  It would be great for genetics.  For teaching students cause and effect.  For helping students get organized!  Did I say I loved this particular app?  I do!!

#13 Driving Miss Google

Blog post in Google Drive!

I found Google Drive to be a wonderful for use anywhere anytime you have access to a computer. I think it is phenomenal for sharing and collaborative work.  Students can work on group projects without having to physically be in the same room!  They can share their ideas and their edits for papers and presentations and work together in real time.  Definitely something to show them when they are working on their next STEM project!!

I found it interesting and can see potential for educational purposes from a teaching standpoint also.  Quizzes, homeworks, various assignments,   Slideshows of the content covered… and many more!

When comparing Google Drive to Zoho I favored the system with which I was already familiar.  I also like the “add app” feature in Google Drive, which made Google Drive virtually limitless (ha! see what I did there?).  
 

Thing #12 Google is Not Just for Searching Anymore

Thing #12 Google is Not Just for Searching Anymore 

I regularly use google scholar to search for journal articles.  It is especially handy to use if the library does not have a full text version of an article that I am interested in reading.  Usually if there is a free full text version out there google scholar can find it!  Google scholar also searches a wider range of information sources than the well defined library searches by content.

Google translate!  Huzzah!! It was the only way I could communicate with a chinese student I had last year (well, if the other chinese student wasn't there).  It is an invaluable tool that is easily accessible on the computer or on a phone.  I use it quite frequently.

Thing #11 Finding Good Feeds

Thing #11 Finding Good Feeds 

Edublog where is your search box???? Not having a quick readily identifiable search function drives me up a wall!!  Google blog search, while it shows new content within the search parameter, it is not presenting me with the types of blogs I am hoping to find.  The search appears to be very comprehensive and were I looking for an obscure reference or topic I think this would be the place to be!!

I found several blogs to follow on blogsearchengine.org and I will certainly be perusing this search engine again for blogs.  My by far favorite way to search for subject topics is the feedly search engine.  Though I concentrated my search on content that is very specific to my area of interest and teaching I think that I can find most of the information needed with these two search engines.

It was interesting and surprising which websites and blogs did not contain an rss feed!!  It is something I will certainly be looking at more closely now!

Thing #10 RSS Reader and Feeds

Thing #10 Set Up an RSS Reader and Add Feeds 

Wow RSS has come a long way since the last time I used it!!!  I followed several science sites since I try to stay current with new and ongoing research.  RSS really puts all the newly published information at my fingertips without time consuming searches and weeding through those subsequent searches.  This will help me (and all science teachers) really stay abreast of the new information and keep our students on the cutting edge of information!!!

Thing #9 Online Image Generators

Thing #9 Online Image Generators 

Wow there is a dizzying array of generators out there!  Though I found it difficult to pick through them and it seemed the ones I saw were all for one image (though I did find some that used your own photo, this would be easier).  However, they were very easy to use.  I used signgenerator.org to make this road sign to stop students in their tracks!!!  Mwaaahhahahaaaaa!!!

 

Thing #8 Flickr Mashups

Thing #8 Flickr Mashups

How Fun!!! So many fun things to see and do with the Mashups!!  I learned how to make a comic strip using open source photos and Bubbl!  These could easily be incorporated into the classroom!  Students love this sort of thing.  I also found a gif maker called Gickr.com that I am looking forward to exploring later.  I can see so many possibilities here that it's dizzying!

 Liquid Molecules

Thing #7 Explore Flickr

Thing #7 Explore Flickr

I enjoyed Flickr.  I have used a couple of photo sharing sites in the past.  When I was selling my art I used photobucket a lot.  Now I use shutterfly and have a shutterfly account for my classroom.  BlogSpot has been having some error difficulties and Flickr was unable to deprecate the image (flickr link to photo image that will not post right now).  I will certainly try again to get a link to it from flickr as I'd like to be able to use that part of the program.

005

005, a photo by mshinesscience on Flickr.

Double rainbow! Now that's Physical Science!

Thing #6 Discovering Web 2.0 Tools

Thing #6 Discovering Web 2.0 Tools

I chose PowToon because it came up in a "Teacher" search on GoToWeb20. (It was the only "toon" app that came up in an education/teacher search).  I have been looking for an animated "short" program for some time now, so I thought I'd give it a try.  The program seemed easy to navigate and you could use your own images or images from the web.  The downside is that the best "characters" were paid images and the characters did not move around like I wanted them to.  While they were animated, in that they kind of had a little movement to them, they would not walk from place to place or speak.  So while this tool would make a nice little static movie with images, text, and video sliding in and out it would not produce a "cartoon" like those for which I have been looking. 

Thing #5 Web 2.0 To be or not to be.

Thing #5 Some Perspectives on Web 2.0/School 2.0 and the Future of Education

Well, not one to be without an opinion about things, I find myself "uncomfortable" with the pronouncement of "Web 2.0".  Perhaps it is merely the syntax of the title, but it is also the concept.  Generally in programming a 2.0 version would be a complete rewrite and revamp of the system with upgrades and new thingamabobs.  I perceived the change in the internet to be a slow progression over time; with new and innovative uses appearing as each step of programming became more and more elaborate.  To suggest that there was a sudden "revamping" or 2.0izing of the internet seems capricious.  "2.0" did not suddenly appear out of thin air. 

Nonetheless, regardless of the correctness of the term, it is true that the internet holds infinite possibilities for education.  From information gathering, to idea sharing, to collaborative conferencing with students around the world, we are yet to even scratch the surface of the possible uses of the internet in education.  However, free and easy access to the very technology needed to facilitate this "connectedness" is difficult for most and impossible for many.  Even our own school district cannot provide each student with their own tablet.  Until we are about to resource our students we will not be able to utilize the internet to it's fullest capabilities.  I do believe that when that time comes the educational experience will be fuller and more robust.  For now we utilize that for which we have time and equipment and hope for a better funded educational path in the future.

#4 Blogging about blogs.

"Thing #4." Comment on some blogs... well.... I comment on blogs all the time so the random 2 will not be an issue.  However, imagine my dismay when I went to comment on fellow classmate blogs and they did not exist!  This has presented quite an existential quandary for me... do they exist or not... what is the truth?  How shall this be reconciled?  Stay tuned..... 

Finally success!  I have begun perusing the blogs of my compadres.  It's actually quite interesting!  Commenting is so very important.  It is a good way to measure the pulse of your readership and to gauge how your post was received.  It's also a great networking tool.  Sometimes you can find others with similar interests in the comments section.  It's also nice to receive feedback from the community at large.  I know this as I have absolutely zero comments!! Ouch!! 

My first blog to view was the lovely and talented Nicole!  She's a great help in class!  Thanks Nicole!

Well, good thing I looked at Delma's page.  I didn't realize I needed to discuss my blog's future usefulness!  Thanks Delma!

Suzette taught me that if you try to put an anonymous doppleme up it shows you as a bald naked woman with a surprised look on your face!!  And Esther has the cutest doppleme ever!!

Wow, I was 5 blogs deep and didn't even realize it.  On Joshua's blog he discusses reading one of the many recommended blogs discussing blogging as a future in education.  I really enjoyed the post and plan to set up a twitter account to use to alert my students to upcoming events!  Thanks Joshua!

One of the many blogs I frequent on a regular basis is Allie Brosh's Hyperbole and a Half.  Witty and relevant, Allie's illustrations are used quite frequently in memes and are very recognizable.  She very kindly allows the use of her images in the classroom as long as you give her credit.  It's one of the ways I make content relevant for my students. Thank you Allie!!

Science Sparks is a great blog for finding lots of interesting and fun science facts and activities.  In my class we just made glue from milk following the same protocol they have listed on the site.  I tried to comment as there were several things that help the experiment be more successful.  However, it seems they have comments disabled.  Hmm?

Nicole deCastro
Delma Cruz-Vasquez
Suzette Pinnock 
Sally EY
Joshua Jones 

http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/
https://plus.google.com/+ScienceSparks/posts

#1-3 My 23... make that 24 things.

"Thing #1." 7 1/2 Habits of Lifelong Learners

Because I prefer to start on a positive note here, I shall begin with the habit easiest for me which is #4 "Have confidence in yourself as a competent effective learner."  Because I am a life long academician I have fairly well developed strategies and habits which have served me well as a lifelong learner.  (Which I will happily fill in when I am no longer feverish and can form coherent sentences!) I am also autodidactic (please my dear students look it up) and am able to teach myself new subjects which interest me. 

Ah, the habit "hardest" for me.  I have to say it is habit #1 "Begin with the end in mind."  This is really an unfortunate catch phrase.  I have an intense aversion to even hearing it spoken.  It is so often bandied about as the be all and end all of education that it has lost it's meaning for me.  To me this phrase is a good example of how too much of a good thing can have the opposite effect.

"Thing #2." Post an avatar!!!  Though I put a "non arty" avatar up for this blog, check out the avatar I use most often:

Ha!!  I love this avatar and it actually represents my quirky personality quite well!

Doppleme continues to thwart my efforts to make a little somewhat plastic looking doppleganger of myself for my avatar.  I shall continue to soldier on in my battle.

HA!!! Doppleme I am victorious!! I have defeated your puny attempts to thwart my doppleganger!  Fear me doppleme, fear me!

"Thing #3." Register your blog..... I was assured by the autobot that my request was winging it's way to Dr. Walls.